Possibly stupid question about hunting with a partner....

[Atroxus]

Lets say my hunting partner and I go hunting and I bag a deer. I tag it and we haul it out then it's too late to do any more hunting that day. The next day the two of us go back into the woods so my buddy can try to fill his tag. At this point am I breaking the law by helping him hunt now that I no longer have a valid tag?

[washelkhntr]

If your packing a gun for the purpose of helping him fill his tag then "YES", you are breaking the law.

[h20hunter]

I can't see where you would have a problem. Just don't shoot an animal and then have him tag it. I would keep my rifle (or take another) and look for yotes to pop. Help your buddy out with your extra eyes and ears. Then, when he bags it you can help with the knife work and the pack/haul out.

[woodman]

I can't see where you would have a problem. Just don't shoot an animal and then have him tag it. I would keep my rifle (or take another) and look for yotes to pop. Help your buddy out with your extra eyes and ears. Then, when he bags it you can help with the knife work and the pack/haul out.

I talked to a game warden about something similar to this and he just got an angry look in his eye, then he said that he would frown on it.

[KimberRich]

I can't see where you would have a problem. Just don't shoot an animal and then have him tag it. I would keep my rifle (or take another) and look for yotes to pop. Help your buddy out with your extra eyes and ears. Then, when he bags it you can help with the knife work and the pack/haul out.

Agreed.  Coyote's always open.  I've been lucky enough to be in this position and I pushed through some brushy bottoms and did a ton of leg work for my buddy to try and help him get his animal and I scouted a few canyons away for future hunts.  I know he would do the same for me.  

[bigtex]

I can't see where you would have a problem. Just don't shoot an animal and then have him tag it. I would keep my rifle (or take another) and look for yotes to pop. Help your buddy out with your extra eyes and ears. Then, when he bags it you can help with the knife work and the pack/haul out.

I talked to a game warden about something similar to this and he just got an angry look in his eye, then he said that he would frown on it.

 

It would be different if say you were using a 30-06 for the deer then carried a .22 when you were with your buddy. You will be walking a thin line just like the warden said. There are several counties in this state, especially eastern washington that take fishing and hunting violations very seriously. And those counties tend to be where the best hunting is. Personally, I wouldn't take the risk. There really is no need for you to take yoru gun.

[h20hunter]

Great point on the difference in caliber and the fact that you can do some "drives" for your buddy. Take along a varmit caliber for the dogs and get your buddy set up so you can do some drives for him. Also a good point about some areas being different. Some game wardens may give you a hard time simply because for every person like you (concerned about doing the right thing) they have 2 or 3 *censored*s that don't give a lick.

[uplandhunter870]

theres no law stating that you need a tag to carry a rifle in the woods, coyotes will be fair game as will be cougar (depending on your GMU) and bears will still be open. as long as you dont poach anything or shoot your buddy's deer and have him tag it then you're fine

[rasbo]

hunt on with you buddy,you wont be breaking a law.if your not hunting anything,why tote a rifle,bring a handgun

[Tony]

I can't see where you would have a problem. Just don't shoot an animal and then have him tag it. I would keep my rifle (or take another) and look for yotes to pop. Help your buddy out with your extra eyes and ears. Then, when he bags it you can help with the knife work and the pack/haul out.

I talked to a game warden about something similar to this and he just got an angry look in his eye, then he said that he would frown on it.

A game warden can frown on this all they want as long as you are not shooting an animal for someone else to tag and you have a valid license for somthing that is in season. If you not breaking the law you don't have anything to worry about.

[dirty24d]

theres no law stating that you need a tag to carry a rifle in the woods, coyotes will be fair game as will be cougar (depending on your GMU) and bears will still be open. as long as you dont poach anything or shoot your buddy's deer and have him tag it then you're fine

To cover your butt if you are legitamately just there to assist and not shoot it for him, i would suggest ensuring you are carrying two different caliber rifles. Not suggesting that  should you run across a warden that he is a ballistics and forensic expert but you could probably prove that the animal was harvested with one vs the other.       just a thought.    In my mind i see nothing wrong with it but could also see how a warden would frown upon it, however frowning doesnt make it illegal..  

