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Author Topic: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??  (Read 9839 times)

Offline Ajj828

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Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« on: April 05, 2017, 03:20:12 PM »
I'm not sure if this is legal or not. But I want to scout deer on some public land but I'm afraid of bears and cougars. I know I shouldn't be afraid of them but I would just feel way more comfortable carrying a shotgun with some slugs while I scout. I'm only 20 and don't have a pistol yet and I can't borrow anybody else's so I'm left with a .22 or a shotgun. If I got stopped by a warden would i get busted for carrying a shotgun when it's not hunting season?

Offline chester

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Re: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2017, 03:34:16 PM »
Perfectly legal.
Dilligaf

Offline bobcat

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Re: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2017, 03:42:58 PM »
Definitely no law against carrying a firearm for personal protection, or for any reason, really. You don't need a reason, the 2nd amendment to the constitution gives you the right to do so.

Offline Buckmark

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Re: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2017, 03:49:24 PM »
Not only is it perfectly legal but buy your hunting license as it is hunting season, coyotes are legal 365 days a year and you might run across one  :tup:
To hunt and butcher an animal is to recognize that meat is not some abstract form of protein that springs into existence tightly wrapped in cellophane and styrofoam.

Offline Bob33

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Re: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« Reply #4 on: April 05, 2017, 04:53:57 PM »
It is completely legal as you aren't doing anything considered hunting for a specie not legal at that time or place. Just walking in the woods scouting you should be fine.
Nature. It's cheaper than therapy.

Offline Fungunnin

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Re: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« Reply #5 on: April 05, 2017, 06:20:18 PM »
You can even take your hunting rifle with you if you want. Everyone is allowed to walk in the woods with a gun. Heck you can carry a pistol if you like.

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Offline Mtnwalker

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Re: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2017, 07:13:03 PM »
When I was in high school I got a ticket for hunting without a license because I let a game warden convince me that I was doing something wrong when I wasn't. Was in the woods with a gun in my truck but I was not hunting. Knowing your rights and being confident in what you're legally allowed to do is a great first step to keep from getting a bs citation like I did back then.

Offline PastorJoel

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Re: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2017, 09:51:17 PM »
Don't practice rattling antlers while out there.  :tup:

Offline hunter399

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Re: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2017, 10:00:03 PM »
 :tung:
« Last Edit: May 01, 2017, 10:26:25 PM by hunter399 »

Offline Bob33

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Re: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« Reply #9 on: April 05, 2017, 10:04:40 PM »
Hunting is the practice of killing or trapping animals, or pursuing or tracking them with the intent of doing so.


So by defined ,scouting may be a part of hunting,even  though your not killing them.Just say your hiking and brought it for self defense.or maybe some target practice after your hike.

There's always two different ways to skin a cat.
Just have to use the right words change scouting to hiking to be sure not to get a ticket.
Scouting is not hunting.

"To hunt" and its derivatives means an effort to kill, injure, harass, harvest, or capture a wild animal or wild bird.
Nature. It's cheaper than therapy.

Offline hunter399

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Re: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2017, 10:09:48 PM »
 :tung:
« Last Edit: May 01, 2017, 10:26:51 PM by hunter399 »

Offline Antlershed

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Re: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« Reply #11 on: April 05, 2017, 10:10:02 PM »
Hunting is the practice of killing or trapping animals, or pursuing or tracking them with the intent of doing so.


So by defined ,scouting may be a part of hunting,even  though your not killing them.Just say your hiking and brought it for self defense.or maybe some target practice after your hike.

There's always two different ways to skin a cat.
Just have to use the right words change scouting to hiking to be sure not to get a ticket.
Scouting is not hunting.

"To hunt" and its derivatives means an effort to kill, injure, harass, harvest, or capture a wild animal or wild bird.
:yeah: Straight from the regs...

Offline Antlershed

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Re: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« Reply #12 on: April 05, 2017, 10:10:35 PM »
When you scout you are pursuing,or tracking animals that is clear,and part of hunting as definition.
Not the WDFW definition.

Offline hunter399

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Re: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« Reply #13 on: April 05, 2017, 10:13:37 PM »
 :tung:
« Last Edit: May 01, 2017, 10:27:16 PM by hunter399 »

Offline Antlershed

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Re: Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??
« Reply #14 on: April 05, 2017, 10:15:42 PM »
What do you think harass wild animal means.
I think it means harassing them. Scouting (looking) for deer isn't harassment, unless the deer in your area are a bunch of snowflakes.  :twocents:

 


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