Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: IBspoiled on August 29, 2012, 10:07:00 AM

Title: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: IBspoiled on August 29, 2012, 10:07:00 AM: Looking through the regs to see if you can hunt bear with a rifle in an area during archery deer or elk, I can't seem to find if this is legal. I don't have an archery tag, but would like to continue hunting bears. Can anyone point me in the regs where it may be? A guy at work told me that it isn't legal.
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: Curly on August 29, 2012, 10:10:46 AM: It is legal to hunt bears w/ a rifle even if it is archery season for deer or elk.

If it does not say in the regs that it is illegal, then it is legal. :twocents:
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: CAMPMEAT on August 29, 2012, 10:13:45 AM: That's like saying archery elk hunters can't hunt in bear areas. Deer season opens here on the 1st for archery and I'm going bear hunting. Just look out for moving camo in the woods....
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: KimberRich on August 29, 2012, 10:17:26 AM: Legal.
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: IBspoiled on August 29, 2012, 10:19:12 AM: Thanks, I thought it was legal. I always like to check when other people say something different than what I believe. :)
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: DoubleJ on August 29, 2012, 10:19:43 AM: To piggy back the thread, once rifle deer/elk season opens, bear hunters have to put on orange too don't they?
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: sebek556 on August 29, 2012, 10:20:59 AM: yes its legal, and yes once riffle opens bear hunters have to wear orange....
Put please don't scope me while I'm hiking around chasing elk/bear/deer since its all at once :bash:
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: lokidog on August 29, 2012, 10:49:57 AM: Quote from: sebek556 on August 29, 2012, 10:20:59 AM
yes its legal, and yes once riffle opens bear hunters have to wear orange....
Put please don't scope me while I'm hiking around chasing elk/bear/deer since its all at once :bash:

:yeah:

I've been scoped from a landing more than once.... >:(
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: hillbillyhunting on August 29, 2012, 12:14:50 PM: I am planning on camping, hunting and fishing this weekend. Can I bring my rifle for bear and bow for deer? Do I need to leave one in camp or can I have both with me? My buddy was thinking about hiking with his bow and rifle and I thought that would be illegal :dunno:
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: CAMPMEAT on August 29, 2012, 12:25:28 PM: Quote from: hillbillyhunting on August 29, 2012, 12:14:50 PM
I am planning on camping, hunting and fishing this weekend. Can I bring my rifle for bear and bow for deer? Do I need to leave one in camp or can I have both with me? My buddy was thinking about hiking with his bow and rifle and I thought that would be illegal :dunno:
[/quot

I'd take one or the other and not both. You''ll be asking for trouble.
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: Austrian Hunter on August 29, 2012, 12:28:28 PM: Quote from: CAMPMEAT on August 29, 2012, 10:13:45 AM
That's like saying archery elk hunters can't hunt in bear areas. Deer season opens here on the 1st for archery and I'm going bear hunting. Just look out for moving camo in the woods....

