Carrying a rifle while turkey hunting?

[mallard79]

This may have been asked before but........can I carry my rifle for coyotes while hunting turkeys? I ask because I will be out with my son for the youth hunt and will be the primary caller for my uncle and son until they get their birds. We always seem to call in a coyote or two while turkey hunting and I want to shoot them. Is it legal? I will have all the appropriate licenses and boh seasons are open.......I dont see a problem with it as long as I dont use the rifle to shoot my turkey. What do you think?

[turkey slayer]

I really don't think it's illegal buy why not shot it with your shotguns if you are still hunting. I have killed 2 yotes on sets with my shot gun. The only thing is that the game warden might ask a lot of questions if you get checked while out in the woods

[mallard79]

Would shoot them with the shotguns if they were in range......usually see them at around 100-150 yards. We were also considering taking the foxpro.

[bobcat]

I'm sure it's legal but like turkey slayer said, a game warden might give you a hard time. It's just like two people hunting together in September, one with a bow for deer or elk, and one with a rifle for bear, or a shotgun for grouse.

[dawei]

With the WDFW no good deed goes unpunished; they surely would find a way to ticket you.

[turkeydancer]

I would talk with your local WDFW before doing so .... I have also shot coyotes with my shotgun when they sneak in to grab my decoys.  Bottom line - not worth the ticket and the chance.

[D-Rock425]

Didn't we have this same thread last year.

[mallard79]

I sent off an email to the wdfw enforcement email address......I will let you know what I find out if/when the reply back. 

[mallard79]

I got a response back a couple days ago from an enforcement officer from the Yakima office....it confirms what I was thinking......here it is.....

" You can legally carry a rifle for coyotes while you hunt turkeys. However, if you are checked by a game warden or county deputy, expect to be looked at a little harder than most, especially if you have a bird. A rifle is not a legal firearm to shoot a turkey. The range of a rifle is usually several miles so be extra aware of other hunters that could be out in the field.. As you know, turkey hunters are not required to wear hunter orange so they may be very difficult to see, especially way down range. Good luck and happy hunting!"
 

[bobcat]

Kind of ridiculous that he had to warn you about the "several mile" range of a rifle and that you need to be careful. 

If it's so dangerous to shoot a rifle during turkey season, why don't they close coyote season during that time?

[mallard79]

I was thinking the same thing about him warning me about the range of a rifle......last time I check coyote and bear don't have to wear hunter orange either and the majority are hunting with rifles too......

[Bob33]

I think you're being too hard on someone that was obviously trying to do something helpful.  There are some real morons that hunt that may not realize how far a rifle bullet travels.  Personally, I'm all for people like that reminding others to be safe.  What harm does it do?

[jackelope]

I think you're being too hard on someone that was obviously trying to do something helpful.  There are some real morons that hunt that may not realize how far a rifle bullet travels.  Personally, I'm all for people like that reminding others to be safe.  What harm does it do?

I guess I never thought about it. When I go turkey hunting, I go to shoot a turkey. The only way I'd end up shooting a yote is if it walked within shotgun range.

[LeeMajors]

I was thinking the same thing about him warning me about the range of a rifle......last time I check coyote and bear don't have to wear hunter orange either and the majority are hunting with rifles too......

It never fails that every year someone shoots their hunting buddy, and I'm quite sure their buddy didn't look like a coyote or bear.  Don't forget, we live in a country where you have to put a safety label on everything, because well... there are too many morons.  I attribute this to modern medicine eliminating natural selection