Deer shot by a bow hunter in downtown Gig Harbor

[JimmyHoffa]

Totally not smart

Sorry, I disagree.  The warden stated on record that the hunter had permission of the land owner to shoot the animal, and the hunter had the proper documents.  Perfectly legal.

You don't like it?  Your opinion.  I might not like it, either, but that would be my opinion.  The hunter (and the property owner) agreed, that's the end of the story.

I agree. Totally legal. What i dont like is them calling him a bow hunter.  He is a rifle hunter,in a rifle season using a bow in a firearm restricted area.  NOT a BOW hunter. Unless maybe he has the multi-season tag.  Just something else to make bowhunters look bad.

He was hunting with a bow. He's a bow hunter. Period. They were 100% correct in calling him that. What makes him a "rifle hunter" and not a bow hunter, when he actually was in fact hunting with a bow?

yeah, quite a few bow hunters like to hunt the rifle tag because of rut timing.

[Bob33]

I live in a city in eastern King County that allows hunting with archery gear on private land. I can legally shoot a deer in my backyard with a bow. When I do and it runs across the street in front of a school bus of kids and dies in my neighbor's front yard it is likely he would allow me to retrieve it. When I drag it back across the street to my yard to gut it, I may get a visit by the police who were called by a concerned neighbor.

But not to worry, it's all legal.

[Timberstalker]

I live in a city in eastern King County that allows hunting with archery gear on private land. I can legally shoot a deer in my backyard with a bow. When I do and it runs across the street in front of a school bus of kids and dies in my neighbor's front yard it is likely he would allow me to retrieve it. When I drag it back across the street to my yard to gut it, I may get a visit by the police who were called by a concerned neighbor.

But not to worry, it's all legal.

Correct, you may be able to drink a beer as well, depending on your local open container rcw’s.

[Bob33]

I live in a city in eastern King County that allows hunting with archery gear on private land. I can legally shoot a deer in my backyard with a bow. When I do and it runs across the street in front of a school bus of kids and dies in my neighbor's front yard it is likely he would allow me to retrieve it. When I drag it back across the street to my yard to gut it, I may get a visit by the police who were called by a concerned neighbor.

But not to worry, it's all legal.

Correct, you may be able to drink a beer as well, depending on your local open container rcw’s.

Before or after I shoot the deer?

[beav1980]

Sounds
like Pierce County is about as bad as King County smh

[BA Mongor]

Had Permission To Hunt The Land
Had A Legal Tag
Shot It During Season
Shot It With A Legal Weapon

What is the %@$#% is the issue!
Good for him, and I hope it was a wall hanger to boot. To all the city folk or others that have an issue with it, they can stay indoors and watch Animal Planet !

[Stein]

You don't like it?  Your opinion.  I might not like it, either, but that would be my opinion.  The hunter (and the property owner) agreed, that's the end of the story.

There is more to the story than legality.  Hunting is a privilege and one afforded to a minority of us that are hunters.  If we do not manage public opinion and hunting develops a negative opinion, it will be game over.  It may be perfectly legal to do something, but still not smart if you care about the future of hunting.

Some will quickly chime on that we have no obligation to appease the "antis" or whatever we call them.  The fact of the matter is that 94% of the people that vote don't hunt.

[BigGoonTuna]

Here in Hoquiam, you can't shoot any weopans in the city limits, bows included. Not even target practice in your own yard.  It didn't used to be this way. Back in the day we'd set up targets in a safe location and shoot our bows to our hearts conūtent.

I remember when that came about. I believe it was a Minister and his son legally killed two deer in the Ministers back yard. Same thing, bow hunting, in that case though I believe no one was the wiser until a dog dug up the entrails they buried there. Neighbors complained and before you know it all weapons including bows are outlawed from use within the city limits.

the really screwy thing is that hoquiam's city limits include rennie island and all the salt waterfront from the refuge to grays harbor city.  Was really excited to have what looked like great duck hunting 5 minutes from my front door until i learned that.  I lived on the edge of town and would have had ample opportunities to take 3 and 4 point bucks in my back yard (not to mention the big black bear that wdfw trapped at my neighbor's place in 2009)

[JDHasty]

You don't like it?  Your opinion.  I might not like it, either, but that would be my opinion.  The hunter (and the property owner) agreed, that's the end of the story.

There is more to the story than legality.  Hunting is a privilege and one afforded to a minority of us that are hunters.  If we do not manage public opinion and hunting develops a negative opinion, it will be game over.  It may be perfectly legal to do something, but still not smart if you care about the future of hunting.

