Q: If we're in danger of reaching our possession limit when we're pheasant or grouse hunting far from home, can we give away birds in order to keep hunting?
A: Possibly. Each species has a daily limit (five for grouse, two for pheasant) and a possession limit (10 for grouse, six for pheasant). You can gift game birds to another person as long as you provide them with a receipt showing who took them and the date they were taken. However, you must still abide by your daily limit.
For example, on Thursday you take five grouse. On Friday morning you take five grouse. You are now at your possession limit of 10 and cannot take or possess any more birds until you either eat or give away some that you have. However, even if you eat or give away some birds at noon on Friday, you still already have taken your daily limit and cannot take any more grouse until Saturday, still respective of the possession limit. This situation presents a good opportunity to pursue another species, or mix in some fall fishing so you aren't constantly concerned with the limits.
For more information, call your local conservation officer or see the small game section in the 2017 Hunting Regulation Synopsis beginning on page 40.
Matthew S. Miller is a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer with the Lake Superior Marine Unit. Send your questions to outdoors@duluthnews.com .
