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

[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.