Calling elk legal?

[Maybee-R]

Is there a law preventing you from having a buddy call during your hunt for you?
Say you draw and your buddy doesnt but you have him help by calling and packing if your lucky enough.

On another forum a person is asking what to do because his buddy cant call for him with out holding the same tags.

He is hunting before regular season and a couple days after but only permit holders can actually be there.

I never heard of this before..Can someone correct him or me?

[blacktailcody]

I am pretty sure that it is fine to have a buddy call for you.

[dreamunelk]

Really depends on what is also open during the time you are hunting.  Will also depend on the weapon the helper is carrying.  Say your hunt is for an archery elk and archery deer is open.  Helper carries a bow and is bugling elk.   A WDFW officer may not take this the way it is intended.  Doubt he would be cited but, it may cause some unnecessary scrutiny.  If it were me helping someone with a special tag I would just leave my weapon(s) at home and concentrate on helping my bud fill a tag.  No issues if he does not have a hunting weapon with them.

[xd2005]

There was actually a thread about the definition of hunting a while back (last fall I think). The following link was part of the discussion.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/help/questions/86/Do+I+need+a+hunting+license+if+I%27m+just+helping+my+child+or+others+to+hunt%3F

[Maybee-R]

He is saying its against the law to have a buddy call for him.. Its a wilderness hunt and he is worried because he "thinks" he has to go at it alone.

[Maybee-R]

There was actually a thread about the definition of hunting a while back (last fall I think). The following link was part of the discussion.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/help/questions/86/Do+I+need+a+hunting+license+if+I%27m+just+helping+my+child+or+others+to+hunt%3F

If you are only watching or guiding, you do not need a hunting license. However, if you are directly assisting and participating (such as driving game or packing hunting weapons), you will need the appropriate hunting license

So assisting and participating is the question then. is calling for your buddy participating/assisting...how about packing part of the meat out? this is some crazy stuff and hard to swallow.
And does this mean as long as they have a hunting license its alright? Im more confused now. lol.

[Alan K]

If it's against the rules it's quite possibly the most broken rule there is. . .

[firefighter4607]

If only permit holders are allowed in the area like you stated then NO! When the watershed only allows the permit holder, it meant only the hunter, not the hunter and a buddy weather or not the buddy is armed.

What unit is this in? That would help out to answer your question. The only area that I knew of that used to have that rule was the watershed, but they changed that a couple years ago.

[Tom Tamer]

There was actually a thread about the definition of hunting a while back (last fall I think). The following link was part of the discussion.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/help/questions/86/Do+I+need+a+hunting+license+if+I%27m+just+helping+my+child+or+others+to+hunt%3F

If you are only watching or guiding, you do not need a hunting license. However, if you are directly assisting and participating (such as driving game or packing hunting weapons), you will need the appropriate hunting license

So assisting and participating is the question then. is calling for your buddy participating/assisting...how about packing part of the meat out? this is some crazy stuff and hard to swallow.
And does this mean as long as they have a hunting license its alright? Im more confused now. lol.

Wow that sounds like a mess of crap? To be "hunting" wouldn't you need a weapon? What if you were calling in animals only to take pictures? Think it may be bunk,but wouldn't put anything past our Gov't to try and make illegal and or trying to bilk more money out of us.
Notice though the explanation doe not include calling, I was explained by WDFW officals if it does not explicitly say something is illegal than it is in fact legal. If no where in their definitions specify calling as part of hunting than it is fine to do so. How many guys call to an animal in off seasons? Turkey,elk,ducks or what not?

[Elkbow33]

your good just don't have a weapon if you don't have the tag.!!

[Maybee-R]

If only permit holders are allowed in the area like you stated then NO! When the watershed only allows the permit holder, it meant only the hunter, not the hunter and a buddy weather or not the buddy is armed.

What unit is this in? That would help out to answer your question. The only area that I knew of that used to have that rule was the watershed, but they changed that a couple years ago.

I assumed it was because of the permit area..He never posted the actual unit. Ill ask.

