I am not sure about California but we can shoot a cripple after Hours in Va. I would check into it I sure wouldn't want to be stoned to death if I was a crippled duck.

We shoot these ducks lay them out and take pictures but each one should be treated with respect.A pintail is a beatiful and graceful duck, around my way they are prized. Sorry but I don't have any funny stories like that.

You can also take a fishing pole with a small treble hook to retreive dead ones.