Post by: vandeman17 on May 31, 2013, 10:33:26 AM
If u get a bear on a trail camera then u arent allowed to hunt for that bear in that area if u are hunting bear... Thats for washington state anyway... correct me if im wrong but its somewhere along those lines..
I don't believe that is true in Washington. Correct me if I am wrong guys but you just can't hunt the bear if you used bait to attract him to your camera. If you just happened to catch one then you are fine.
Back to the original topic but as far as I have heard and read, you can't use a trail camera in Montana during any sanctioned hunting season. I have even heard that you can get in trouble by a gamie if you have a trail camera in your truck during hunting season and he believes you were going to use it but I may be wrong on that one.
Post by: JLS on May 31, 2013, 10:38:32 AM
In Montana you cannot use them during any hunting season. However, to say that you can't have one in your truck is quite a stretch. Just another urban legend.
Post by: vandeman17 on May 31, 2013, 10:40:34 AM
There is nothing in WA that prohibts hunting an animal that is on a trail cam. You are correct, if he's coming in to a bait, then that bear would be off limits.
In Montana you cannot use them during any hunting season. However, to say that you can't have one in your truck is quite a stretch. Just another urban legend.
Having it in your truck is just what I heard from a buddy. He said that he got stopped once to check a license and the gamie said that technically he could write him a ticket but that he wouldn't. I think it is similar to where a cop technically could write you a ticket for doing 71 in a 70 but they won't in general.
Post by: JLS on May 31, 2013, 10:42:52 AM
Post by: vandeman17 on May 31, 2013, 10:47:50 AM
I wonder how many weeks there actually is nothing open to hunting? :dunno:
Post by: bobcat on May 31, 2013, 10:49:12 AM
Or say you live in Montana and you're not even a hunter. You just like to see pictures of the animals on your property. Are you not allowed to use a trail cam?
Post by: vandeman17 on May 31, 2013, 11:00:46 AM
Do you have to be hunting in Montana to be cited for using a trail cam during a hunting season? Say you have it out before deer season opens and a deer tag is all you have purchased. Bear season is open, but you're not hunting bears. Would trail camera use still be illegal?
Or say you live in Montana and you're not even a hunter. You just like to see pictures of the animals on your property. Are you not allowed to use a trail cam?
That is a darn good question and wish I had an answer for it. :dunno:
Post by: LittleJohn on May 31, 2013, 11:02:21 AM
Pg 14 of the 2013 Mont regs:
It is illegal for a person to possess or use in the field any electronic or camera device whose purpose is to scout the location of game animals or relay the information on a game animals location or movement during any commissioned-adopted hunting season.
Clear as mud, right :) :dunno:
Post by: vandeman17 on May 31, 2013, 11:04:10 AM
I live in Montana and am from WA. Between general season, wolf season, lion season, there is only 3 months out of the year that there is not a hunting season. The local game warden told me that he only considers the general big game season as the trail cam restrictions (Sept-end of Nov) :twocents: :twocents:
Pg 14 of the 2013 Mont regs:
It is illegal for a person to possess or use in the field any electronic or camera device whose purpose is to scout the location of game animals or relay the information on a game animals location or movement during any commissioned-adopted hunting season.
That is great to know but I wonder if a different game warden would be different and would write you a ticket if during the other seasons. I don't really agree with the rule but it is what it is.
Post by: pendoreilleadventures on May 31, 2013, 11:10:22 AM
Post by: LittleJohn on May 31, 2013, 11:10:35 AM
I guess if your not a licensed hunter and you dont tell other hunters what is on your camera you can have them up year round :dunno: :tup:
Post by: vandeman17 on May 31, 2013, 11:12:21 AM
I too wonder if different wardens have different opinions? I just stick to June, July, and August and call it good.
I guess if your not a licensed hunter and you dont tell other hunters what is on your camera you can have them up year round :dunno: :tup:
EXACTLY! :chuckle:
Post by: GoldTip on May 31, 2013, 11:12:38 AM
I live in Montana and am from WA. Between general season, wolf season, lion season, there is only 3 months out of the year that there is not a hunting season. The local game warden told me that he only considers the general big game season as the trail cam restrictions (Sept-end of Nov) :twocents: :twocents:
Pg 14 of the 2013 Mont regs:
It is illegal for a person to possess or use in the field any electronic or camera device whose purpose is to scout the location of game animals or relay the information on a game animals location or movement during any commissioned-adopted hunting season.
Clear as mud, right :) :dunno:
Being from Montana (live in WA.) and having discussed this with several game wardens, I am unsure as to how the regulation is "clear as mud." It is very well written and outlined. If there is a commission adopted season open for any species, then game cams can not be used. Period. It seems very clear from where I stand. Is it appropriate? No, not at all in my opinion. But it is very clear. Basically you can use game cams during the summer in Montana.
Post by: billdo5 on May 31, 2013, 11:20:13 AM
Post by: JLS on May 31, 2013, 03:31:43 PM
I stand corrected, looks like your buddy could have gotten zapped for having it in his truck while out hunting.
Post by: bobcat on May 31, 2013, 03:39:35 PM
Vandeman,
I stand corrected, looks like your buddy could have gotten zapped for having it in his truck while out hunting.
I don't see how. Just having it in a vehicle shouldn't qualify.
Just like in this state if you're going hunting during an archery season, it's not illegal to have a rifle in your truck.
Post by: vandeman17 on May 31, 2013, 03:40:39 PM
Post by: JLS on May 31, 2013, 03:45:18 PM
Vandeman,
I stand corrected, looks like your buddy could have gotten zapped for having it in his truck while out hunting.
I don't see how. Just having it in a vehicle shouldn't qualify.
Just like in this state if you're going hunting during an archery season, it's not illegal to have a rifle in your truck.
Because it says possess in the field. It's not illegal to possess a rifle in the field during archery season, but it's illegal to hunt with it.
Post by: vandeman17 on May 31, 2013, 03:48:25 PM
Post by: bobcat on May 31, 2013, 03:51:35 PM
Vandeman,
I stand corrected, looks like your buddy could have gotten zapped for having it in his truck while out hunting.
I don't see how. Just having it in a vehicle shouldn't qualify.
Just like in this state if you're going hunting during an archery season, it's not illegal to have a rifle in your truck.
Because it says possess in the field. It's not illegal to possess a rifle in the field during archery season, but it's illegal to hunt with it.
So being in your truck meets the definition of "possess?" I wouldn't think so, because when you're in the truck you're not "in the field."
If the intent of that law is to prevent people from storing a trail camera in their vehicle, that's taking things a bit too far, IMO.
I often have 2 or 3 trail cameras stored in my truck, with no plans to use them. Good thing I don't live in Montana.
Post by: bobcat on May 31, 2013, 03:52:58 PM