Questions for WDFW LEO

[HuntnFishnRyan]

I'm guilty of a comment mentioning that someone may have done something illegal. When someone writes up a success story of how they shot this animal while standing in the road while the animal was in the road I think its important to call that out for a few reasons. 1. Maybe they didn't know it was illegal. 2. So a newbie doesn't come onto the forum, read it and think its okay to do. 3. Non hunters read it and it gives the sport a bad name. 

I'm guilty of saying to someone to make sure not to hunt for bear caught on trail camera since the area was now baited. I should give that person the benefit of the doubt. I will keep that to myself in the future.

[Elkcollector82]

I'm guilty of saying to someone to make sure not to hunt for bear caught on trail camera since the area was now baited. I should give that person the benefit of the doubt. I will keep that to myself in the future.
[/quote]

So when can someone hunt the bear caught on their camera? When does a "bait" site not considered a bait site? You see a bear headed in the direction of your camera 100 yards from it. Is it safe to shoot it? How about a mile away?

 Here's another one. Your out coon hunting with your dogs. You drive around the corner see a bobcat, lion or a bear. You gonna jump out and shoot it or let it walk cause your truck is loaded with hounds?

[bearpaw]

   Those are good questions that would be nice to know the correct answer.

It would seem if you are not actively baiting and there is no longer bait at the bait site that you could shoot the bear. I'm not aware of any length of time requirements. 

I'm not sure if there is a distance requirement or how a warden would interpret how far you must be from a known deer or elk bait site before you can shoot a bear. 

Regarding having hounds in possession and shooting game not allowed to be taken while hound hunting, just having dogs in possession may keep you from taking the animal, but that is arguable and it would be nice to know the legal answer? 

Is there an LEO reading this who can answer these questions?

[runamuk]

My trail cam has no bait it simply collects data for me, so are my bears baited?  NO.

Circumstances are not always how you envision it.  A person could have shot from a dirt road in the center if a 1000 acre private property so shooting from the road is not always illegal.  Hell shooting in a no hunting area us not always gonna be illegal because situations occur.  Hunts with hounds still happen even though it is banned.

This is why some of us won't ever post half the stuff we do because so many rush to judgment without knowing enough to make that call.

[skeeter 20i]

This is why some of us won't ever post half the stuff we do because so many rush to judgment without knowing enough to make that call.

True story right there.

[ghosthunter]

So this one always bothers me.

I am out grouse hunting with my lab. Come around a corner and see a bear which I also have a tag for. Can I jump out grab my rifle and hunt the bear while the lab stays in her crate??

Can you have your lab in camp. While you are out hunting bear?

My truck at all times when I am out in the woods has a full compliment of assorted firearms in the vault.

[bearpaw]

This is why some of us won't ever post half the stuff we do because so many rush to judgment without knowing enough to make that call.

True story right there.

This was posted in the Lurkers, Esteemed members topic and I split it off since I thought these questions need to be a topic of their own so they don't threadjack the other topic. I think the OP was saying he was guilty of saying that to another member in the past before the forum revision.

Negative comments to other members is specifically an issue we are watching closely for on the forum now and I think it has already made a big difference. Some of you need to let go of the past and embrace the new forum!

[bearpaw]

So this one always bothers me.

I am out grouse hunting with my lab. Come around a corner and see a bear which I also have a tag for. Can I jump out grab my rifle and hunt the bear while the lab stays in her crate??

Can you have your lab in camp. While you are out hunting bear?

My truck at all times when I am out in the woods has a full compliment of assorted firearms in the vault.

Another great question that hopefully an LEO will answer?

[ghosthunter]

And while we are asking Leo questions......

My buddies and I often at night get into discussions on if a Leo can enter your tent or cook shack without permission or a warrant?

I understand they can inspect coolers.

But I have always held that your tent or other shelter where there was reasonable expectation of privacy, would be off limits.

[bearpaw]

And while we are asking Leo questions......

My buddies and I often at night get into discussions on if a Leo can enter your tent or cook shack without permission or a warrant?

I understand they can inspect coolers.