[seth30]

I can't see where you would have a problem. Just don't shoot an animal and then have him tag it. I would keep my rifle (or take another) and look for yotes to pop. Help your buddy out with your extra eyes and ears. Then, when he bags it you can help with the knife work and the pack/haul out.

whoa buddy stop and read the regs, during deer season there is a certain caliber you cant exceed for yote hunting.  Better to be safe than sorry

[wildmanoutdoors]

Exactly! And who is going to leave there rifle at camp or locked in a truck? Not me.
Frown all ya want Gammie...

[bobcat]

I would definitely carry my rifle if I was in an area where seeing a bear was likely. Not sure about coyotes, I wouldn't want to be shooting at them while hunting deer. Also there's always a small chance of seeing a cougar. If you have bear and cougar tags there's no reason you should go in the woods without a rifle.

[Atroxus]

Thanks for the info everyone. I think just to be safe I will leave my rifle at home if this happens. Will just bring my handgun for self defense and call it good.

[300magman]

" the game warden would frown upon it"

to hell with him, as long as you are not breaking the law.......He can shut his mouth and go back to doing nothing to help the wildlife, which they all seem to do very well. They think they can bust you or write you a ticket for just about any damn thing. Study the laws and the black and white rules, then when they start their " I KNOW EVERYTHING" take them to school and make them look like idiots.
Got no use for any of them, very few care about the animals they protect and what they forget is we the hunters pay their paycheck............

[bobcat]

Thanks for the info everyone. I think just to be safe I will leave my rifle at home if this happens. Will just bring my handgun for self defense and call it good.

That's not a bad way to go. I often don't bring a rifle when I'm along to help others on their hunts. Sometimes I prefer to just carry binoculars, camera, and perhaps a spotting scope and tripod.

[seth30]

I would definitely carry my rifle if I was in an area where seeing a bear was likely. Not sure about coyotes, I wouldn't want to be shooting at them while hunting deer. Also there's always a small chance of seeing a cougar. If you have bear and cougar tags there's no reason you should go in the woods without a rifle.

I never leave home without the judge for those special moments

[bobcat]

What is "the judge"

[Ray]

http://www.taurususa.com/gun-selector-results.cfm?series=41

[dirty24d]

Thanks for the info everyone. I think just to be safe I will leave my rifle at home if this happens. Will just bring my handgun for self defense and call it good.

Dont short change yourself. Like Bobcat said if you have tags for other big game in season in the area you are traveling i would take your rifle. You paid for those tags and it well within your rights. If i was to be in that situation and ran across a gamie the first question normally out of there mouth is what are you hunting for. I would tell the truth.

[Atroxus]

I only have deer and elk tags this year, and the seasons don't overlap in the area we will be hunting, so I am not too worried about that aspect. I just wanted to make sure that we don't get in trouble helping eachother if one of us get an animal but not the other.

[testar77]

I only have deer and elk tags this year, and the seasons don't overlap in the area we will be hunting, so I am not too worried about that aspect. I just wanted to make sure that we don't get in trouble helping eachother if one of us get an animal but not the other.

If you don't have a Bear tag, then I would probably leave the Rifle and carry a pistol. But that's just me.  If you had a Bear tag then you should DEFINATELY carry a rifle, and there isn't a damn thing they can do about it.  You would be WELL within your rights


Toby

[chrisb]

I can't see where you would have a problem. Just don't shoot an animal and then have him tag it. I would keep my rifle (or take another) and look for yotes to pop. Help your buddy out with your extra eyes and ears. Then, when he bags it you can help with the knife work and the pack/haul out.

whoa buddy stop and read the regs, during deer season there is a certain caliber you cant exceed for yote hunting.  Better to be safe than sorry

Where is this in the regs. All i saw was that it was illegal to take a game animal with a caliber smaller than .24. Nothing about required to carry a certain caliber for yotes during deer season.

[bobcat]

I think there used to be a law like that but it was changed several years ago.

[KimberRich]

What is "the judge"

What?? Bobcat doesn't know everything??  I'm amazed. 

