read an article recently about the recently collared cacklers, ODFW wants the hunters to avoid shooting them. I followed a thread posted by Bill Monroe (wrote an article for the Oregonian) over on Ifish. seemed like it backfired on him. People seen to really want to target these birds now. I have never been one for collecting/targeting these birds. However I have shot a few and noticed the band after the fact. there are some hunters that live for these things. They drive around just searching for the collars.

Just curious to what people's thoughts are on the subject. I personally thought Monroe's Idea of writing about it was stupid and did just the opposite of what he wanted...

The article brought attention to it but those of us that do shoot bands and collars already knew about the project. The guys that are going to shoot collars will do it anyways, the guys that want to pass on them, will pass. I think it is a bad move to come out against it and possibly have people not report the data now. I have checked the birds i have shot intact, but i know people have removed the bands and collars before going to the station so they dont get the scrutiny.

I like to "trophy" hunt because it elongates the process. If i just wanted to spend my time to shoot my 4 birds, i would be done in a hurry and the rest of the day to spend doing something else. Just like your decoy question, what do you really want out of the hunt? birds to fly over at 40 yards or geese feet down in the decoys?
There is the extra challenge of selective harvest and i find it much more enjoyable than just killing the first 4.

I loved that radio collared bird that you got.

I did an elk survey a number of years back with the WDFW in th upper Wishkah and Wynoochee watersheds, collaring cow elk and inserting radio transmitters into bull elk rumens (sp?). I ask about making collared animals "off limits", and they said they actually had no issues with the animals being taken. They wanted the collars back, and they hoped that hunters felt no issues reporting them.

If I have a cow tag, I'd have no issue dropping the hammer on one with a little jewelry.

Had a chance at a "red" neck collared goose in GH county. Drifting down the Nooch and to my right is a goose with a collar. It takes off, I grabbed my shotgun, swung on it, and then realized it It was a Sunday, no goose hunting.

Only banded bird I've ever shot was a mallard on the Nooch.

some good points.

I am trying to transition from the dude squating in the grass shooting at passovers (what I did growing up) to actually bringing these birds in... Have been hunting with a couple of very good goose hunters the passed few years and it has ben a blast. the guys love looking for bands/collars. In the past I haven't given a shi.t but it does interest me lately.

My dad allows a guy to come out from time to time that is a serious collar hunter. drives around and glasses for collars all the time. don't know if I would go that far but I do see the intrigue.