Shooting hours ethics.

[bobcat]

 

Iceman, I guess you misunderstood my post. I don't shoot just because the GPS tells me it is legal. I will shoot if it is light enough to see, AND if it is legal. And no, I do not go by the times printed in the pamphlet. As I have already said twice now, the GPS gives me the precise sunrise and sunset times for my exact location. I am not going to use the times printed in the pamphlet as those are only an approximation.

If YOU want to go by the pamphlet, then do so. I don't care. However I will use my GPS as I have been doing for many years now. I no longer have a need to look up legal hunting times in the pamphlet. I am one who likes to use new technology as it becomes available. I understand some people are old fashioned and don't like change, and that's fine too. I do wonder how you know when legal hunting hours are during the months for which the pamphlet does not list, if you refuse to believe in the sunset and sunrise times from a GPS unit.

[ICEMAN]

Iceman, I guess you misunderstood my post. I don't shoot just because the GPS tells me it is legal. I will shoot if it is light enough to see, AND if it is legal. And no, I do not go by the times printed in the pamphlet. As I have already said twice now, the GPS gives me the precise sunrise and sunset times for my exact location. I am not going to use the times printed in the pamphlet as those are only an approximation.

If YOU want to go by the pamphlet, then do so. I don't care. However I will use my GPS as I have been doing for many years now. I no longer have a need to look up legal hunting times in the pamphlet. I am one who likes to use new technology as it becomes available. I understand some people are old fashioned and don't like change, and that's fine too. I do wonder how you know when legal hunting hours are during the months for which the pamphlet does not list, if you refuse to believe in the sunset and sunrise times from a GPS unit.

Ok, I will play along. What are you hunting during the non-listed months?

[pianoman9701]

Still would like to hear from someone who knows from the WDFW. The words "Official Hunting Hours" seems pretty official to me. No one' slamming GPSs, Bob. It's just what the regulations in the pamphlet read. And the WAC link that you posted seems to say the exact same thing.

"WAC 232-12-288
Agency filings affecting this section
Official hunting hours for game animals and forest grouse.

(1) The following tables show the lawful hunting hours (1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset) for game animals and forest grouse (ruffed, blue, spruce) during established seasons.
(2) Exceptions:
(a) Bobcat and raccoon are exempt from hunting hour restrictions during established bobcat and raccoon seasons. However, when the area is open to modern firearm hunting of deer or elk, hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
(b) Hunting hours for falconry seasons (except for migratory game bird seasons) are exempt from these hunting hours, except on designated pheasant release sites."

Then it gives the same weekly time tables that are shown in the hunting pamphlet. Like I said, I'm sure that if you used your GPS to be exactly 1/2 before sunrise and then got ticketed, you would probably win in court. But why would you want to go through that? Why not just go by the pamphlet? Seems silly and a risk of real inconvenience and possible expense when following the pamphlet avoids either.

Hunting during a season that's not included in the time tables would necessitate using other means, like a GPS, to determine legal hours - acknowledged.

[bobcat]

This is silly. In real life, when I'm hunting, my rule of thumb is to begin hunting 15 minutes AFTER legal time in the morning, and quit hunting 15 minutes BEFORE the end of the legal time in the evening.

That is why the times printed in the regulations are irrelevant to me, and this is why I've never worried about the printed hunting hours differing from my GPS by 3 or 4 minutes.

[pianoman9701]

This is silly. In real life, when I'm hunting, my rule of thumb is to begin hunting 15 minutes AFTER legal time in the morning, and quit hunting 15 minutes BEFORE the end of the legal time in the evening.

That is why the times printed in the regulations are irrelevant to me, and this is why I've never worried about the printed hunting hours differing from my GPS by 3 or 4 minutes.

So, you're within legal hours then. Why the whole debate on the Official Hunting Hours v. exact 1/2 hour before sunrise, etc.? Never mind. I know the answer. It was a rhetorical question.

