Is ilegal more than 2 shots?

[colo-pr]

Hi Guys,

I bought the last summer a Franchi Affinity and until now im not hunting i just use it for clays, the shotgun comes with a plug that permit only 2 shells in the mag, i imagine that this is for a hunting regulation here in CO, If i use the shotgun only for clays (i bought a new Champion Easy Bird Clay Machine) i can remove this plug? My concern is if im in the forest using my clay machine with my shotgun and a police or park ranger see that i dont have the plug he can arrest me because im ilegal?

thanks in advance for any help.

[ChunkyMonkey]

You only need the dowel if you are hunting (3 shell limit).

[patrick0685]

Chunky Monkey is correct...some hunts dont require the 3 shell limit as well but you would have to look at the hunting regs to find that out

[sniper7]

You are fine if you are just clay pigeon shooting or snow goose or some hunting clubs where limits seasons and mag restrictions Dont apply.

If out in the field hunting private or public ground during a state regulated season you need the plug in.

[colo-pr]

You are fine
If out in the field hunting private or public ground during a state regulated season you need the plug in.

This is the point and my confusion, because I'm not a hunter (for now) I don't know when is the season and if for example April is a hunting season and Im in a public ground shooting some clays without the plug I'm ilegal? Or maybe the ranger if see that I'm shooting clays leave me alone.

[rondog]

I believe it's a Federal requirement to limit shotguns to 3 rounds maximum for hunting migratory waterfowl, such as ducks, geese, teal, and other water birds. Been a loooong time since I've bird hunted, but I don't remember that requirement for quail, doves, pheasants, and other upland game birds.

You can't hunt anyway until you get a Colorado Parks & Wildlife Hunter's Education Certificate ( hunter's safety card). Those requirements will be covered in the class. Any other questions can be answered by the CPW folks, or on their website.

But for clays or target shooting, you can remove the plug with no worries.

[sniper7]

This is the point and my confusion, because I'm not a hunter (for now) I don't know when is the season and if for example April is a hunting season and Im in a public ground shooting some clays without the plug I'm ilegal? Or maybe the ranger if see that I'm shooting clays leave me alone.

Yeah you would be fine unless you are clay pigeon shooting around a duck pond or goose field or an area with pheasant. If you are up in the mountains at a known shooting area you would be good. I equate it to guys shooting at the range during hunting season.

Worst case is put it in your range bag so you always have it. Or just always leave it in and it will help you with your speed reload!

[colo-pr]

Thanks guys. I'm enrolled in the next Hunter Education class in May at Soortsman Warehouse, actually I already took this class and have the card in PR and is suppose to be accredited in FL, I need to investigate if here can be accredited too.

Anyway for now I just want to have a great time one weekends shooting clays without restrictions ;-)

[spqrzilla]

Watch out, the removal of the 3 round limit for snow goose hunting is a special conservation order that is renewed by the season. Don't assume its always removed.

[Larry Ashcraft]

Been a loooong time since I've bird hunted, but I don't remember that requirement for quail, doves, pheasants, and other upland game birds.
Colorado has had a three shot limit for ALL bird hunting for as long as I remember (with the exceptions noted above), and I've been hunting for over 50 years. Also, doves are migratory, and covered under federal law.

[rondog]

Colorado has had a three shot limit for ALL bird hunting for as long as I remember (with the exceptions noted above), and I've been hunting for over 50 years. Also, doves are migratory, and covered under federal law.

Sorry, I should have mentioned that my bird hunting days were in Oklahoma, and I haven't been bird hunting since the 70's. No telling how different the laws are between OK and CO, and what's changed in that time.

[rockhound]

the 2012 waterfowl handbook states:
nothing larger than 10 ga
3 shells max, chamber and magazine combined
light goose conservation order season is excepted in the restriction
magazine must be cut off, altered or plugged so that plug cannot be removed unless gun is disassembled
slugs are illegal

[def90]

This is the point and my confusion, because I'm not a hunter (for now) I don't know when is the season and if for example April is a hunting season and Im in a public ground shooting some clays without the plug I'm ilegal? Or maybe the ranger if see that I'm shooting clays leave me alone.

You're not hunting if you're not hunting..

[Shiro]

Hmm, may have lost that plug, guess could go buy a dowel