Spot lighting from an improved road in a vehicle

[ribka]

FYI : Whoever is coming up into the Wenas area at night in a grey Nissan pick-up from the Yakima area and spot lighting from the road with firearms in your vehicle you will be written up when caught.

Been a lot of poaching in the area (deer, elk, birds, dogs) in the past months so everyone up there is  very aware of what is going on. 

[BIGINNER]

OOPS 

QUICK QUESTION,  WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED AN IMPROVED ROAD?  AND WOULD YOU BE FINE SPOTLIGHTING, BUT NOT SHOOTING FROM CAR? (AND NO LOADED GUNS) 

[bearpaw]

I would suggest you call a local warden where you want to spotlight and ask him what you can do and let him know you will be out. I think you can spotlight and shoot coyotes but probably not from a vehicle, good advice is to get the skinny from a warden in the area you want to spotlight.

[dirty24d]

I'm pretty sure any spotlight from the vehicle is gonna qualify as harrasment resulting in a ticket...  Where's BIG TEX AT

[ribka]

Already notified. Checked with Gamie and cannot spot light from a motorized vehicle. Normally would not care but a lot of animals in the area (dogs, deer, elk, lifestock in the past) are being shot and left at night near the road.

Sick of being woken up at 0200 hrs with a spotlight in bedroom window.

Neighbors are understandably upset

[KopperBuck]

I'm pretty sure any spotlight from the vehicle is gonna qualify as harrasment resulting in a ticket...  Where's BIG TEX AT

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.450

(1) A person is guilty of spotlighting big game in the second degree if the person hunts big game with the aid of a spotlight, other artificial light, or night vision equipment while in possession or control of a firearm, bow and arrow, or cross bow.

[MtnMuley]

I would suggest you call a local warden where you want to spotlight and ask him what you can do and let him know you will be out. I think you can spotlight and shoot coyotes but probably not from a vehicle, good advice is to get the skinny from a warden in the area you want to spotlight.

[CAMPMEAT]

You can spotlight coyotes and bobcats at night, IF you have predator calls in your vehicle. This is straight from the Game Warden here in Ferry County.

[bobcat]

I'm pretty sure any spotlight from the vehicle is gonna qualify as harrasment resulting in a ticket...  Where's BIG TEX AT

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.450

(1) A person is guilty of spotlighting big game in the second degree if the person hunts big game with the aid of a spotlight, other artificial light, or night vision equipment while in possession or control of a firearm, bow and arrow, or cross bow.

That says "if the person hunts big game." If you're not hunting big game, then you can spotlight from a vehicle all you want. (according to that law)

[KopperBuck]

  And I do it, but I make damn sure I'm not anywhere near a residence.

[ribka]

I'm pretty sure any spotlight from the vehicle is gonna qualify as harrasment resulting in a ticket...  Where's BIG TEX AT

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.450

(1) A person is guilty of spotlighting big game in the second degree if the person hunts big game with the aid of a spotlight, other artificial light, or night vision equipment while in possession or control of a firearm, bow and arrow, or cross bow.

That says "if the person hunts big game." If you're not hunting big game, then you can spotlight from a vehicle all you want. (according to that law)

Spotlighting itself is not the issue. The issue is doing it from a motorized vehicle. That is my understanding and what a Game Offical told me

Also shooting from your vehicle or standing on and shooting from an improved road would be a issue too. No handicapped issues . Young healthy guys seen.
Throwing beer cans from the vehicle would seem to indicate there are drinking and driving issues too

[chester]

Ok ill throw my  in. This is what ive gotten from the game warden about spotlighting.

spotlight from a vehicle with a weapon= Illegal (hunting from the vehicle)
spotlight from a vehicle with no weapon= legal 
spotlight from a with anything attached to or touching vehicle for coyotes = illegal (hunting from the vehicle)
spotlighting yotes with a battery powered light = legal

so for the purposes of hunting you must be clear of the vehicle before turning light on. just going shining with a gun in the truck shows intent so remove weapons before you go out to look around at night from your truck.

[Skyvalhunter]

Just a question but how do you KNOW they have a firearm in their vehicle along with a spot light?

[ribka]

Just a question but how do you KNOW they have a firearm in their vehicle along with a spot light?

neighbor talked to them and observed in vehicle

[gasman]

Just a question but how do you KNOW they have a firearm in their vehicle along with a spot light?

This is a known poaching area.

Ribka has posted pic of animals killed and left for dead a few times this winter.