Shoot from the road?

[Noiro]

Im new to predator hunting. This must have been asked a dozen times. There is one part I am not clear on. We can spotlight coyote, bobcat, racoon and cougar. If spotlight from a vehicle are you allowed to shoot from the road? Also what about loaded rifles in a vehicle?

[D-Rock425]

No shooting or spotlighting from the road bad idea.

[buckfvr]

NO spotlighting cougs either, they are a big game animal.......and NO loaded long guns in a vehicle................

[Noiro]

Guess I seen to many videos online. At night they are all in vehicles on the road.
So spotlighting is hiking with a portable light away from roads 

[D-Rock425]

Yes

[GreginWA]

I think you have to be 100 feet from a main road to discharge a weapon.

Depends on the game warden to be honest. In my hunter safety class, he basically said as long as you were SAFE and high up in the mountains off well traveled roads, he wouldnt write a ticket. NEVER shoot ACROSS a road, at least stand off to the side....

Unless your handicap(WITH special hunting permit) you can never have a loaded rifle or shotgun in vehicle, or even TOUCHING the vehicle (Leaning against, shooting from truck bed, setting on hood - technical but I was told they will get you for it)... Only pistol WITH permit, and discharging from vehicle would be a very BAD idea.

[bigtex]

I think you have to be 100 feet from a main road to discharge a weapon.

Wrong. There is not set distance in WA. You just need to be off the road

[Noiro]

Another thought was spotlighting at night with an electric caller. You can spotlight coyote and bobcat but if a cougar comes in you just pray it goes away? 

[bobcat]

It depends on the road.

If it's a private road you can shoot, public road, no.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Just jump out , jump twice and your good to go ...Hopefully there is no ditch there 

[bigtex]

It depends on the road.

If it's a private road you can shoot, public road, no.

 

[Bob33]

Here is the RCW. Read it for yourself.

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

The pertinent parts about discharge of a firearm:

(2) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a loaded firearm if:

     (a) The person negligently discharges a firearm from, across, or along the maintained portion of a public highway;

Key points:
- The legal restriction is for public roads. (If you are unsafely shooting from a private road you may be charged for a different violation, but not for a violation of this RCW.)
- You must be off the "maintained portion" of the road. There is no set distance.
- You must be shooting "negligently" to be charged. It is up to the officer and judge to decide; you won't get definitive answers on a forum.

[bobcat]

It's important to know that a "public highway" is any public road, regardless if it's paved or not.

[buckfvr]

Best bet would be private property, out in a field, set up with caller, and a light incase you need to light them up....Im not really thinking it would be much better than early and late daylight hours.

[Bob33]

FYI, you can now legally shoot from upon (not from within) a nonmoving motor vehicle as long as "the engine is turned off and the motor vehicle or off-road vehicle is not parked on or beside the maintained portion of a public road"