pistols in bow season

[TeacherMan]

I know you can carry a pistol during the bow season now for protection, but can you use it on grouse and rabbits? Just looking for the legal answer on this one. I shoot them all the time with my bow but $15 a bird gets spendy when you loose the arrow. I asked this question early this year but only got back comments on how I would be ruining all the other bow hunters seasons by discharging a firearm, I guess I look at this way I shoot them with a 22LR or my buddy goes with me and takes them out with a 12gauge  either way they are going down. And Sisu yes I have picked up a wrist rocket and I think I could kill one with that if I got within 15'  I'm not near as good as that guy you sent me footage of on that u-tube video, I would be better off with a 22 if I can legally use it. 

[JackOfAllTrades]

Well, I'm not all the hot on how the new law is written and think this will be challenged soon.

The new law discriminates against the person that does not have a conealed carry permit. Washington is an 'Open Carry' state. Always has been.   But that's a different argument.

So, if a hunter has a pistol and bow legally in their posession during any Deer/Grouse season, I feel that any judge would have to realise that if you have a pistol trained on a Grouse, at that point in time, you are a Grouse hunter. Not a Deer hunter. It is legal to harvest Grouse with a pistol. (Just shoot the head off!)

-Steve

[TeacherMan]

Seems like a lot of gray area to me. I was perfectly fine not being able to carry a pistol during the bow season but know since I can I feel like I would be waisting an opportunity to use it on grouse if its legal. 

[JackOfAllTrades]

If you've got a concealed carry permit, I don't think you have anything to worry about. The reasons to ammend the law is for personal protection, but like I said, If you're willing to make noise and shoot at a Grouse, then you become a Grouse hunter at that time. Not a Deer/Elk hunter. That's not gray area at all to me. A conservation officer would have to prove beyond doubt that you were intending to or have shot a Deer with that pistol, during Bow/Deer season. Now, here's the gray area...

He/she sees you with pistol trained on an animal he can't see. You shoot. You miss that Grouse. Fly's off. He/she could ticket you for shooting at a Deer, (that he couldn't see), during Bow season/witout proper harvest tag.  So, you had better aim well and recover that Grouse.

Remember to never dispatch an arrow shot Deer/Elk with Archery tag, with your pistol. That is not, and most likely never will be legal.

-Steve

[YellowDog]

Now, here's the gray area...

He/she sees you with pistol trained on an animal he can't see. You shoot. You miss that Grouse. Fly's off. He/she could ticket you for shooting at a Deer, (that he couldn't see), during Bow season/witout proper harvest tag.  So, you had better aim well and recover that Grouse.

-Steve

Not trying to be argumentative but I don't think this is a a gray area.  I don't believe being a bad shot is a violation of the law  .  I know that they use RoboDeer to catch guys shooting before or after legal hours and/or in closed units without proper permits and if you shoot and miss, you are still breaking the law if you are spotlighting RoboDeer and are dumb enough to pull the trigger. 

Lets say I have an archery deer/elk tag and want to go up to the woods to target practice with my bow AND with a pistol.  I am not hunting.  A warden can't prove I am hunting and I have not shot an animal so I have not broken the law.  If you have modern firarm deer and elk tags and you decide you want to go hunt coyotes during the archery season with a rifle you can do so without breaking the law.  Similarly if you call in a coyote and miss, the warden can't prove that you were actually shooting at a deer or elk with a firearm during an archery only season. 

By the way, I agree that the limitation on carrying a sidearm during archery seasons is dumb.  The old idea that having a sidearm creates too much temptation for the hunter to use said firearm to shoot his deer/elk does not fly with me.  There is a joke out there about a woman fishing on a lake that has live bait in her boat but she is not using it.  The warden tries to ticket her for using live bait in an artificial bait only lake.  She replies by saying he raped her.  He is gets infuriated at her accusation and says "how do you figure I raped you?".  She says, well, I assume you are a man and have all of the necessary equipment so you must be guilty of rape, right?

[JackOfAllTrades]

Not trying to be argumentative but I don't think this is a a gray area.

That's called a discussion. Certainly not argumentative.  I think there's potential for misinterpretation of exactly what's in process. You're right, this should never happen.

We all know of citations written for gray area issues. 

-Steve

[ICEMAN]

Couldnt you do both?....Bow hunt deer and grouse hunt with the pistol at the same time? I dont see any provision which limits that.... Is it illegal to carry your firearm for protection and to stop and blast a pinecone just for fun? Does bow season outlaw the use of your firearm...? No it doesn't.  It seems only to be considered bad form to pop off a round or two while others in earshot have decided to bow hunt...this seems to be the issue. I am sure alot of you bowhunters get a little peeved when a group decides to touch off a bunch of ammo two canyons over....

