Spotlighting for COYOTES

[bobcat]

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.   

[Special T]

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?

[bigtex]

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.   

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.

[buckfvr]

What about the otherwise legal hand gun....either concealed or open carry ??  That would be regarding spotting deer in the summer.

[Special T]

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...

[MadHatter]

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?

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[bigtex]

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.

[FALFire]

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)  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 

[halfpipe88]

Not charged. They just didn't know what to do so they took the rifle.

[yote]

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/

[Noiro]

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?

[bobcat]

Page 76:

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

[bearpaw]

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.

[Hawgdawg]

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.

  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!

[FALFire]

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