Other Hunting > Coyote, Small Game, Varmints

Predators & lights

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bearbait:
Can,t really figure out the legality of using spotlights at night for predators (Coyote and bobcat) in the regs.  Where can I find out the real scoop, or do's anyone really know?  How about the use of amber or red lights?

PolarBear:
The use of lights (red or spotlights) is legal for coyotes, raccoons, etc as long as it is within legal seasons and NOT during an open deer or elk season.  I got that straight from my friend at the WDFW.  I shoot quite a few songdogs at night with my red spotlight.

Krusty:
On page 61 of the new game regs it covers night hunting.

Bobcat, raccoon, and coyote may be hunted at night... then it should read; ONLY... during the established raccoon and bobcat seasons.

Night hunting is unlawful in any area currently open for a centerfire deer or elk season, during the months of September, October, or November.

Be very careful of this... the Advanced Hunter Program allows some very long centerfire seasons (in areas like the Clockum).

But it also can be a benefit. In areas like the Snoqualmie Valley, closed to the use of centerfire rifles, is lawful to hunt throughout the deer season (with an approved firearm).

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The use of colored lenses is a widely misunderstood subject.
Generally speaking a colored lens is used to "dim" a spotlight, not so a coyote "can't see it".
The coyote is being blinded by the light, regardless of color.

Contest hunters originally (in the late 50's and early 60's) began using colored lights, when animals became "light shy"... and these colored lenses were used in a "flipper" (or a flapper) configuration.
The colored lens dimmed the light while looking for eyes, and a target was "burned" with white light for the shot.

In places like Texas, where spotlighting from raised platforms in the back of a moving truck has caused animals to be extremely light shy colored lenses were again used, but in a "static" configuration... meaning they don't open revealing the white light.
Winning or losing lots of money isn't one of the negatives of target recognition problems (faced by sport hunters), so having a burn light is not as important (though I don't see why they don't use technology that could help if it's available).

Some modern contest hunters, following the latest trend in lights, are using "superposed" lights... A spotlight with more than one bulb/element.
A soft (often colored) wide angle light is housed along with a bright white "pencil spot", and wired to a two stage trigger.
This way they have a sweeping light less likely to spook shy critters, and a burn light for the shot.

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The real issue we face with night hunting, is education. We have to take the risk of finding a game officer, or police officer, who isn't "schooled up" on the laws pertaining to night hunting.

If you are night hunting, here's a piece of advice from me.
Don't use a rifle you'd miss if it were held in police custody while you await your day in court.
Don't have anything in your vehicle you'd miss, or that could make your troubles worse (like deer grunt calls or antlers for rattling, any food that could be considered (bear) bait, or even your big game transport tags).
Carry copies of the regs, and WAC codes pertaining to night hunting, and be prepaired to educate law inforcement (in a VERY polite way).

The game laws are very unclear, and even game officers have trouble interpretting them, which can lead to a conflict that will take steps through the chain of command to resolve.
The wheels of WDFW justice turn very slowly, just waiting to have them figure out you did nothing wrong, and return siezed property, can take months.

Good luck out there in the dark.

Krusty

boneaddict:
I personally want to wire my backyard to flip a switch to light up the whole hill behind my house.  That will fix them bugger. :chuckle:

high country:
call the enforcement guy in your area, talk to him and you will get his answer. I interprt it as legal outside any big game season, but it is all up to the enforcement officer.

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