[ICEMAN]

This is silly. In real life, when I'm hunting, my rule of thumb is to begin hunting 15 minutes AFTER legal time in the morning, and quit hunting 15 minutes BEFORE the end of the legal time in the evening.

That is why the times printed in the regulations are irrelevant to me, and this is why I've never worried about the printed hunting hours differing from my GPS by 3 or 4 minutes.

It is not silly IMHO. Does your GPS inform you of all of the exceptions listed in the regulations regarding shooting hours?

[Bob33]

Iceman, I guess you misunderstood my post. I don't shoot just because the GPS tells me it is legal. I will shoot if it is light enough to see, AND if it is legal. And no, I do not go by the times printed in the pamphlet. As I have already said twice now, the GPS gives me the precise sunrise and sunset times for my exact location. I am not going to use the times printed in the pamphlet as those are only an approximation.

If YOU want to go by the pamphlet, then do so. I don't care. However I will use my GPS as I have been doing for many years now. I no longer have a need to look up legal hunting times in the pamphlet. I am one who likes to use new technology as it becomes available. I understand some people are old fashioned and don't like change, and that's fine too. I do wonder how you know when legal hunting hours are during the months for which the pamphlet does not list, if you refuse to believe in the sunset and sunrise times from a GPS unit.

Ok, I will play along. What are you hunting during the non-listed months?

I have an elk permit valid through February 28 next year (2014.)

[Bob33]

"But why would you want to go through that? Why not just go by the pamphlet? Seems silly and a risk of real inconvenience and possible expense when following the pamphlet avoids either."

Different reasons. For me, I always have a GPS with me while hunting so it's easy to check. It's nice to know exact sunrise/sunset in my exact location, not an approximation for an entire week for an entire half of the state. It provides accurate data for every location, for every date, every time.

I'm not aware of anyone using a GPS defense when hunting earlier or later than published hours in the table. It would be interesting to see how it turned out, but I think there's a good chance the table hours would trump a GPS if there was a conflict.

[ICEMAN]

You my friend are screwed.

What does your GPS suggest? 

[Bob33]

You my friend are screwed.

What does your GPS suggest? 

How so? The legal hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

[pianoman9701]

"But why would you want to go through that? Why not just go by the pamphlet? Seems silly and a risk of real inconvenience and possible expense when following the pamphlet avoids either."

Different reasons. For me, I always have a GPS with me while hunting so it's easy to check. It's nice to know exact sunrise/sunset in my exact location, not an approximation for an entire week for an entire half of the state. It provides accurate data for every location, for every date, every time.

I'm not aware of anyone using a GPS defense when hunting earlier or later than published hours in the table. It would be interesting to see how it turned out, but I think there's a good chance the table hours would trump a GPS if there was a conflict.

I tend to agree. I PM'd ucwarden to get his input on this subject about which Inquiring Minds Want to Know! And LEs don't always know the laws forward and backward, either, but at least he 'll have another perspective. Off to drink for a while. Tata!

[scout/sniper]

You my friend are screwed.

What does your GPS suggest? 

It says to read the damned regs.

[Bob33]

You my friend are screwed.

What does your GPS suggest? 

It says to read the damned regs.

Scout - what do the regs say are the legal big game shooting hours on February 28?

[ICEMAN]

You my friend are screwed.

What does your GPS suggest? 

How so? The legal hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

By reading the actual regulation, you have determined what the legal shooting hours are.

The point I am trying to get at is; all hunters need to read this section of the regs.

Pheasant and quail hunters could get quite a surprise citation if they shoot before 8am...

Goose hunters in many SW counties have different regulations....

To just rely on what your GPS displays as when sunset is, leaves hunters in the dark related to other regulations that may apply to their hunt.

[Bob33]

"To just rely on what your GPS displays as when sunset is, leaves hunters in the dark related to other regulations that may apply to their hunt."

You'll get no argument from me about that.