Shooting hours ethics.

[bigtex]

Figured it would be good to bring up the penalties.

Those cited under state law would face a misdemeanor charge punishable up to a $1,000 fine and/or 90 days.

Those cited under federal law (all migratory bird violations can be cited into federal court, even if the case was made on private land) in eastern WA face a citation of $175+ $5 per minute before/after hours. In western WA it is a $125 citation. However, if you fight the citation, OR the officer requires you to appear in court the judge can fine you up to $15,000 and/or 6 months in jail.

[Snowgoose1]

Won't start early not worth it.  If it's mallards then you can begin at proper start time because you can ID them by listening. Just won't start with a flock of mallards. Coming as singles or groups of two fine then just pick the drakes. They really need to be close and you really need them to communicate to do this. Anymore  and it's just amazing to hear how early people begin and I'm sure they don't have a clue what the bird is.

[pianoman9701]

Kidding right? This has nothing to do with ethics. You're either legal or you aren't. If you know it's 5 minutes before the start of shooting, the real question is, "am I a poacher or not?" I've had opportunities on almost every setup I've had to shoot before legal hours. I've had opportunities on deer and elk before and after legal hours. If it's not legal, you don't do it. 

[rtspring]

Kidding right? This has nothing to do with ethics. You're either legal or you aren't. If you know it's 5 minutes before the start of shooting, the real question is, "am I a poacher or not?" I've had opportunities on almost every setup I've had to shoot before legal hours. I've had opportunities on deer and elk before and after legal hours. If it's not legal, you don't do it.

Bingo!!!  No excuses!  None....

[pianoman9701]

If it's light enough to I.D. them, it's shooting time.  It's never occurred to me to be a clock watcher in the blind.

 

who carries a watch or phone with them? if its light enough out to see what you're shooting at, shoot away .

Surely you are kidding.

Every hunter should be required to carry a timepiece. How else are you going to be compliant with shooting light game laws. 

Also, ethically you need to ID your game no matter the time, so if extra dark morning, shooting light changes....

Apparently, you haven't been to the eastside, especially during opening day on modern elk or deer.
And to all of you who carries a watch or phone with them? I have an answer.

1.) I don't have $400 dollars laying around to replace my phone.
2.) Watches can also go out and make noise.

I am not a rich, sit on your ass all day, can afford everything westsider.

So, let me understand what you're saying. You can afford a shotgun and shells, license, stamps, boots, camo, other clothing, decoys, gas and a rig, probably even a dog and all his expenses, but not an $11 Casio wrist watch because you're "not a rich, sit on your ass all day, can afford everything westsider"? Interesting thought process. Good luck with that. You'll be even less rich when you get fined and have all of your hunting stuff taken for shooting outside of regular hunting hours. I would love to see the response from the gamie when you explain why your exempt from the rules.

[LndShrk]

Any real duck hunter knows the birds don't fly until 1 hour after shooting time so whats the point of being set up so early?

Just buzz right in during the first 20 min of daylight set up and never have to face this issue.

 

[rtspring]

No excuses! My phone goes everywhere I go. I got more info on hunting situations than most computers! Yes honey holes! And past weather conditions and wind for ducks and geese.

There is this thing called phone insurance..

Again no excuses...

[pianoman9701]

Any real duck hunter knows the birds don't fly until 1 hour after shooting time so whats the point of being set up so early?

Just buzz right in during the first 20 min of daylight set up and never have to face this issue.

 

No idea what your point is here. Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

[irishevox]

ALways no questions asked wait till shooting hours!  I sometimes wait a minute after incase the Game warden is close by and his watch is off....
I don;t get how this is a ethics question.... it's more of who is willing to break the law for a bird.

[lokidog]

Any real duck hunter knows the birds don't fly until 1 hour after shooting time so whats the point of being set up so early?

Just buzz right in during the first 20 min of daylight set up and never have to face this issue.

 

No idea what your point is here. Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Really?  I thought this was pretty funny.  You know there's always the guy that comes blowing through right after shooting time starts.  Not sure about the Bueller thing though.   

[pianoman9701]

Any real duck hunter knows the birds don't fly until 1 hour after shooting time so whats the point of being set up so early?

Just buzz right in during the first 20 min of daylight set up and never have to face this issue.

 

No idea what your point is here. Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Really?  I thought this was pretty funny.  You know there's always the guy that comes blowing through right after shooting time starts.  Not sure about the Bueller thing though.   

Now I get it. Thanks Loki. I start off slow then taper off! Yeah, nothing like being there at 4 AM sharp to set up just to have someone walk through your spread 5 minutes after opening. That blows.

[jason4429]

the game wardens what

The game wardens are clock watchers. You understand now?

[deltaops]

I go when ever I am awake, use a bird net, capture whatever is in the net and then sink them all and drown them.  It's 5:00 somewhere! 

If I do not want to pack my netting with me, I take my automatic shotgun with several magazines and unload into the flock. If I can see a silhouette of birds, pull the trigger, change out mags and repeat.

Come on man! what kind of questions are these? I only shoot what I can identify.............. If it is legal, I do it.

Who will be the next one to put up a ethics question?

[hdshot]

so if you had a huge buck and could see him fiveUnited before legal light would you take him ? should be the same answer I guess I'm alone here.

honestly coach I don't find myself paying much attention to big game shooting hours.   I probably should more.

I found out this year big game shooting hours are different than in the waterfowl regs.  Starting times are the same but half hour longer in the evening for big game.  So don't use big game hours in evening hunts for waterfowl.  Stupid me but hard to see horns much after the waterfowl shooting times have ended anyways.

[270Shooter]

Ill wait until shooting time if there are some in the decoys, then I am sluicing them!