collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Spotlighting for COYOTES  (Read 12169 times)

Offline bobcat

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+14)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 38900
  • Location: Rochester
    • robert68
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #15 on: February 12, 2013, 01:31:27 PM »
Quote
Most people know that spotlighting is illegal, and often think if it's illegal to spotlight a deer, then it's illegal to spotlight a coyote.

Bigtex, can you clarify the above statement?

Spotlighting a deer is legal, you just can't shoot it, correct? Just sounded to me like you're saying that shining a light on a deer is illegal.   :dunno:

Offline Special T

  • Truth the new Hate Speech.
  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+13)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2009
  • Posts: 24823
  • Location: Skagit Valley
  • Make it Rain!
    • Silver Arrow Bowmen
    • Silver Arrow Bowmen
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #16 on: February 12, 2013, 01:40:16 PM »
I belive there is ome stipulation about spotlighting deer. your not suposed to do it during the season, and in theoff season not with a fire arm.... How does that work if your spotlighting coyotes and see deer?
In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself. 

Confucius

Offline bigtex

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Dec 2009
  • Posts: 10277
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #17 on: February 12, 2013, 01:46:05 PM »
Quote
Most people know that spotlighting is illegal, and often think if it's illegal to spotlight a deer, then it's illegal to spotlight a coyote.

Bigtex, can you clarify the above statement?

Spotlighting a deer is legal, you just can't shoot it, correct? Just sounded to me like you're saying that shining a light on a deer is illegal.   :dunno:

In regards to big game you can't possess a spotlight with a weapon (bow and arrow, firearm, etc). There are no requirements in law saying you must have shot. If you just have a spotlight (no weapon) you are not breaking WA law.

Some states however do state any shining on an animal is illegal, doesn't matter if you have a weapon. In WA there must be an associated weapon.

Offline buckfvr

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 4508
  • Location: UNGULATE FREE ZONE UNIT 121
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #18 on: February 12, 2013, 02:11:37 PM »
What about the otherwise legal hand gun....either concealed or open carry ?????  That would be regarding spotting deer in the summer.

Offline Special T

  • Truth the new Hate Speech.
  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+13)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2009
  • Posts: 24823
  • Location: Skagit Valley
  • Make it Rain!
    • Silver Arrow Bowmen
    • Silver Arrow Bowmen
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #19 on: February 12, 2013, 02:18:50 PM »
How does that play if i'm spotlighting coyotes? It is not uncommon to use a fawn in distress and have does run in during a calling session. I have had this happen plenty during the daylight hours...
In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself. 

Confucius

Offline MadHatter

  • Coyote Eradication Specialist
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2012
  • Posts: 517
  • Location: Kitsap County
  • Gun Rights Examiner @ Examiner.com
  • Groups: NRA,WPHA,SAF,CCRKB
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #20 on: February 12, 2013, 02:20:48 PM »
So in theory when I am out spotlighting for Coyotes with a weapon, and happen to catch a deer in my light I might be committing a crime?

Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ - I DARE YOU

Offline bigtex

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Dec 2009
  • Posts: 10277
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #21 on: February 12, 2013, 02:23:45 PM »
So in theory when I am out spotlighting for Coyotes with a weapon, and happen to catch a deer in my light I might be committing a crime?

In theory, yes.

Offline FALFire

  • Crazy Old Man with a Gun!
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 1471
  • Location: Planet Earth
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #22 on: February 12, 2013, 05:25:31 PM »
Having an artificial light and a firearm in your vehicle is Prima Facie Evidence of spotlighting game animals. Prima facie evidence is defined as "At first appearance". Though, upon initial contact, you may APPEAR to be in violation of "Hunting Big Game with an Artificial Light", if you can show there is no laws being violated and you can articulate what you are actually doing with the light and the firearm, there may not be sufficient evidence to continue an investigation. Hunting coyotes may be difficult to prove if you have no coyotes to show for your activity or other corroborating evidence, however, if you have a deer or elk in the back of your truck you are toast.

