Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??

[Ajj828]

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?

[chester]

Perfectly legal.

[bobcat]

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.

[Buckmark]

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 

[Bob33]

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.

[Fungunnin]

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.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

[Mtnwalker]

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.

[PastorJoel]

Don't practice rattling antlers while out there. 

[hunter399]

 

[Bob33]

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.

[hunter399]

 

[Antlershed]

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.

Straight from the regs...

[Antlershed]

When you scout you are pursuing,or tracking animals that is clear,and part of hunting as definition.

Not the WDFW definition.

[hunter399]

 

[Antlershed]

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.