Poaching-Spot Lighting Deer really p...es me off!

[River]

I was on the side of the road Sunday night (8:00), up by the Forlorn Lakes area packing up my stuff from my unsuccessful weekend, when I see a beat-up white van coming up road.  The guy in the passenger seat had a spot-light probing the woods off the road while the driver drove slowly up the road.  They didn't see me until they were parallel to me on the other side of the road.  I could clearly see the driver as he paralled me standing across there.  There was a look of surprise, and then a big old grin on his indian face, as he picked up speed down the road.  I can't stand poachers.  I wish I had looked at his license plates, but it was deep dark anyway.

[SHANE(WA)]

Poachers? did you hear them shoot? or see them shoot? not illegal to spotlight in WA, during rifle elk or deer its against the law to have a weapon in the car. after that you can carry, you can shoot yotes,bobcats and racoons at night in WA.Should see it down on the ronde during steelhead season, locals out spotlighting shooting bobcats and yotes all night.

[roadhuntking]

Opening morning we get to our spot (dead end road that looks over a small cut that holds at least two masher blacktail) 45 minutes before light we each get our log or tree or what have ya to glass the cut.  20 minutes before light here comes a minivan, something looks kinda odd about the shape of the vehicle and the distribution of the head lights and then I see why, theres a native american sitting on the roof above the passenger door with a spotlight and another native american sitting on the roof also with a spotlight as soon as the realize that we are there the lights go out and its a stare down until they drive away and as soon as they're out of sight I can see the woods light up again, oh and not to mention the big burger king bag of trash left in the middle of the road that wasnt there when we drove in. FURIOUS!!!! I know there is plenty of rednecks that do they're share of bad behavior but where I live you see and here more of the native americans do they're share with fishing and hunting and it will never end in our lifetime.

[rougheye]

I think we need to have a smilie throwin a tomahawk   

[Ridgerunner]

I can remember sitting in camp in the huckleberry unit the first night of the season and the shooting coming from the other side of the river sounded like opening morning all over again, oh wait, it was opening night for those who prefer to jacklight their bucks.

[jeepasaurusrex]

We need to document this type of behavior with pictures, video, etc. Turn it into the game department, police. If they do not do anything about it, the media gets it next. I'm getting tired of this type of stuff looking like it is us hunters doing it. 

[UBA]

It is actually illegal to spotlight in any area open to big game hunting. Too bad you lost your chance at ten points 

[Colville]

I'm not supporting spot lighting. But As the two things below suggest, it would appear that you can light up anything you want, as long as you don't posses a weapon for the taking of big game, including archery equipment. The regs don't specifically disallow it and the RCW I cite only establishes a crime with the weapon in the vehicle. If I'm incorrect, please post the law/rule that directs to that fact. I'd be happy to try to help see it enforced.

PG 59 of WA regs.
1. Hunting big game with the aid of artificial lights  or spot lights is illegal.

It does not say spotlighting big game is illegal, only hunting them with the lights is illegal. Similar to #4 that says hunting from a vehicle is illegal, but not spotting game from one.

The RCW on spotlighting:

RCW 77.15.450
Spotlighting big game — Penalty.
   

(1) A person is guilty of spotlighting big game in the second degree if the person hunts big game with the aid of a spotlight, other artificial light, or night vision equipment while in possession or control of a firearm, bow and arrow, or cross bow. For purposes of this section, "night vision equipment" includes electronic light amplification devices, thermal imaging devices, and other comparable equipment used to enhance night vision.

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

[popeshawnpaul]

I don't think it is illegal although I haven't looked at the law in quite a few years.  I don't have a problem with it.  I use to spotlight the fields in the old days around Okanogan during grouse season without a weapon and I know it was legal back then.  We would take pictures of the huge bucks in the field to get an idea of what was out there.  I knew the sheriff and we would talk about it all the time.  I don't see the problem unless you hear a boom...

[backyard bucks]

is there anything about harassment of wildlife?? i heard rumors along time ago about people being ticketed for such a charge. 

[roadhuntking]

I also don't mind spotlighting and think it can be kinda fun as long as there is no weapons in the vehicle.  But then again when your coming out of the woods at night and your headlights are on rifles, bows, muzzleloader, are in the truck and bam around the next corner you come to a stop and there sits walter the wall hanger and your lights are on him, he moves to the left you steer to the left, I guess that means your doing something illegal, i.e. spotlighting with weapons on you. But when some native americans are sitting on top of the car with lights off each side, I mean come on, are they out for a nice crisp morning of deer watching on opening day rifle. Dont think so. I think you may be right on the ticket thing, I heard something similar.

[deaddog]

seems kinda funny to me that you guys did nothing at the time, but you come home and get on this site and make racial remarks. it did not sound like you saw them doing anything wrong, you just want to be insultive to there race. well Im 1/2 wagon burnin,arrow flingin hawk chuker who thinks your an ass wipe and i think i would have done something other than run my mouth once i got home. if i have insulted you too bad. you just insulted a large part of our community and my family heritage. what i know for sure is crap like that dont belong here.

[jkononen]

you think they were doing something okay? and how would you have done something?

[yelp]

Using a vehicle to aid in spotlighting (plugged in) is illegal.

[yelp]

It doesn't matter race, creed, color...the law is the law.  Deaddog your right on.  We don't need that here on this site.  However you do agree that if it illegal or unethical or against law tribal or state or federal its wrong!