We spot light often, and often times, we see deer, we leave them alone, that's not what we are after. I hunt cattle ranches, night time is the best time for success for coyotes around these new born calves. It's all in how you articulate your activity and the totality of the evidence during your contact along with how you handle the situation if contacted by LEO. Read (Bad attitude = Bad ending)  :dunno: Ranchers should be contacted prior to a night hunt if you are on private property, a call to the local Sheriff's Office can go along ways towards making you have a successful night and not having to deal with a p'ssd off Game Officer that gets a phone call at 2am to respond to shots fired and bright lights.

Then again.....There are those Officers that will DO ANYTHING to make an arrest. It all comes down to common sense on both sides, Articulate, articulate, articulate and....... have a video/audio recorder going during the contact  :tup:
Checkin' wind and makin' smoke.
That's how I roll...

Offline halfpipe88

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 138
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #23 on: February 12, 2013, 09:10:15 PM »
Not charged. They just didn't know what to do so they took the rifle.

Offline yote

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Nov 2011
  • Posts: 245
  • Location: Shoreline, WA
  • Groups: NRA Lifetime Member
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #24 on: February 12, 2013, 09:59:15 PM »
This seems simple and from hearing your story "halfpipe" I figure that any guy/gal spotlighting out of his/her rig ought to carry a printed out paper copy of the game regs in their truck...

I use:
http://www.allpredatorcalls.com/lightforce-blitz-240mm-9-5-inch-1-million-cp-handheld-spotlight-sl240/
WSU 2009-2013 (Criminal Justice)
USMC 2013-2017 (3/1 Weapons Company)
ILWU 2018-Present

Offline Noiro

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 130
  • Location: wa
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #25 on: February 13, 2013, 08:49:29 AM »
Can anyone post the WA regs about spotlighting? I searched but found nothing about spotlighting. On page 64 of the 2012 WA Hunt Regs I found Small Game and Other. I stated coyote open at night but not Sept-Nov during center fire deer and elk.
I was curious about shooting from a vehicle or the road?

Offline bobcat

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+14)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 38900
  • Location: Rochester
    • robert68
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #26 on: February 13, 2013, 08:54:04 AM »
Page 76:

1.  Hunting with artificial lights:
     Hunting big game with the aid of an artificial light or spotlight is prohibited.

Offline bearpaw

  • Family, Friends, Outdoors
  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (+10)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 37053
  • Location: Idaho<->Colville
  • "Rather Be Cougar Huntin"
    • http://www.facebook.com/DaleDenney
    • Bearpaw Outfitters
  • Groups: NRA, SCI, F4WM, NWTF, IOGA, MOGA, CCOC, BBB, RMEF, WSTA, WSB
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #27 on: February 13, 2013, 08:59:58 AM »
Contact your local warden and sherriff dept, ask them, they are the ones you will have to deal with. We have been checked by local sherriff deputees, as soon as they saw we were legite they asked us to let them know when we would be doing it again. Depending where you want to hunt, there could also be local ordinances to know about.
Americans are systematically advocating, legislating, and voting away each others rights. Support all user groups & quit losing opportunity!

http://bearpawoutfitters.com Guided Hunts, Unguided, & Drop Camps in Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wash. Hunts with tags available (no draw needed) for spring bear, fall bear, bison, cougar, elk, mule deer, turkey, whitetail, & wolf! http://trophymaps.com DIY Hunting Maps are also offered

Offline Hawgdawg

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2011
  • Posts: 951
  • Location: Enumscatch
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #28 on: February 13, 2013, 09:11:22 AM »
Contact your local warden and sherriff dept, ask them, they are the ones you will have to deal with. We have been checked by local sherriff deputees, as soon as they saw we were legite they asked us to let them know when we would be doing it again. Depending where you want to hunt, there could also be local ordinances to know about.

 :tup: We made a deal with the local fish and feather that we give him a call before our hunt, so he doesn't loose sleep getting the call!

Offline FALFire

  • Crazy Old Man with a Gun!
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 1471
  • Location: Planet Earth
Re: Spotlighting for COYOTES
« Reply #29 on: February 13, 2013, 11:18:14 AM »
Can anyone post the WA regs about spotlighting? I searched but found nothing about spotlighting. On page 64 of the 2012 WA Hunt Regs I found Small Game and Other. I stated coyote open at night but not Sept-Nov during center fire deer and elk.
I was curious about shooting from a vehicle or the road?


http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15.450

Read Section #4 subsection :d below

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15.460

Checkin' wind and makin' smoke.
That's how I roll...

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal