Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?

[cem3434]

There's no law that says you can't hike while carrying a bow and a rifle. The issue is only that a game warden may THINK you are hunting deer with a rifle and write you up for it. My guess is it would get thrown out of court and the charge dismissed, due to there being no evidence that you violated the law. But, it could still end up costing you a lot of time and money.

I have bear hunted in areas open to deer and elk many times in September and never had any issues.  I have been checked and once they seen my deer and elk tags were for rifle, they sent me on my way.  If you have archery deer and elk tags, I would not chance bear hunting with a rifle during archery season if you are in an area open for deer and elk.  I think its perfectly legal, but it just looks suspect!

[Blacktail Sniper]

Packing both a rifle and a bow while out on a "hike" during an open archery season would be just a little hard to believe, especially if the "hiker" has both an archery deer or elk tag and a bear tag in their pocket, and are "hiking" in an area that could be considered reasonable to find deer or elk. 

I would loosely compare it to that whack job that walks down the street carrying a video camera and open-carried weapons...just trying to draw attention and asking to get stopped and questioned, maybe written-up or whatever.

There is what is called "Prima Facia evidence" of comitting or attempting to comit a crime.  It may not be enough on its own to ultimatly result in a conviction for something, but it can be enough to put you in a position that you are defending yourself needlessly, when it could have been avoided by not trying to push the edge so hard in the first place. 

If you want to hunt bear with a firearm during an archery season, then I would say leave the archery equipment in camp, at home, someplace other than the truck, where it is beyond your ability to easily obtain and go tip a yogi over with your firearm.   Then do the same with the firearm when you go after your venison with the bow.

From page 74 in the hunting regs:

Archery Regulations
1. Rules pertaining to all archery hunting
seasons:
a. It is unlawful for any person to carry or
have in his possession any firearm while
in the field archery hunting, during an
archery season specified for that area,
except for modern handguns carried for
personal protection. Modern handguns
cannot be used to hunt big game or
dispatch wounded big game during an
archery, big game hunting season.

I would honestly say that being out in the woods with archery equipment, in an area where deer or elk could reasonably be expected to be found AND carring a firearm would be in violation (Prima Facia) of the archery season restriction listed above.

Some may agree, others will not. 

Hopefully, Outdoor Guardian will catch this posting and we can get some feedback from him.

[Johnb317]

Whatever you do... please be very concious that there are guys (and gals) in camo out there and we do blend in.
       So if the bear waves    don't shoot!

Once had a couple guys sneaking in on my duck decoys... not a warm and comfortable feeling    It took a couple minutes of waving for them to stop focusing on the tasty dekes.

[Bob33]

This situation has several versions: archery deer / modern bear, archery deer / turkey with shotgun, etc. The answers about only having one legal weapon while hunting one specie are correct.

What's odd about that is this: if I'm thinking of breaking the law and filling my archery deer tag with a modern firearm, then leaving my bow in my truck while I "bear hunt" with a modern firearm really makes me more likely to break the law, not less.

Take one at a time. 

[hillbillyhunting]

All of this is what I suspected.  It makes sense.  I am happy so long as I can drive to my camping location with both weapons.  I have no problem making the decision on what I am hunting for before I leave camp.  Deer hunt in the morning and evening... grouse hunt or fish during the day... bear hunt if i get an itchy trigger finger.  I am looking forward to this weekend!

[bobcat]

What about this scenario:  you're backpacking 10 miles into the high country to hunt the archery deer season, and also bear season is open so you bring a rifle. You're not hunting, you are hiking, but you are carrying both a bow and a rifle. How is that different than using a truck to get to your camp, and carrying both bow and rifle in the vehicle? You should be allowed to transport both bow and rifle any way you wish. (and you are, the law only says you cannot possess a firearm while "archery hunting.") So there's your loophole. When you are stopped by the game warden, tell him you are only hiking, you haven't started hunting yet.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

This makes no sense to me, what is wrong with keepin my rifle in my truck when I go out deer hunting with my bow?  I have a tag for both, if a game warden stops me he will find a buck with a arrow wound or a bear with a bullet in its chest?  Saying its illegal because you could shoot a deer with your rifle is like saying people carrying handguns on their Person in town for protection could get In trouble because they could loose it and shoot people!  Just cause you could break the law doesn't mean you will.

[lokidog]

What about this scenario:  you're backpacking 10 miles into the high country to hunt the archery deer season, and also bear season is open so you bring a rifle. You're not hunting, you are hiking, but you are carrying both a bow and a rifle. How is that different than using a truck to get to your camp, and carrying both bow and rifle in the vehicle? You should be allowed to transport both bow and rifle any way you wish. (and you are, the law only says you cannot possess a firearm while "archery hunting.") So there's your loophole. When you are stopped by the game warden, tell him you are only hiking, you haven't started hunting yet.

Doesn't matter what you do 2+ miles off the road, no gamies are hiking out there if they can't drive it.....       

[nwhunter]

Its another one of those rules caused by poachers that we all have to live with kind of like not getting to pick up winterkill skulls. We all know that scumballs will shoot there deer/elk with a rifle and stick an arrow in it and say they killed it with a bow thus the reason you shouldnt pack  both on your person while in the field. I would rather live with not having both weapons in the field than have bear/cougar rifle seasons shutdown during archery seasons :dunno:nwhunter

[bobcat]

Its another one of those rules caused by poachers that we all have to live with kind of like not getting to pick up winterkill skulls. We all know that scumballs will shoot there deer/elk with a rifle and stick an arrow in it and say they killed it with a bow thus the reason you shouldnt pack  both on your person while in the field. I would rather live with not having both weapons in the field than have bear/cougar rifle seasons shutdown during archery seasons :dunno:nwhunter

Well said.

[Gobble Gobble]

Do you have a large caliber pistol? I archery hunt deer as well as carry a side arm that is legal for taking big game. Archery hunters are allowed to carry a pistol but as everyone else has already stated you can't carry a rifle archery deer hunting. I hope to take a bear with a bow but if things don't work out I have my trust .45 at my side to take care of old Smokey.

[shanevg]

[quote author=Bob33 link=topic=104052.msg1355259#msg1355259 date

What's odd about that is this: if I'm thinking of breaking the law and filling my archery deer tag with a modern firearm, then leaving my bow in my truck while I "bear hunt" with a modern firearm really makes me more likely to break the law, not less.

Take one at a time.
[/quote]

 

[Curly]

Do you have a large caliber pistol? I archery hunt deer as well as carry a side arm that is legal for taking big game. Archery hunters are allowed to carry a pistol but as everyone else has already stated you can't carry a rifle archery deer hunting. I hope to take a bear with a bow but if things don't work out I have my trust .45 at my side to take care of old Smokey.

The problem with that is the wording for the law that allows archery to pack a sidearm:

From page 74 in the hunting regs:

Archery Regulations
1. Rules pertaining to all archery hunting
seasons:
a. It is unlawful for any person to carry or have in his possession any firearm while in the field archery hunting, during an archery season specified for that area, except for modern handguns carried for personal protection. Modern handguns cannot be used to hunt big game or dispatch wounded big game during an archery, big game hunting season.

Basically you can't carry both a bow and a rifle while in the field because the game warden wouldn't be able to tell when you're hunting deer (and he isn't going to just take your word if you're "just out for a hike").  And the minute you shoot a bear with your sidearm, you're breaking the law because it is only to be used for protection.  You'd have to get yogi to attack before you could shoot him with your sidearm..............might as well just shoot him with your bow if you're going to try to kill him with your sidearm.

[BULLBLASTER]

You can use your bow for bears also  arrows will kill bears and deer...

[hillbillyhunting]

Dont mean to play the what if game, but i am thinking about this weekend.  My partner and I both have archery deer tags (mine is multiseason), and i am thinking about mid day hunting.  Can I cary my grouse or bear gun while my partner carries his bow?  He has never shot a deer before and is willing to take a doe so I dont want him to miss out on an opportunity, but I would rather carry a grouse gun during the day.  Is it only per person or would they think that I am going to hand off my rifle so that he can shoot a deer???