IMHO...The fact is that wildlife is going to have a hard time proving anything with this law...  It is what it is...

[Gutpile]

Well, I'm not all the hot on how the new law is written and think this will be challenged soon.

The new law discriminates against the person that does not have a conealed carry permit. Washington is an 'Open Carry' state. Always has been.   But that's a different argument.

So, if a hunter has a pistol and bow legally in their posession during any Deer/Grouse season, I feel that any judge would have to realise that if you have a pistol trained on a Grouse, at that point in time, you are a Grouse hunter. Not a Deer hunter. It is legal to harvest Grouse with a pistol. (Just shoot the head off!)

-Steve

One way not be be discriminated against is to just go get a permit. I see your point but there's an easy fix. I'm not a bowhunter but if I were I wouldn't be shooting grouse while hunting deer or elk but I can't imagine it'd be a problem.

[Hunterman]

This will be my first time hunting with a bow for over 20 years. I will have a pistol on my side this year, and not for grouse. If I'm not misstaken didn't we have a post on here awhile back about having a side while bow hunting for protection from cats and bears???

Hunterman(Tony)

[blindpig]

I'm a bow hunter, so when I see a grouse I like to shoot it with my bow.  The idea of harvesting an animal with my bow is the ultimate experience.  Back to the idea if it is legal or not, I would say no.  For personal protection does not include grouse, unless that grouse is in the process of stalking you for the purpose of killing you.  I don't know how far the "In fear of your life" thing applies.  I'm carrying a pistol with me this year, just like every year.  I'm not going to let a law get in the way of my personal safety and the safety of my hunting buddies.  

[JBar]

So, just "what if" I were to be driving my truck through my bowhunting area and I spot a herd of grouse munching on blueberries just off the road. Do I have the right to pull out my .22 pistol and go chasing them would it be any different if I grabbed my shot gun? Atfer all I'm up there for the purpose to be bowhunting deer or elk but would prefer not to shoot $20 dollar arrows ( though I usually do this cause it's so much fun ) but at that point I am specifically targeting grouse. IMO they would not have a case against me.

[MIKEXRAY]

I also don't think it's legal to use your pistol to kill a grouse while bowhunting. I think they would write a ticket. It does state for protection. I really like being able to carry legally for protection during archery & hope people don't screw it up by stretching the grey areas. Use the pistol for the intent granted and hunt grouse another day. my    Mike

[KillBilly]

I'm a bow hunter, so when I see a grouse I like to shoot it with my bow.  The idea of harvesting an animal with my bow is the ultimate experience.  Back to the idea if it is legal or not, I would say no.  For personal protection does not include grouse, unless that grouse is in the process of stalking you for the purpose of killing you.  I don't know how far the "In fear of your life" thing applies.  I'm carrying a pistol with me this year, just like every year.  I'm not going to let a law get in the way of my personal safety and the safety of my hunting buddies.  

How many other laws don't you care about breaking? I'm taking notes... need extra points...
  to announce that : I'm not going to let a law get in the way of my personal safety and the safety of my hunting buddies."

[gasman]

I just sent off a e-mail to the WDFW. we will see what there responce is.
 
Here is what i asked.
"If i am bow hunting deer or elk, can i legally shoot another game animal with my pistol?"
"Example would be legal game animal like, grouse, coyote, bear, etc. "

[BK Dave]

Wake The FU%$ up Guys!!!!!!!!
I don't think anybody in this state really gets it!! "some" of you NemRods just think you can push the envelope, and nothing will happen! Your so wrong. Remember motorised decoys?? or that favorite logging road you used to drive? If you abuse a privilege, then the state totally bans anything to do with it!!! I mean come on....
 There are 3 methods of taking big game in this state, if you want to carry a gun, buy a Modern firearm license!!! if you want to get away from a bunch of folks wearing hunters-orange and making big bangs!!! (come be a bowhunter) but don't bring your guns and your "grey areas"!!!!!
 IMHO Allowing anybody to carry a gun during archery season for "ANY" reason is a bad idea!!
If you want to shoot a grouse, use an old arrow. It's fun and wont cost you a thing if you "hit"your target.

By the way, I have nothing against "Gun hunting"at all, I would like to think that even the Gun hunters would agree with me, on carrying a firearm during bow season isn't fare to them as well.??