[Bofire]

   10. Hunting during modern firearm
deer or elk seasons:
You may not hunt wildlife during any modern
firearm deer or elk season, with any firearm
24 caliber or larger or containing slugs or
buckshot for big game, unless you have a valid
license, permit and tag for one of the following:
deer, elk, black bear, cougar, mountain goat,
bighorn sheep, or moose.

this is from this years regs.

Carl

[bobcat]

Oh yes, that looks familiar. I think what changed about it is that now if you have a bear or cougar tag, the restriction doesn't apply.

[whacker1]

Yes, if you are hunting coyotes during a valid big game season without big game tag you must be using a caliber smaller than .240.   $350 ticket. Happened to someone close to me last year that grabbed the 6 mm instead of the 22-250, because he didn't know about this law and no bear tag either. 

ingorance to this law is no excuse, but it is a bit obscure compared to other states.



 

[Bofire]

  Bobcat? LOL
aint that what it says?
Carl

[Hangfire]

Notice it says firearm, 24 cal. or larger. If you decide to leave the rifle home and carry the handgun it still  has to be under 24 cal.

[Bscman]

Notice it says firearm, 24 cal. or larger. If you decide to leave the rifle home and carry the handgun it still  has to be under 24 cal.

Nah, this is where it gets really shady.

For instance, you can't use a handgun with a barrel under 4" for harvesting big game...so theoretically, then, couldn't you carry a pistol with a barrel under 4" no matter the caliber? That would be the same as just a pistol under .24 caliber--neither one is big game legal.

What if you have a concealed carry permit? Then you can carry concealed for defensive reasons whether you are in the woods or not.

Or, what about he carry exemptions? You can carry a pistol if you are on your way to/from, or actively participating with the following: Hunting, hiking, fishing, camping, or horseback riding...without a permit!

With all the grow operations, meth labs, and the rest of the shady stuff out there...I think a warden would have a VERY hard time getting that ticket to stick.
Now, if you're packing a TC Encore in .308 with a 2-7x scope...that pistol may come into question!

[bobcat]

Yeah, you can carry a handgun anytime you want while you're out in the woods. Actually, that is true for rifles as well. You just can't be hunting with it. Tell the warden it is for self defense.

[Bscman]

Another quick note...I had a few email exchanges with a WDFW officer a couple years ago regarding hunting with my father (different species, different tags, hunting together).

The long and short of it, he pointed out Washington's definition of HUNTING:

"(53) "To hunt" and its derivatives means an effort to kill, injure, capture, or harass a wild animal or wild bird"

In the end he simply pointed out that it is the officer's discretion to cite based the actions the officer observes. He pointed out to me that I don't even need to have tags in my pocket or a firearm or bow on my person to technically be considered "hunting" in this state.

Seems as though we really have to "tip-toe through the tulips" with some officers, in some areas, as some of these laws are REALLY open to interpretation.

I'll have to dig through my archived emails and see if I can come up with the exact emails and verbage.
In my eyes, and I'm sure in some officer's eyes as well, two guys packing rifles through the woods...with only one of them actually having tags for a current, open season will appear a bit shady. I wouldn't be caught packing a .300winmag and be "coyote hunting" while you're spotting the elk 400yds away (through your own scope) while your buddy lines up to take a shot...
I say, the less "guilty" you can make yourself appear...the better off for everyone. I don't want to go out in the woods to spend an hour debating with the officer. I'd rather be hunting...leave your rifle home. Pack a pistol or go buy a bear tag--they're cheap.

[grundy53]

We have this thing in America called the second amendment...

[FC]

That is such a stupid rule, it won't do squat to catch real poachers but it DOES turn honest people into poachers in the eyes of the law.

[Jeremy S]

I would definitely carry my rifle if I was in an area where seeing a bear was likely. Not sure about coyotes, I wouldn't want to be shooting at them while hunting deer. Also there's always a small chance of seeing a cougar. If you have bear and cougar tags there's no reason you should go in the woods without a rifle.

[ICEMAN]

Carry some targets with you and a roll of masking tape.

[bobcat]

Carry some targets with you and a roll of masking tape.