on male cranes you have to eat the balls.

this has got to be the best answer of the bunch

(law varies a LITTLE BIT)

This is why I stay away from the bird section.

By the way, what lake did you shoot the crane at?

I think the guy has raised a legitimate question about the interpretation of wanton waste. It is better for him to inquire about it if he is not sure so you guys just look silly giving him sarcastic and uninformative replies. You aren't funny.

I did some research to help clarify for you.

"Wanton Waste" definition in TPWD Migratory Bird Digest reads as follows:

"A reasonable effort must be made to retrieve any killed or wounded birds and any wounded bird retrieved must be immediately killed and made a part of the bag limit. After retention, the birds must be kept in an edible condition fit for human consumption." Once you get the bords to your place of residence/ final destination, you may do with them as you please. For example, in the case of taxidermy, the bird is not eaten, but this is completely legal.

Wanton waste is a widely used legal term usually applicable to hunting and game. In your case, this basically means dont leave the birds laying out on the water or in the sun to spoil, don't mutilate or otherwise destroys the bird to a point where it is unfit for human consumtion.

You did right, you were completely legal. Thanks for asking and showing concern for the law.

Thank you for the honest answer. Once informed the rest of the answers are funnier, but I was impressed with just how quickly the jokes poured in. Your answer is still leaves me with a question. So I took it to work, breasted it, shared it with the guys, and left the carcass in the truck bed till 5pm. Could a GW get me for wasting the rest since I wasn't at home? Sorry to be so finicky. I've never once seen a GW while hunting and have always just operated on common sense, but I got checked out by a trooper making sure I wasn't trespassing the day before, and he warned me that GW was working the area hard. That just got me a little worried, and I wanted to be 100% legit in case the trooper told the GW where to check. Laws don't always follow conning sense, so I wanted to cover my butt.

on male cranes you have to eat the balls.

Thank you for the honest answer. Once informed the rest of the answers are funnier, but I was impressed with just how quickly the jokes poured in. Your answer is still leaves me with a question. So I took it to work, breasted it, shared it with the guys, and left the carcass in the truck bed till 5pm. Could a GW get me for wasting the rest since I wasn't at home? Sorry to be so finicky. I've never once seen a GW while hunting and have always just operated on common sense, but I got checked out by a trooper making sure I wasn't trespassing the day before, and he warned me that GW was working the area hard. That just got me a little worried, and I wanted to be 100% legit in case the trooper told the GW where to check. Laws don't always follow conning sense, so I wanted to cover my butt.

Well look who finally surfaces, Bobo the Clown. Tell me you were not on flooded river X this last weekend.

Becareful, state to state definitions vary. Some states you will get a ticket if you leave leg/thigh meat.

this has got to be the best answer of the bunch

(law varies a LITTLE BIT)

The wanton waste definition refers to the care of the bird in the field. After that, its up to you what to do with it. If you breasted it out and were carrying around in your truck to show your buddies its really no different than carrying a caped deer around to show your buddies. You weren't breaking the law unless you don't have a hunting license.