check your guns

[G.W. Arthur]

EQUIPMENT
Hunting small game with
slingshots is prohibited.
Hunters may ONLY use the
following to take small game
during the fall and winter
seasons:
• Rifles that shoot rimfire
ammunition, or .22 caliber
handguns.
• Muzzle-loading or breechloading
shotguns no larger
than 10-gauge. Breech-loading
shotguns must be plugged to
hold a maximum of three shells
(two in magazine and one in
chamber).• Lead or non-toxic shot no
larger than number 2.
• Muzzleloading rifles.
• Archery or crossbow
equipment.
• Pellets fired from .177, .20 or
.22 caliber airguns.
• Dogs may be used to aid in the
hunt.
• Falconry

[Ky. Hunter]

mud I guess it is just a habit I have but whenever I load my gun I always try the 4th shell to see if it will go in after my gun was checked about 3 years ago. I was lucky because I had just bought the gun and 2 days earlier I was trying it out and something told me to check for a plug and it didn't have one so I made one. I was lucky because if I hadn't been trying it out I may have been in the same boat as you. I made my plug out of a piece of small garden hose so it should not break.

[yoteslayer]

In iowa we can load them up for everything but waterfowl, I didnt know it was any different then that anywhere in the world. Learned something new today!!! So If I take a .22 rifle squirrel hunting how many can it hold?

[NCSportsman]

I'd go to court and bring the broken plug. Mailing in the fine is like admitting you knew you were wrong.

At least try to fight it...

[Joeyman]

3 shell rule in Mo. we have to keep them plugged. I've been checked before during Dove season

[Ky. Hunter]

In iowa we can load them up for everything but waterfowl, I didnt know it was any different then that anywhere in the world. Learned something new today!!! So If I take a .22 rifle squirrel hunting how many can it hold?

If you take a .22 rifle hunting you can load it to the max with no problem.

[Mo. Beagler 5000]

Freeman-- in Missouri you CAN run dogs during ALL of deer season if you choose to... I was out this weekend with a buddy and we were stopped by a CA agent who told us the place we were hunting didnt have many rabbits and then he gave a spot where we had non stop running....THere were tons of deer hunters and we went to this place to be respectful and not interefere with anyones hunt.

THere are only 6 or 7 counties where running dogs is prohibited during gun season... THose are down south in reynolds county and the surrounding ones...

[Mo. Beagler 5000]

Also, I would go to court and show him the broken plug with a letter from an authorized dealer stating that it was a defect...

[Bunnyblaster]

I'm gonna have to recheck it but the only restriction I am aware of in Michigan is 3 shots for migratory birds. Other than that if the gun is legal you can load it with whatever it will hold................or at least I'm pretty sure that's the rule.

[Ohiohntr]

Sounds like the officer was looking for something to get you for, and was successful in finding it. Common sense should prevail in situations like this...unfortunately they do not. The plug may have broken while in the field that day...what do you do then? If you showed the CO the broken plug and he still fined you then I would say the guy was just being a jerk...again, common sense!!!

On this one I would probably take my chances in court because of the plug malfunction. You were not intentially breaking the law and were using the proper equipment provided by the manufacture. They wasted your time....waste some of theirs in court.

[InTrapTrap]

mud, Sounds like he wrote you a ticket for what COULD have been more than three shells. He has no proof. I'd contest this one.

[Bunnyblaster]

mud, Sounds like he wrote you a ticket for what COULD have been more than three shells. He has no proof. I'd contest this one.

The problem is it doesn't matter how many he had in, the gun could hold more so that's breaking the law. Same here, I mite only put in 3 while I'm goose hunting but if that plugs not in I can get a ticket. I do agree though, the guy was being a jerk if he didn't give you the benefit of the doubt.

[InTrapTrap]

Good point, Bunnyblaster.

InTrapTrap

[Swamper AR]

Ridiculous law for rabbit hunting. JMO Then you got the idiots poaching deer all over and never get caught.

[tinymwoods]

Virginia just changed the law a few years ago to allow us to remove the plug unless migratory bird hunting. I would take it to court, tell the judge what happened, and see. If you can afford to miss work if you are working he may throw it out. Everything else was in compliance and if you can show the plug was there and just malfunctioned, you should be fine.