Some will quickly chime on that we have no obligation to appease the "antis" or whatever we call them.  The fact of the matter is that 94% of the people that vote don't hunt.

True story.

Hunting laws preserve wildlife, having a respect for others who don't share the same attitude you have about hunting preserves the hunter's opportunity to hunt. Because ethics generally govern behavior that affects public opinion of hunters, ethical behavior ensures that hunters are welcome and hunting areas stay open.

[JDHasty]

Had Permission To Hunt The Land
Had A Legal Tag
Shot It During Season
Shot It With A Legal Weapon

What is the %@$#% is the issue!
Good for him, and I hope it was a wall hanger to boot. To all the city folk or others that have an issue with it, they can stay indoors and watch Animal Planet !

It's too bad you weren't there to help him strap it to the hood of his car so he could drive around town showing it off and really rub the "city folk's" nose in
Had Permission To Hunt The Land
Had A Legal Tag
Shot It During Season
Shot It With A Legal Weapon

//s

This is what is posted on WDFW's website:

Remember that the future of hunting depends on hunters and non-hunters alike. Be considerate of non-hunters’ sensibilities, and strive to leave them with positive images of hunting and hunters.

[idaho guy]

Lets get to the heart of the issue here Washington needs to pass a law immediately to prohibit naming backyard and city animals. First Bullwinkle and now "bucky" Really? I guess wildlife are just like the ones in the Disney movie

[snake]

Lets get to the heart of the issue here Washington needs to pass a law immediately to prohibit naming backyard and city animals. First Bullwinkle and now "bucky" Really? I guess wildlife are just like the ones in the Disney movie

Don't even start with bullwinkle again.....

[spin05]

Totally not smart

Sorry, I disagree.  The warden stated on record that the hunter had permission of the land owner to shoot the animal, and the hunter had the proper documents.  Perfectly legal.

You don't like it?  Your opinion.  I might not like it, either, but that would be my opinion.  The hunter (and the property owner) agreed, that's the end of the story.

I agree. Totally legal. What i dont like is them calling him a bow hunter.  He is a rifle hunter,in a rifle season using a bow in a firearm restricted area.  NOT a BOW hunter. Unless maybe he has the multi-season tag.  Just something else to make bowhunters look bad.

He was hunting with a bow. He's a bow hunter. Period. They were 100% correct in calling him that. What makes him a "rifle hunter" and not a bow hunter, when he actually was in fact hunting with a bow?

yeah, quite a few bow hunters like to hunt the rifle tag because of rut timing.

i got no problem with that. When i rifle hunted .I hunted Shelton at the end of the season in a firearm restricted area with my muzzloader and sometimes a shotgun.  Do i call my self a shotgun hunter???  Do i call myself a blackpowder hunter. ?? Nope . I was a rifle hunter due to the Tag i carried and the seson i hunted.   But call whatever you want.  .  I know some guys that just like shooting there bow and use it in a diffrent season.    All the public sees is he is a bow hunter and  all the bad press that came along with it.

[Knocker of rocks]

“The owner of the property where the deer actually died can forbid a hunter from collecting the animal, and they can call the police, but they can be held liable for the dead deer and can be charged with the wasting of the animal,” Summit said.

I hope the reporter mis-quoted the warden in that quote above. He is spreading misinformation with that quote. It's sad if the warden is actually misinformed in the law....

Officer Summit is clearly wrong.  The landowner can prohibit the hunter from entering his (or her) lands to retrieve the animal.  What they likely cannot do is prohibit WDFW from retrieving the animal, but WDFW cannot then give it to the hunter because the animal is then property of WDFW and employees cannot give away government property.
http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1627&Year=2015

[Curly]

“The owner of the property where the deer actually died can forbid a hunter from collecting the animal, and they can call the police, but they can be held liable for the dead deer and can be charged with the wasting of the animal,” Summit said.

I hope the reporter mis-quoted the warden in that quote above. He is spreading misinformation with that quote. It's sad if the warden is actually misinformed in the law....

Officer Summit is clearly wrong.  The landowner can prohibit the hunter from entering his (or her) lands to retrieve the animal.  What they likely cannot do is prohibit WDFW from retrieving the animal, but WDFW cannot then give it to the hunter because the animal is then property of WDFW and employees cannot give away government property.
http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1627&Year=2015

Yeah,  my hope is that the author misquoted Summit. It's scary that a wdfw officer would get an issue like this wrong but we know he is wrong with what he said in that quote. I hope someone has educated Summit on the law after reading that article.