:yeah:
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: Buckmark on August 29, 2012, 12:35:45 PM: Quote from: hillbillyhunting on August 29, 2012, 12:14:50 PM
I am planning on camping, hunting and fishing this weekend. Can I bring my rifle for bear and bow for deer? Do I need to leave one in camp or can I have both with me? My buddy was thinking about hiking with his bow and rifle and I thought that would be illegal :dunno:
You can take both with you camping, but yes leave one in camp.
I hunt archery deer, bear with both archery and modern and grouse with a shotty every year opening weekend and have never had an issue, and have talked to the gamies.
The rifle stays in camp if i am archery hunting, the archery gear stays in camp if grouse/bear hunting. Now i will say i talk to the gamies in my area almost every year so they get to know me.
Just dont have both weapons in your truck with you at the same time while in the field or traveling to a hunt area...and no dont hike with both weapons on you...
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: h20hunter on August 29, 2012, 12:41:11 PM: Yep. What Buckmark said. If you are hunting in archery season you can not have a rifle or slug gun with you in case a bear shows up. You see a bear hustle back to camp if able, drop the bow, grab your thunderstick and go kill the bear.
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: bobcat on August 29, 2012, 01:10:12 PM: There's no law that says you can't hike while carrying a bow and a rifle. The issue is only that a game warden may THINK you are hunting deer with a rifle and write you up for it. My guess is it would get thrown out of court and the charge dismissed, due to there being no evidence that you violated the law. But, it could still end up costing you a lot of time and money.
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: h20hunter on August 29, 2012, 01:10:55 PM: Doesn't sound worth it to me.
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: cem3434 on August 29, 2012, 04:22:01 PM: Quote from: bobcat on August 29, 2012, 01:10:12 PM
There's no law that says you can't hike while carrying a bow and a rifle. The issue is only that a game warden may THINK you are hunting deer with a rifle and write you up for it. My guess is it would get thrown out of court and the charge dismissed, due to there being no evidence that you violated the law. But, it could still end up costing you a lot of time and money.

I have bear hunted in areas open to deer and elk many times in September and never had any issues. I have been checked and once they seen my deer and elk tags were for rifle, they sent me on my way. If you have archery deer and elk tags, I would not chance bear hunting with a rifle during archery season if you are in an area open for deer and elk. I think its perfectly legal, but it just looks suspect! :twocents:
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on August 29, 2012, 05:29:11 PM: Packing both a rifle and a bow while out on a "hike" during an open archery season would be just a little hard to believe, especially if the "hiker" has both an archery deer or elk tag and a bear tag in their pocket, and are "hiking" in an area that could be considered reasonable to find deer or elk.

I would loosely compare it to that whack job that walks down the street carrying a video camera and open-carried weapons...just trying to draw attention and asking to get stopped and questioned, maybe written-up or whatever.

There is what is called "Prima Facia evidence" of comitting or attempting to comit a crime. It may not be enough on its own to ultimatly result in a conviction for something, but it can be enough to put you in a position that you are defending yourself needlessly, when it could have been avoided by not trying to push the edge so hard in the first place.

If you want to hunt bear with a firearm during an archery season, then I would say leave the archery equipment in camp, at home, someplace other than the truck, where it is beyond your ability to easily obtain and go tip a yogi over with your firearm. Then do the same with the firearm when you go after your venison with the bow.

From page 74 in the hunting regs:

Archery Regulations
1. Rules pertaining to all archery hunting
seasons:
a. It is unlawful for any person to carry or
have in his possession any firearm while
in the field archery hunting, during an
archery season specified for that area,
except for modern handguns carried for
personal protection. Modern handguns
cannot be used to hunt big game or
dispatch wounded big game during an
archery, big game hunting season.

I would honestly say that being out in the woods with archery equipment, in an area where deer or elk could reasonably be expected to be found AND carring a firearm would be in violation (Prima Facia) of the archery season restriction listed above.

Some may agree, others will not.

Hopefully, Outdoor Guardian will catch this posting and we can get some feedback from him.
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: Johnb317 on August 29, 2012, 05:46:37 PM: Whatever you do... please be very concious that there are guys (and gals) in camo out there and we do blend in.
So if the bear waves :hello: don't shoot!

Once had a couple guys sneaking in on my duck decoys... not a warm and comfortable feeling :yike: It took a couple minutes of waving for them to stop focusing on the tasty dekes.
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: Bob33 on August 29, 2012, 05:50:57 PM: This situation has several versions: archery deer / modern bear, archery deer / turkey with shotgun, etc. The answers about only having one legal weapon while hunting one specie are correct.

