I know how you feel. A couple of years ago one very foggy morning I was goose hunting and saw a large bird flying straight at methat I convinced myself was agoose and fired without adequately identifying what it reallywas. To my horror, it turned out to be a Tundra Swan which is legal to shoot in some states but not in California. I immediately took the bird to the nearestDFGcheck station and explained what had happened. I was written a citation but for the most minimal offense it could be written for "illegal possession of a protected species" rather thanthe more serious offense of shooting a protected species. Thewarden said that she wrote the ticket for the lesser offense becuase I had immediately accepted responsibility and reported it to the authorities. It was awful having to go to the DFG check station with the bird and in front of many other hunters explainwhat I had done. But looking back,I believe it was the best course of action. I know I would have a guilty conscience to this day if I had just left thebird in the field and snuck away. Reportingthe shooting of the hento the DNRwill be a humbling experience and you will probably have to pay a fine but you will know that you did the right thing and not be tormented by guilt.


Caldoc