Grouse hunting forest service roads

[Igor]

Jeez
Just step off the road when the bird flys up in a tree and drop him with a .410 or 20

You certainly know how to ruin a perfectly good multi-page thread...................

[MADMAX]

 

[Lady Grouse hunter]

Well these are NOT a flushing bird unless one has a Dog on-point soo this,,, Shoot and take off the road hunt...

[509]

don't have any idea where you are hunting but I am pretty sure it is not legal to fire any kind of firearm from a forest service road in okanogan county

I thought about that but the rules state: Negligently discharging a firearm (RCW 77.15.460): From, across, or along the maintained portion of any public highway, regardless of surface, or from within a moving vehicle or moving off-road vehicle is prohibited.

Emphasis being Negligently. If I am being careful and not negligent I think I am okay. (also per definitions of "public Highway" it means any maintained public road of any service type so not actually a highway.)

Thank you for chiming in though as it made me double check what I had previously read.

Next time your on a National Forest and see a National Forest Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) ask them this question.  LEO's have guns, and they are probably the only people that can answer you question.

Forest Service roads are NOT PUBLIC ROADS according to the state of Washington.  Public roads under Washington code refers to "gas tax supported" roads.  Which NFS roads ARE NOT.

However, it talks about a public highway, which makes me think that INCLUDES Forest Service roads.

Each National Forest in addition to the CRF's has local regulations.

Yeah, you want to ask a LEO...it is clear as mud.

[optic2]

Hello all,

I am going to try Grouse hunting on a forest service road this coming weekend. I have read a lot on here and other resources about hunting and I have seen Grouse in the area I will be in (along with some rabbits). My question is how odd will it be for others driving on the road to see me walking down the side of it in hunter orange with a bag and my shotgun being carried? The road is not super busy but sees a few cars an hour. I am not worried about other hunters in the area but there are others who use the road as well.

Any thoughts or comments on whether this is common or not or things I should watch out for/do or not do is appreciated.

Thank you

I wouldn't worry about it. I hunt elk on the coast and have walked down HWY 101 with my rifle in hand and had the sheriff and state troopers drive right by me and I'd give them a wave.

[JRRJ2021]

Thanks all.

I talked a few weeks back with Forest service Law Enforcement and they said as long as I am obeying state and local laws I am okay. hunting along the road safely, on foot, being aware of people and vehicles in the area etc. is all okay. Target shooting from or across the road is strictly prohibited but I should be just fine with what I was planning. I did go up before deer season started and managed to get 2 grouse. 1 from the road and 1 from an off road trail. missed getting shots on a few others that flushed as I was walking too ( did not take the shots at all.)

it is a lot of fun and I am definitely going to keep doing it. Also pretty tasty.

[Platensek-po]

Thanks all.

I talked a few weeks back with Forest service Law Enforcement and they said as long as I am obeying state and local laws I am okay. hunting along the road safely, on foot, being aware of people and vehicles in the area etc. is all okay. Target shooting from or across the road is strictly prohibited but I should be just fine with what I was planning. I did go up before deer season started and managed to get 2 grouse. 1 from the road and 1 from an off road trail. missed getting shots on a few others that flushed as I was walking too ( did not take the shots at all.)

it is a lot of fun and I am definitely going to keep doing it. Also pretty tasty.

Right on man!!!

[Lady Grouse hunter]

Soo I'm reading alot of Options to take birds, BUT state law does say shoot along, across ANY part of a maintained roadway dirt of paved is illegal... 
Hit the side branch (4 #d) roads as these birds do not want to hear/see any cars along a main, maintained F.S. road.

Get OUT of that truck, don't be lazy and really hunt to find these birds, climb over hill & dale & clearcuts.
It's fun and good execise!

[h20hunter]

I believe you are missing a word from the regs ..."negligently"....I could be wrong but it's easily looked up.

The exact wording....page 53, right hand column.

"Negligently shoot a firearm from, across,  or along the maintained part of any public highway."

[Lady Grouse hunter]

It states along ANY "maintained Road-way"! Dirt or not! In nother words,
If it's maintained by the State or a County within' this state of WA. Don't go road hunting! get out of the truck, get some exursize!!!

[h20hunter]

It does.  And it says "negligently." If you want to quote regulations you should quote it all.

[CP]

See the WAC sorry it's an RCW

https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.460


(2) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a loaded firearm if:
(a) The person negligently discharges a firearm from, across, or along the maintained portion of a public highway; or

[MIKEXRAY]

Or you could read it as the act of shooting across, from or down the maintained public roadway IS the negligence referenced. The act of not hitting a car coming around the corner or the dude on a bicycle you didn't see doesn't make it legal to complete the act of shooting down the road.  I never know 100% when people are joking or serious on here . I wouldn't shoot any gun down a road with two cars an hour coming down , but anyone can obviously make there own choices. As stated above there are plenty and plenty of choices of areas to hunt where the odds are much lower to not have an accident. 

[KP-Skagit]

Lots of ways to shoot from a road that aren't down it. I hike for grouse a lot. I also take them where I can get them.

If the intent was no shooting from a road then the law would say so plainly. Adding the word negligent indicates there are acceptable manners to shoot from the road.

[Lady Grouse hunter]

WHY R WE all aruring this?!