[smdave]

There was actually a thread about the definition of hunting a while back (last fall I think). The following link was part of the discussion.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/help/questions/86/Do+I+need+a+hunting+license+if+I%27m+just+helping+my+child+or+others+to+hunt%3F

Here is the email I got from WDFW when I asked them the question.


Mr. Carey,


I apologize for the delay in responding to this e-mail but I have been out on leave for the holidays when it was forwarded to me.  The best answer I can give you is that an individual would need to have a license while hunting, which includes any effort to kill, capture, injure, or harass a wild animal or wild bird.  Dragging, gutting, skinning, locating a downed animal, or spotting an animal would not meet this definition as long as the individual is only accompanying the individual that is lawfully hunting or lawfully harvested an animal.  This would pertain when assisting any hunter including a child.  If you have any additional questions or concerns please let me know.

 


 Carl Klein, Sergeant

Hunter Education Program
Master Hunter Permit Program
Aquatic Invasive Species Program
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Law Enforcement Program
 360-902-2426

I would send this to you if you want to have the original. just send me a PM
 

[Maybee-R]

There was actually a thread about the definition of hunting a while back (last fall I think). The following link was part of the discussion.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/help/questions/86/Do+I+need+a+hunting+license+if+I%27m+just+helping+my+child+or+others+to+hunt%3F

Here is the email I got from WDFW when I asked them the question.


Mr. Carey,


I apologize for the delay in responding to this e-mail but I have been out on leave for the holidays when it was forwarded to me.  The best answer I can give you is that an individual would need to have a license while hunting, which includes any effort to kill, capture, injure, or harass a wild animal or wild bird.  Dragging, gutting, skinning, locating a downed animal, or spotting an animal would not meet this definition as long as the individual is only accompanying the individual that is lawfully hunting or lawfully harvested an animal.  This would pertain when assisting any hunter including a child.  If you have any additional questions or concerns please let me know.

 


 Carl Klein, Sergeant

Hunter Education Program
Master Hunter Permit Program
Aquatic Invasive Species Program
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Law Enforcement Program
 360-902-2426

I would send this to you if you want to have the original. just send me a PM

Thank you. I copied and pasted this info for him.

[Rooster1981]

•WDFW Help Home > Licensing Requirements

http://wdfw.wa.gov/help/questions/86/Do+I+need+a+hunting+license+if+I%27m+just+helping+my+child+or+others+to+hunt%3F

Q. Do I need a hunting license if I'm just helping my child or others to hunt?
A. It depends. If you are only watching or guiding, you do not need a hunting license. However, if you are directly assisting and participating (such as driving game or packing hunting weapons), you will need the appropriate hunting license.

Calling elk legal?   
 
  Good question  Legal definition of hunting:   To Hunt: Any effort to kill, capture, injure, or
harass a wild animal or wild bird.

  That's all it says. The way I interpet it is if you are calling elk you are trying to harass or capture them for yourself or someone else. I would say it is Illegal to call elk with out a hunting license and tag.

[Maybee-R]

•WDFW Help Home > Licensing Requirements

http://wdfw.wa.gov/help/questions/86/Do+I+need+a+hunting+license+if+I%27m+just+helping+my+child+or+others+to+hunt%3F

Q. Do I need a hunting license if I'm just helping my child or others to hunt?
A. It depends. If you are only watching or guiding, you do not need a hunting license. However, if you are directly assisting and participating (such as driving game or packing hunting weapons), you will need the appropriate hunting license.

Calling elk legal?   
 
  Good question  Legal definition of hunting:   To Hunt: Any effort to kill, capture, injure, or
harass a wild animal or wild bird.

  That's all it says. The way I interpet it is if you are calling elk you are trying to harass or capture them for yourself or someone else. I would say it is Illegal to call elk with out a hunting license and tag.

Harassing Elk shouldnt be considered hunting.  I understand the Harassing argument and I believe its a ticket all in its own. So next question is why dont WDFW just issue or arrest those who harass animals for a hunting violation then...Maybe they do?