Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bow Hunting => Topic started by: DWAT on June 12, 2024, 11:27:29 AM

Title: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: DWAT on June 12, 2024, 11:27:29 AM: I want to hunt deer and bear at the same time. The way I read it, I "can not possess any firearm while in the field hunting". I find it hard to believe I can't even have a gun in my truck? If I see a deer I go after it with a bow. A bear, I take the rifle? Any clarity would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: bobcat on June 12, 2024, 11:28:40 AM: You can have anything you want in your truck.
Title: Re: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: vandeman17 on June 12, 2024, 11:29:39 AM: Quote from: bobcat on June 12, 2024, 11:28:40 AM
You can have anything you want in your truck.

But if the warden is in a bad mood...
Title: Re: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: Bob33 on June 12, 2024, 11:39:17 AM: The full sentence in the WAC reads as follows: "It is unlawful for any person to carry or have in his possession any firearm while archery hunting in the field during an archery season specified for that area, except for modern handguns carried for personal protection."

The key issue would be whether or not you are considered archery hunting by the enforcement officer. I believe most officers would consider a cased rifle in a back seat of your truck to be OK. Put it in the front seat with a loaded magazine next to it and you have a greater chance of getting a different response.
Title: Re: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: BD1 on June 12, 2024, 11:51:40 AM: With all due respect I would call Fish and Game to get your answer :twocents:
Title: Re: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: X-Force on June 12, 2024, 11:54:55 AM: Get in close on the bear… :archery_smiley:
Title: Re: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: callturner on June 12, 2024, 11:55:47 AM: The magic line in that law states quote in the field. If you're bear hunting you're bear hunting if you're archery hunting you're archery hunting.
Title: Re: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: James on June 12, 2024, 12:19:50 PM: I doubt that law is constitutionally legal, but it would take a ton of money and time to challenge.

AR10 pistol might be worth looking into, or hunt with a buddy. One has the rifle, one has a bow, switch off between bear hunting and bow hunting as needed.
Title: Re: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: chukardogs on June 12, 2024, 03:14:03 PM: As far as I have ever read or heard, when driving a vehicle, you are not in the field. If you are on I-90 driving at 60 mph to your hunting area with your rifle in the case, you would not be considered, in the field. Therefore, when driving up Forest service road 500, as long as your feet are in that vehicle and your gun is still in that case, you would not be considered, in the field.
I cross a reservation every year driving to my hunting spot. I have asked the tribal police and been told, in their opinion, as long as I'm in the vehicle, gun is in its case, I am not in the field.
It would be nice if they would put the exact definition of, in the field, in the regulations. I think it's pretty clear but nowadays........
Title: Re: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: addicted1 on June 12, 2024, 04:18:39 PM: Pretty clear to me, don’t carry a gun unless it is for protection WHILE archery hunting. Meaning boots on the ground, pretty straightforward. If you are running a drop camp, then you would carry the gun and be bear hunting on the way in. And, would need to leave the gun behind while hunting during archery season.
Title: Re: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: jason stevens on June 12, 2024, 06:08:31 PM: Carry a pistol for protection in the legal description of hunting. But at the end of the day if your close enough use your bow. Had this issue before. Leave your riffle in camp is your only protection. Unless that day your hunting bear. Then leave your bow in camp. Some wardens will cause you problems. Only legal matter I had was I was bow hunting deer an kid was riffle hunting bear. Win win nothing they could do.
Title: Re: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: Loup Loup on June 25, 2024, 11:28:13 AM: When asking for clarification from WDFW on any subject, get their answer in writing.
Title: Re: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: CarbonHunter on June 25, 2024, 01:41:53 PM: It is illegal to hunt from a motor vehicle unless you are disabled. Therefore it doesn’t matter what weapon is in the vehicle because you can’t hunt from the vehicle.

I also believe I am within my rights to carry a bow, pistol, rifle, and muzzleloader simultaneously while I pick huckleberries but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Title: Re: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: MADMAX on June 25, 2024, 05:50:31 PM: I had a warden hassle me once for having a 20 gauge on the back seat heading up to walk some gated roads for archery elk
Told him we were archery elk hunting as he’s talking to us he sees the shotgun
I said if I grab the 20 to shoot grouse I’m grouse hunting
If I’m out and carrying my bow I’m elk hunting
Talked about in the field and in the truck
He said well it’s a grey area
That was 20 years ago
He was a Richard about it though
Anymore I don’t take any extra weapons besides what I have on my person
Too much theft nowadays
Title: Re: Can not posses a rifle while bow hunting?
Post by: jdb on June 25, 2024, 06:20:35 PM: Quote from: Loup Loup on June 25, 2024, 11:28:13 AM
When asking for clarification from WDFW on any subject, get their answer in writing.
and have it signed