spotlighting

[Brownie28]

ok so ive been wanting to do some night hunting but havent been able to find out if its legal to spotlight and shoot from the bed of a truck on private prperty or if its still considered a NO NO. im thinking that the axtra elevation from being in the bed of the pick up wouold be an advantage instead of just hunting from the ground. any imput or experiences or tips??

[carpsniperg2]

Shooting from any part of the truck/rig is against the law. Unless you have a special disabled permit issued from fish and wildlife. Spotlighting is legal if done right. Not shooting from public roads or shooting from a rig.

[Bob33]

What are you hunting?

[Kain]

Sorry its illegal.  I even think it is illegal to have your spotlight plugged into the vehicle but i could be wrong on that one.


http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01184/wdfw01184.pdf  page 70

4. Hunting wildlife from a motor
vehicle is prohibited, exceptions: see
Persons with Disabilities on page 83.

[Brownie28]

just spotlighting for coyotes. i dont plan on shooting from roads but wondered about hunting on private land. ive seen a truck driving around here with a high rack in the back so it got me thinking about night hunting from the bed of the truck.

[Kain]

There is also this law.  Neither rule makes an exception for private property.


Page 67

Loaded Firearms in a Vehicle
It is illegal to carry, convey, transport, possess,
or control a loaded shotgun or rifle in or on any
motor vehicle. A rifle or shotgun containing shells
or cartridges in either the chamber or magazine, or
a muzzleloading firearm that is loaded and capped
or primed is considered loaded.

[JJB11B]

Get yourself a good chargeable spotlight, and the standard yote gear...drive out to where you plan to hunt...walk in....wait for a few minutes....call...listen.. shine the light and look for eyeballs. make sure the eyeballs are in fact coyotes before you shoot....I had an incident with a skunk when I was in junior high on a friends family's farm

[sirmissalot]

I've always understood it to be legal as long as there is no centerfire big game season. You can't shoot from a road or vehicle though. It would be interesting to find out it was illegal to spot light from a vehicle... I've done it since I was 16, thats not to say its legal though maybe I'm just lucky  all we've ever killed was coons and see a lot of deer, a few coyotes but never on public land.

[BOWHUNTER45]

its legal to spotlight coyotes and coons and bobcat ... can not spotlight deer elk bear and cougar .best thing to do is notify local enforcement -police dept or local wildlife officer and let them know your in the area and what you are doing ..thats lets them know incase someone calls you in forspotlighting... most of the time they will not show up harassing you .. But be legal . no shooting from the road or vehicle..Now what I would like to see done is no spotlighting during big game season PERIOD !! Tired of some of these big time hunters bragging up all these monster bucks that were shot at night ...just saying there is a few