Thermal hunting blacktail or any big game

[lewy]

I agree 100%

[pickardjw]

Like Bob said and I alluded to, it's a question of whether the individual is deemed to be "hunting" while using the device. In my best legalese, I'd change the regs to read something like...

"It is illegal to use thermal imaging devices to hunt or locate with the intent to hunt deer, elk, sheep, goat, moose or turkey"

[buckfvr]

Like Bob said and I alluded to, it's a question of whether the individual is deemed to be "hunting" while using the device. In my best legalese, I'd change the regs to read something like...

"It is illegal to use thermal imaging devices to hunt or locate with the intent to hunt deer, elk, sheep, goat, moose or turkey"

To use or have in ones possession during any open big game season.  Plus its already illegal to hunt after legal hunting hours during any big game season so the "I was hunting coyotes" wont fly.

[Bob33]

The irony is that they could be a great tool for finding downed game along the same lines as a blood trailing dog. If people could be trusted to use it only for that...

[huntnfmly]

The irony is that they could be a great tool for finding downed game along the same lines as a blood trailing dog. If people could be trusted to use it only for that...

I believe there are products out there that do just that
I think primos put one out awhile ago

[storyteller]

The Leupold Quest was being marketed in part to track bloodtrail of an animal that you had shot.   If it was only used for tracking , is that  really different  than using a dog on leash to track  the  animal?

[buckfvr]

    Really ?

[dreadi]

Throughout history we have used the next advancement of technology to accomplish tasks with greater efficacy and a greater degree of effectiveness.
NV, IR, etc,  is just a level that some people believe we shouldn’t use for big game.

I surely would have like to have been able to legally use some a couple nights ago at 6:22pm, under a forest canopy, when I knew for sure it was a buck when looking through binos (magnifying light) but, did not get the same level of light magnification while aiming through my optic and could not get a good visual. He walked.

[MeepDog]

This is a weird topic. I don't think there's anything wrong or illegal about shining a flashlight at a deer. If your intention is to shoot the deer lit up by flashlight, obviously that's completely criminal. I think if you drive out, with no weapons in your possession, and shine a flashlight in a field and see a nice buck, and you set up the next morning and kill that buck in the same field all the more power to you. Maybe I have this wrong, but there's no way an LEO tickets you for looking at deer at night with no weapon because the whole point of the language is to prevent night hunting by poachers. Should we ban IR trail cams that look at deer at night? Protect your rights and report poachers but don't give up your rights in the process. 

[pickardjw]

This is a weird topic. I don't think there's anything wrong or illegal about shining a flashlight at a deer. If your intention is to shoot the deer lit up by flashlight, obviously that's completely criminal. I think if you drive out, with no weapons in your possession, and shine a flashlight in a field and see a nice buck, and you set up the next morning and kill that buck in the same field all the more power to you. Maybe I have this wrong, but there's no way an LEO tickets you for looking at deer at night with no weapon because the whole point of the language is to prevent night hunting by poachers. Should we ban IR trail cams that look at deer at night? Protect your rights and report poachers but don't give up your rights in the process. 

Not sure I'd compare spotlighting deer and using thermal imaging to glass for deer as the same thing.

[IFunk]

Throughout history we have used the next advancement of technology to accomplish tasks with greater efficacy and a greater degree of effectiveness.
NV, IR, etc,  is just a level that some people believe we shouldn’t use for big game.

I surely would have like to have been able to legally use some a couple nights ago at 6:22pm, under a forest canopy, when I knew for sure it was a buck when looking through binos (magnifying light) but, did not get the same level of light magnification while aiming through my optic and could not get a good visual. He walked.

Sorry to hear that Dana.  I would have really liked to have had some miniature defoggers for my glasses and scope on Wednesday night at 6:15pm.   A milk chocolate, broad antlered 4-point stepped just out of the timber at 35 yards in pursuit of his girlfriends I had been watching for 2+ hours.  Would have been my first harvest.  But alas, he walked..

[dreadi]

Throughout history we have used the next advancement of technology to accomplish tasks with greater efficacy and a greater degree of effectiveness.
NV, IR, etc,  is just a level that some people believe we shouldn’t use for big game.

I surely would have like to have been able to legally use some a couple nights ago at 6:22pm, under a forest canopy, when I knew for sure it was a buck when looking through binos (magnifying light) but, did not get the same level of light magnification while aiming through my optic and could not get a good visual. He walked.

Sorry to hear that Dana.  I would have really liked to have had some miniature defoggers for my glasses and scope on Wednesday night at 6:15pm.   A milk chocolate, broad antlered 4-point stepped just out of the timber at 35 yards in pursuit of his girlfriends I had been watching for 2+ hours.  Would have been my first harvest.  But alas, he walked..

Daaaang. Was the excitement just too much and you got heated up causing all that glass to fog up?

[MeepDog]

So as it stands currently. With no intent to kill an animal, can you use thermal to scout fields at night time? 

[IFunk]

Throughout history we have used the next advancement of technology to accomplish tasks with greater efficacy and a greater degree of effectiveness.
NV, IR, etc,  is just a level that some people believe we shouldn’t use for big game.

I surely would have like to have been able to legally use some a couple nights ago at 6:22pm, under a forest canopy, when I knew for sure it was a buck when looking through binos (magnifying light) but, did not get the same level of light magnification while aiming through my optic and could not get a good visual. He walked.

Sorry to hear that Dana.  I would have really liked to have had some miniature defoggers for my glasses and scope on Wednesday night at 6:15pm.   A milk chocolate, broad antlered 4-point stepped just out of the timber at 35 yards in pursuit of his girlfriends I had been watching for 2+ hours.  Would have been my first harvest.  But alas, he walked..

Daaaang. Was the excitement just too much and you got heated up causing all that glass to fog up?

I think that was a major contributing factor!  And Western Washington precipitation. 

[storyteller]

Since the essence of this thread is about  the use of technology for hunting.    How about the states that  are outlawing trailcams?    Here is the definition of hunt in washington state ,  "To hunt" and its derivatives means an effort to kill, injure, harass, harvest, or capture a wild animal or wild bird."

With that said, advancement of technology is kind of hurting our sport.   Thermal for big game, drones, the list goes on

Something to think about.