Quote Originally Posted by heyblast View Post
When I took my hunter saftey in Ontario in 1972 we were taught that shooting waterfowl while sitting was in contravention of the migratory bird act. My friend who took his training in the mid 90's was also taught the same thing. This fall I read over the act which has been revised since my training and couldn't find any thing saying it was illegal, so I'm not certain. That said I will not shoot ducks when they are not flying, in my opinion it is not sporting or ethical.
In the migratory act it used to state, and it still does in some state regs that you cannot shoot a bird "at rest" So its sortof up to the COs discretion. Is a duck swimming around considered "at rest" yes and no, so its a very grey law.

Like most migratory bird act laws they all stem from the days of market gunners. And the whole not shooting ducks "at rest" was to stop guys from sculling into a whole flock of ducks and shooting them with punt guns all at once.

Shooting em on water, its not unsportsmanlike, its perfered!!