NIGHT HUNTING QUESTION

[BIGINNER]

IS IT ILLEGAL TO HUNT COYOTES AND BOBCATS AT NIGHT DURING THE GEBERAL SEASON,  SEPT.-DEC.?   OR IS IT JUST ILLEGAL FOR BIGGAME?

[bearmanric]

during modern Firearm Deer and elk season's it is illegal. Rick

[KimberRich]

I believe it's illegal to "shine" predators during the general seasons.  Would be pretty hard to convince a Warden that you are only looking for yote's.

[cabin308]

during modern Firearm Deer and elk season's it is illegal. Rick

bearmanric is correct.

Page 56 in the Big Game regs.
"Night Hunting and Hound Hunting
During Deer and Elk Hunting Seasons
Bobcat, raccoon, and coyote may be hunted at night during established bobcat and raccoon seasons, EXCEPT that it is unlawful to hunt any wildlife at night
or wild animals with dogs (hounds) during the months of September, October, or November in any area open to a centerfire rifle deer or elk season. The use of
hounds to hunt black bear, cougar, bobcat, or coyote is prohibited year round except during commission authorized hunts."
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/huntregs2009.pdf

[257 Wby Mag]

I've pondered this myself. The way I read it, if the GMU is open for Modern deer or elk, you can't night hunt during those months? Pretty deceiving? Or is it only DURING the seasons?

[LongTatLaw]

well..for one...  good luck killing a elk with a 17 HMR

prob a deer...  dont wanna know..never mind

so...even in SEP, OCT, NOV  if theres no centerfire deer or elk season open...I can dogs at night?

ok..so heres a real head banger...   i know a place where people tend to dump their deer/elk leftovers...  its covered up in yote crap...  have often thought of seeting up on the road into the area...say 100 yards or so from the dump site at night...and treestand hunting for yotes...

just shine the trail every once in a while...

so, now Im in a tree with a 223 at midnight 100 yards from bait killing yotes ONLY...  its october but not deer/elk rifle season

Im legal?

Why does that sound so very not legal to me?

[Kain]

The way I read it is that if the area is not open to "center fire rifle" (not to be confused with modern firearms) you CAN hunt at night.  I live in the Battleground unit and it is firearm restricted.  It is never open to center fire rifle so I can hunt at night all season long.