Maryland Pheasant Question.....

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I recently picked up some metal bands that I think might be off state game preserve pheasants from Maryland. I know there are several guys on here that are long time residents of that state so I thought I'd ask. I don't have a picture of them yet but they're just thin aluminum bands that have a series of numbers on them and the letters MD. AGR. Years ago the State of Illinois used to put a similar band on dead pheasants that had been shot on the state run preserves to mark them as non-wild birds that were legally taken. Did Maryland ever do something like this? Thanks for any help you can give!


DLH

[Fred Verry]

Destry, from the MD DNR Regulations:

Title 08 DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES
Subtitle 03 WILDLIFE
Chapter 13 Regulated Shooting Areas
Authority: Natural Resource Article, §§10
Annotated Code of Maryland

C. Marking.
(1) Before release, all captive
raised birds, except mallard ducks, shall bear a leg band or
other marking device prescribed by the Service. The leg band shall remain attached to each captive raised bird until prepared for consumption and shall be destroyed immediately upon removal. HTH.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Thanks!

[Bill Murphy]

How do they identify "mallard ducks" as RSA birds, if they don't band them?

[Fred Verry]

Bill, more than I would care to try to explain:

http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewReportsPublications/Captive-reared%20mallard.final%20report%20Feb%205%202013.p df

The other day I did see a mallard missing a toe and with a tattoo that said born to raise hackles:bigbye:.