Scouting deer while carrying a shotgun??

[hunter399]

 

[justyhntr]

I always carry a gun when in the woods ,this time of year it's a 12 gauge with 2/0 buck . I also always carry a current hunting license, 2 open reed distress calls and a couple diaphragm for howling .  It's always coyote season .  I also don't think you have to much to worry about bears and cougars , they don't want to see you anymore than you them . I've been as close as 5 feet from a bear and he still chose flight over fight .   

[hunter399]

 

[Ajj828]

I always carry a gun when in the woods ,this time of year it's a 12 gauge with 2/0 buck . I also always carry a current hunting license, 2 open reed distress calls and a couple diaphragm for howling .  It's always coyote season .  I also don't think you have to much to worry about bears and cougars , they don't want to see you anymore than you them . I've been as close as 5 feet from a bear and he still chose flight over fight .   

Do you need any tags for coyotes? I have a small game license and also purchased a deer tag this year.

[chester]

I always carry a gun when in the woods ,this time of year it's a 12 gauge with 2/0 buck . I also always carry a current hunting license, 2 open reed distress calls and a couple diaphragm for howling .  It's always coyote season .  I also don't think you have to much to worry about bears and cougars , they don't want to see you anymore than you them . I've been as close as 5 feet from a bear and he still chose flight over fight .   

Do you need any tags for coyotes? I have a small game license and also purchased a deer tag this year.

No tag needed. You're good to go. Fire away. 

[dmoua]

I've been stopped by Fish and game while scouting with my rifle in the summer. They asked me why I was carrying a rifle. I asked them in return, is there a law stating I cannot carry a rifle? and their answer was simply no. We chatted for a few minutes before we went our own ways.

On a side note, if you have your 2017 Hunting license, coyote is open year round. You can use that as a reasoning as well even though you don't need one.

[sumpnz]

If you are scouting an area that is known to (or could) contain bear or cougar (pretty much statewide), and bear/cougar season is open, if you get the bear and cougar tags (only an extra $11) you can claim, very legitimately that you are hunting bear and/or cougar while deer scouting.

As noted, even if it's too early for bear or cougar seasons to be open, or you don't want to pay for the tags, as long you have the current year license you can state you are coyote hunting while deer scouting. 

I think the only real issue is that you are not allowed to hunt coyotes at night with lights in areas open to general season deer or elk hunting during the respective seasons.  Which isn't what you are wanting to do anyway.

[hunter399]

 

[fishnfur]

A holstered sidearm of choice might make your scouting a bit easier.  To the casual observer, you also look less like you're hunting and more like you're just having a day in the woods.   

[BackStrappin]

Just remember you are guilty until proven innocent these days.