But I have always held that your tent or other shelter where there was reasonable expectation of privacy, would be off limits.

@bigtex Maybe he can help with this one?

[baker5150]

And while we are asking Leo questions......

My buddies and I often at night get into discussions on if a Leo can enter your tent or cook shack without permission or a warrant?

I understand they can inspect coolers.

But I have always held that your tent or other shelter where there was reasonable expectation of privacy, would be off limits.

@bigtex Maybe he can help with this one?

They had  an episode of rugged justice where a LEO tries to make conot act with a couple in an RV and he stated hecouldn't enter or search the rv without permission or a warrant.  Tents or cook shacks could be a different story but I wouldn't think so.

[Knocker of rocks]

And while we are asking Leo questions......

My buddies and I often at night get into discussions on if a Leo can enter your tent or cook shack without permission or a warrant?

I understand they can inspect coolers.

But I have always held that your tent or other shelter where there was reasonable expectation of privacy, would be off limits.

@bigtex Maybe he can help with this one?

They had  an episode of rugged justice where a LEO tries to make conot act with a couple in an RV and he stated hecouldn't enter or search the rv without permission or a warrant.  Tents or cook shacks could be a different story but I wouldn't think so.

Cook shacks, yes.  Tents?  no.

RCW 77.15.094
Search without warrant—Seizure of evidence, property—Limitation.
Fish and wildlife officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers may make a reasonable search without warrant of a vessel, conveyances, vehicles, containers, packages, or other receptacles for fish, seaweed, shellfish, and wildlife which they have reason to believe contain evidence of a violation of law or rules adopted pursuant to this title and seize evidence as needed for law enforcement. This authority does not extend to quarters in a boat, building, or other property used exclusively as a private domicile, does not extend to transitory residences in which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, and does not allow search and seizure without a warrant if the thing or place is protected from search without warrant within the meaning of Article I, section 7 of the state Constitution. Seizure of property as evidence of a crime does not preclude seizure of the property for forfeiture as authorized by law.

[olyguy79]

And while we are asking Leo questions......

My buddies and I often at night get into discussions on if a Leo can enter your tent or cook shack without permission or a warrant?

I understand they can inspect coolers.

But I have always held that your tent or other shelter where there was reasonable expectation of privacy, would be off limits.

@bigtex Maybe he can help with this one?

They had  an episode of rugged justice where a LEO tries to make conot act with a couple in an RV and he stated hecouldn't enter or search the rv without permission or a warrant.  Tents or cook shacks could be a different story but I wouldn't think so.

Cook shacks, yes.  Tents?  no.

RCW 77.15.094
Search without warrant—Seizure of evidence, property—Limitation.
Fish and wildlife officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers may make a reasonable search without warrant of a vessel, conveyances, vehicles, containers, packages, or other receptacles for fish, seaweed, shellfish, and wildlife which they have reason to believe contain evidence of a violation of law or rules adopted pursuant to this title and seize evidence as needed for law enforcement. This authority does not extend to quarters in a boat, building, or other property used exclusively as a private domicile, does not extend to transitory residences in which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, and does not allow search and seizure without a warrant if the thing or place is protected from search without warrant within the meaning of Article I, section 7 of the state Constitution. Seizure of property as evidence of a crime does not preclude seizure of the property for forfeiture as authorized by law.

And it all depends on the state.

Game wardens in Idaho for example have wider search authority than WDFW.

The Supreme Court in California ruled a couple years ago if you simply leave a fishing area game wardens can stop you and search your car, doesn't matter if they suspect a violation or not.

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[olyguy79]

So this one always bothers me.

I am out grouse hunting with my lab. Come around a corner and see a bear which I also have a tag for. Can I jump out grab my rifle and hunt the bear while the lab stays in her crate??

Can you have your lab in camp. While you are out hunting bear?

My truck at all times when I am out in the woods has a full compliment of assorted firearms in the vault.

You'd be good to go. Now if your dog was out chasing the best that'd be a different story.

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[Elkcollector82]

All I hear are crickets from the LEO's