What's odd about that is this: if I'm thinking of breaking the law and filling my archery deer tag with a modern firearm, then leaving my bow in my truck while I "bear hunt" with a modern firearm really makes me more likely to break the law, not less. :twocents:

Take one at a time.
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: hillbillyhunting on August 29, 2012, 06:04:11 PM: All of this is what I suspected. It makes sense. I am happy so long as I can drive to my camping location with both weapons. I have no problem making the decision on what I am hunting for before I leave camp. Deer hunt in the morning and evening... grouse hunt or fish during the day... bear hunt if i get an itchy trigger finger. I am looking forward to this weekend!
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: bobcat on August 29, 2012, 06:06:31 PM: What about this scenario: you're backpacking 10 miles into the high country to hunt the archery deer season, and also bear season is open so you bring a rifle. You're not hunting, you are hiking, but you are carrying both a bow and a rifle. How is that different than using a truck to get to your camp, and carrying both bow and rifle in the vehicle? You should be allowed to transport both bow and rifle any way you wish. (and you are, the law only says you cannot possess a firearm while "archery hunting.") So there's your loophole. When you are stopped by the game warden, tell him you are only hiking, you haven't started hunting yet.
Title: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on August 29, 2012, 06:15:47 PM: This makes no sense to me, what is wrong with keepin my rifle in my truck when I go out deer hunting with my bow? I have a tag for both, if a game warden stops me he will find a buck with a arrow wound or a bear with a bullet in its chest? Saying its illegal because you could shoot a deer with your rifle is like saying people carrying handguns on their Person in town for protection could get In trouble because they could loose it and shoot people! Just cause you could break the law doesn't mean you will.
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: lokidog on August 29, 2012, 09:14:30 PM: Quote from: bobcat on August 29, 2012, 06:06:31 PM
What about this scenario: you're backpacking 10 miles into the high country to hunt the archery deer season, and also bear season is open so you bring a rifle. You're not hunting, you are hiking, but you are carrying both a bow and a rifle. How is that different than using a truck to get to your camp, and carrying both bow and rifle in the vehicle? You should be allowed to transport both bow and rifle any way you wish. (and you are, the law only says you cannot possess a firearm while "archery hunting.") So there's your loophole. When you are stopped by the game warden, tell him you are only hiking, you haven't started hunting yet.

Doesn't matter what you do 2+ miles off the road, no gamies are hiking out there if they can't drive it..... :chuckle: :stirthepot:
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: nwhunter on August 29, 2012, 09:33:09 PM: Its another one of those rules caused by poachers that we all have to live with kind of like not getting to pick up winterkill skulls. We all know that scumballs will shoot there deer/elk with a rifle and stick an arrow in it and say they killed it with a bow thus the reason you shouldnt pack both on your person while in the field. I would rather live with not having both weapons in the field than have bear/cougar rifle seasons shutdown during archery seasons :dunno:nwhunter
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: bobcat on August 29, 2012, 09:42:54 PM: Quote from: nwhunter on August 29, 2012, 09:33:09 PM
Its another one of those rules caused by poachers that we all have to live with kind of like not getting to pick up winterkill skulls. We all know that scumballs will shoot there deer/elk with a rifle and stick an arrow in it and say they killed it with a bow thus the reason you shouldnt pack both on your person while in the field. I would rather live with not having both weapons in the field than have bear/cougar rifle seasons shutdown during archery seasons :dunno:nwhunter

Well said.
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: Gobble Gobble on August 29, 2012, 09:58:31 PM: Do you have a large caliber pistol? I archery hunt deer as well as carry a side arm that is legal for taking big game. Archery hunters are allowed to carry a pistol but as everyone else has already stated you can't carry a rifle archery deer hunting. I hope to take a bear with a bow but if things don't work out I have my trust .45 at my side to take care of old Smokey.
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: shanevg on August 29, 2012, 10:31:48 PM: [quote author=Bob33 link=topic=104052.msg1355259#msg1355259 date

What's odd about that is this: if I'm thinking of breaking the law and filling my archery deer tag with a modern firearm, then leaving my bow in my truck while I "bear hunt" with a modern firearm really makes me more likely to break the law, not less. :twocents:

Take one at a time.
[/quote]

:yeah:
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: Curly on August 30, 2012, 05:53:16 AM: Quote from: Gobble Gobble on August 29, 2012, 09:58:31 PM
Do you have a large caliber pistol? I archery hunt deer as well as carry a side arm that is legal for taking big game. Archery hunters are allowed to carry a pistol but as everyone else has already stated you can't carry a rifle archery deer hunting. I hope to take a bear with a bow but if things don't work out I have my trust .45 at my side to take care of old Smokey.

