Say I am hunting public land during teal season. I am using steel shot and only carry steel shot to the field. While hunting teal, I shoot a few dove with steel shot. After I limit on teal, I go back to my truck. I put the birds in the cooler and return to the field to continue to hunt dove.

Can I then change out my ammo and start using lead shot? I don't find anything in the book saying that I can't have lead shot in my truck while hunting waterfowl.

I would not risk it. Just go buy show cheap steel #7.5's from Academy and have at it...

You can do it, perfectly legal.

I've done that before. Considering if you have your decoys and everything in the truck it's pretty obvious you are no longer teal hunting...


but this is probably the safest route to avoid any trouble

I have heard stories about guys getting tickets for having lead shot shells in thier truck while duck hunting, but I thought that was rediculouse.

It would be like getting busted for having a handgun back in the truck; you can't hunt ducks with it, and you can't have it on you while you hunt ducks (on public land). But I'm not hunting ducks at the parking lot.

i have heard the same stories, i have also heard that you can do it as long as it is locked up!!

either just buy steel shot or call your local GW and ask him!!! after all he is the one that will write you a ticket

Ive heard the same stories. I don't carry lead with me (or in my truck) while duck hunting, because I don't want to chance it.

I wouldn't try it but you could always call your local warden and run that scenario by them. See what they say. Couldn't hurt.

I had a GW check the extra shell boxes that were in my car after a hunt.. They were all steel so no issue.. Give the GW a ring and ask and pos their response...

what was his reasoning for searching your car?

To make sure you're not hiding any birds or other type of wildlife.

I had already out my blind bag in the truck and he asked if I had any other shells in the truck... It was out in your neck of the woods but I think that GW has since transferred...

I always seem to lock my keys in my vehicle when the game warden comes by. I really have nothing to hide, but I don't want anybody going through my vehicle.

I had a question for TPWD and gave them a call today and asked about this topic as well - their position was if you are hunting ducks on public land you can only have steel shot in your possession. I assume this means that having a dead duck in your vehicle and a box of lead shotgun shells in the same vehicle or on your person would be illegal.

shells in your vehicle are not in your possession while hunting (they are in your vehicle)

unless you are hunting migratory birds from your vehicle (that is illegal)

no matter what kind of shells you are using

Hayraker - my point was if you get stopped by a GW and they ask to review your kills, they may want to see everything you harvested for the day. If that is the case, they are going to look in your vehicle and see dead ducks and lead shot (either on you or in your vehicle). And if you get stopped on your way home (while in your vehicle) you really have no way of telling what animal was killed with what shot.

Probably not a good idea to cary lead if you are going to hunt ducks, it seems like a risk that would not be worth taking. My $0.02

Once you get in your vehicle the hunt is over and you are no longer "in the field".

no law against possessing lead shot and ducks in the same vehicle. There is a way to tell, they can clean your birds. If they found lead shot in the bird you would be in trouble, if they find steel shot you are in the clear, if they find no shot they have no proof of any wrong doing.

I carry a rifle and ammo in my truck also. It is illegal to hunt ducks with a rifle. I carry a 22 mag pistol in my truck, it is illegal to hunt ducks with that.

It's not illegal for me to transport them in a vehicle with dead ducks though.

now, a boat is a whole different story, I wouldn't have anything but steel shot on a boat.

I see your logic Cletus.. But not all GW's always use logic...

I would not risk it, same with snipe, shot snipe with lead, same time dove hunt, but ducks flew over as well. Went back to the truck and used steel nr 7 1/2 for dove, duck and snipe.

Like i said in a earlier post, they (GW) approach each situation thinking somebody is guilty of something, unless proven wrong. Don't trust em.