Yes, you are in the minority.

Suppose at the end of the hunt you shot 3 greenheads, a bufflhead and a pintail (I'm not looking to see if this is in limit - just an example, so bear with me). And Tom shot a couple of spoonies and maybe a helldiver or two. And at the end of the hunt Tom decices the greenheads are his because, hey, his boat and all, and you get the spoonie and helldiver instead.

Would you give them up? (hint: the answer is "no").

Tom is a douchebag, and the band belongs to the person that shot it. And no way would I have given up the band - he could pout all he wanted. Kind of like how I'd not give up the 12 point buck I shot (in pretend land, because I've never shot one) to my buddy simply because I was hunting on his lease. That's just not how it works.

Pretty simple really.

If a guy takes me hunting and at the end of the hunt wants all the mallards or teal-they're his.

And if he didn't shoot the band, it would have never been in Tom's boat. I don't get your logic...

JoeCowboy, congrats on your first band and what sounds like a good start on your pup!

So has anybody punched Tom in the face yet?

Sounds to me like Tom is a special kind of stupid!!!!

I still cant believe no one has called him the S word yet

Tom's a go-getter, I like him.

What's the big deal about a band? Is there money involved? How is it any different than shooting the bird next to that one?

What a horrible person. Even if he was a guide...to keep your clients bands? Are you kidding me? Why? Sad deal man.

Especially on public land

Sorry, you were hunting with a complete self centered jerk. I am solidly in the camp of, the band belongs to the shooter. jTom should be glad I wasn't hunting with him.

I guided duck hunts in FL for 40 years, have had dozens of banded birds shot by clients and the thought never entered my mind that the bands were mine. They paid me to shoot ducks, some just happened to have bands.

I only have the bands that I shot, all by myself, only ones that would mean anything to me.

Hope, you get another one soon.

And I bet you would not think much of him after that either, especially if he made a stink about it.

Bottom line, whoever shoots the bird should get the band, its a trophy, and the trophy goes to the one who shot it. Its not a trophy to anyone else.

And if 2 shooters think they shot the same bird with band, before you do rock-paper-scissor, unless you are shooting the exact same shell, cut open the bird and see who's pellet killed the bird...

Tom's a cry baby.

I can't help but think:
If you would have kept the band, Tom would have been POed and never hunted with you again.
But you gave Tom the band, now your POed, and will never hunt with Tom again.

Either way it is the same outcome, NEXT TIME KEEP THE BAND!

I agree with the point you are trying to make, but if anyone takes me hunting they can pick out whatever ducks they want to take home, unless there is one I want to get mounted.

Stuff them with cream cheese and jalepeno, wrap them with bacon, grill to medium rare, and they all taste the same.

Most of the time we just divide them up as evenly as we can unless someone is wanting birds to give away to someone that doesn't hunt.

You shot it your bird. Don't care if its the guy who's boat you rode in or a guide, imo if you don't shoot the bird you have no business getting the band

My mind is blown. Since of entitlement at its finest.

We live in different worlds then.

I take somebody hunting, what they shoot is theirs - that's the whole point of taking them hunting.

Somebody takes me hunting, what I shoot is mine.

I honestly thought this was just an understood rule that really never needed to be debated. Maybe it's a younger generational thing or something like that, but unless it's specified before hand that you are pooling the total harvest together and dividing, you shoot yours and enjoy it, I shoot mine and enjoy it. And if you shoot a band, I'm happy as hell for you (and probably insanely jealous). If I shoot a band (maybe that will happen in my lifetime), I'm dancing a jig and bragging about it. But no way am I entitled to your band, and no way are you entitled to my band. That's just common sense and common courtesy.

I'm not saying if I was Tom I would have demanded the band. Tom definitely acted like a d-bag. But if I take you hunting to a spot I scouted we take my boat and you shoot a band and don't at least offer it to me (never been in this situation so cant say for sure but I don't think i'd take it) you probably wouldn't get invited back. Same goes for if i'm with a guy in his boat his spot (or his property) and we all jump up and shoot and the bird is banded i'm not drawing for straws or even trying to claim the band. The guy in charge of putting me on that bird is getting it without a peep from me. Now a guided hunt is a totally different issue. I see that's not the majority here but still feel that way.

The person who shoots the duck gets to keep the band.
Thats all. I dont care where you shoot, public, private, guided or not.

Having said that, if there is a special person (kid, dissability, vet, wounded warrior) in the blind, i will be more then happy to let it go, cause im beavernice

What the Beave said.

I find it humerous that people are even saying that they should be offered the band. the shooter gets the band. What he does with it is up to him/her.

I keep coming back to the fact that I wouldn't bloody want a band someone else shot. It would mean nothing to me. Nothing.

Yes, plus the band will be voodoo cursed. I promise you. Trust me, you dont want it. You will loose your wife, house, be in a million $ debt and then soms.

In other words, Tom's boat is bound to capsize?

You read my mind