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.