The problem with that is the wording for the law that allows archery to pack a sidearm:

Quote from: Blacktail Sniper on August 29, 2012, 05:29:11 PM

From page 74 in the hunting regs:

Archery Regulations
1. Rules pertaining to all archery hunting
seasons:
a. It is unlawful for any person to carry or have in his possession any firearm while in the field archery hunting, during an archery season specified for that area, except for modern handguns carried for personal protection. Modern handguns cannot be used to hunt big game or dispatch wounded big game during an archery, big game hunting season.

Basically you can't carry both a bow and a rifle while in the field because the game warden wouldn't be able to tell when you're hunting deer (and he isn't going to just take your word if you're "just out for a hike"). And the minute you shoot a bear with your sidearm, you're breaking the law because it is only to be used for protection. You'd have to get yogi to attack before you could shoot him with your sidearm..............might as well just shoot him with your bow if you're going to try to kill him with your sidearm. :twocents:
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: BULLBLASTER on August 30, 2012, 08:28:08 AM: You can use your bow for bears also :dunno: arrows will kill bears and deer... :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: hillbillyhunting on August 31, 2012, 10:46:35 AM: Dont mean to play the what if game, but i am thinking about this weekend. My partner and I both have archery deer tags (mine is multiseason), and i am thinking about mid day hunting. Can I cary my grouse or bear gun while my partner carries his bow? He has never shot a deer before and is willing to take a doe so I dont want him to miss out on an opportunity, but I would rather carry a grouse gun during the day. Is it only per person or would they think that I am going to hand off my rifle so that he can shoot a deer??? :dunno: :bash: :bash:
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: runamuk on August 31, 2012, 10:51:34 AM: Quote from: hillbillyhunting on August 31, 2012, 10:46:35 AM
Dont mean to play the what if game, but i am thinking about this weekend. My partner and I both have archery deer tags (mine is multiseason), and i am thinking about mid day hunting. Can I cary my grouse or bear gun while my partner carries his bow? He has never shot a deer before and is willing to take a doe so I dont want him to miss out on an opportunity, but I would rather carry a grouse gun during the day. Is it only per person or would they think that I am going to hand off my rifle so that he can shoot a deer??? :dunno: :bash: :bash:
this scenario is fine :tup:
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: hillbillyhunting on August 31, 2012, 10:56:28 AM: Quote from: runamuk on August 31, 2012, 10:51:34 AM
Quote from: hillbillyhunting on August 31, 2012, 10:46:35 AM
Dont mean to play the what if game, but i am thinking about this weekend. My partner and I both have archery deer tags (mine is multiseason), and i am thinking about mid day hunting. Can I cary my grouse or bear gun while my partner carries his bow? He has never shot a deer before and is willing to take a doe so I dont want him to miss out on an opportunity, but I would rather carry a grouse gun during the day. Is it only per person or would they think that I am going to hand off my rifle so that he can shoot a deer??? :dunno: :bash: :bash:
this scenario is fine :tup:

I thought it should be, but I just wanted some piece of mind. A big fat ticket would really ruin my most anticipated deer season yet! Soooooo excited the time has come!
Title: Re: Bear hunting with rifle during archery deer or elk?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on August 31, 2012, 12:04:22 PM: I'm finally gonna get out next weekend for my fisrt bear hunt of the year with a rifle during archery season..... It better be legal!!! Been doing it for 17 years.....