Requirements For Transporting Harvested Game Birds

PIERRE, S.D. - State Game, Fish and Parks officials remind hunters that no
game birds may be possessed, placed in public storage, transported or
accepted for shipment unless certain minimum plumage requirements are met.

Regional Law Enforcement Specialist Dale Gates of Pierre said current
plumage regulations clearly define minimum legal plumage requirements for
packaging, storing and/or transporting game birds.

"Waterfowl must have an attached, fully feathered wing or attached head," he
said. "Pheasants and grouse must have either the head, fully feathered wing
or a foot attached. All other game birds must have either the head or a
fully feathered wing attached."

In addition, officers often encounter situations where numerous game birds
have been frozen together in a single package, making it impossible to
properly identify the number, species and if applicable, sex of the birds
without taking time to thaw the contents of the package.

"The number of game birds that can be frozen together in a package is
limited to no more than two," Gates said. "This reasonable requirement helps
to aid in the prompt identification of species and sex. It will also prove
more convenient for both the officer and the public by facilitating the
inspection process."

He also noted that this requirement is similar to the current rule for fish,
which limits the number of frozen fish fillets to no more than two fillets
per package.

-GFP-