Is this cheating?
03-28-2007, 08:00 AM
#41
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Is this cheating?
I'm not sure if it's a regional thing or not, KP.....but we refer to first light as "shooting light" a lot. Lots of guys, around here, would say "I didn't have enough shooting light". I made a thread about this, during the '05 season.....and got BLASTED for it!...lol
I'll check with our GW. He's a buddy.
I'll check with our GW. He's a buddy.
03-28-2007, 08:10 AM
#42
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location:
Posts: 1,394
RE: Is this cheating?
ORIGINAL: OHBowhunter
Killer Primate I believe we are dealing with a part of the law that is not well defined. Lets see
1. You are allowed to walk in the woods at any time with your bow
2. You are NOT allowed to SHOOT deer outside of the allowed times set
3. When you are in the woods you can hunt yotes with a bow. Who isto say what you are hunting?
It all comes back to being a ethical hunter.
Killer Primate I believe we are dealing with a part of the law that is not well defined. Lets see
1. You are allowed to walk in the woods at any time with your bow
2. You are NOT allowed to SHOOT deer outside of the allowed times set
3. When you are in the woods you can hunt yotes with a bow. Who isto say what you are hunting?
It all comes back to being a ethical hunter.
In VA it isn't well defined as you said, but I think it would qualify as illegal. But really there is no difference between this method and some other things that we, as a group of hunters also do on a regular basis, like what GMMAT stated about being in his stand at 3:30 am. This too is lacking proper detail in the regs, but both are illegal and done to improve the odds of taking game. Each person having their own definition of "normal" would then also have their own definition of "ethical".
03-28-2007, 08:19 AM
#43
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Is this cheating?
No, KP....I have to disagree....based solely on the verbage of our regs. I'm not "hunting" (which isn't really defined in our regs under this statute). there is NO regulation on me being there. OUR law states that no game shall be TAKEN before 30 minutes before sunrise. Nothing more.
I think what I have done is well within the written law. I've never TAKEN game before that time. It isn't evenpractical to do so (in my early morning experiences).
GREAT discussion, though!
I think what I have done is well within the written law. I've never TAKEN game before that time. It isn't evenpractical to do so (in my early morning experiences).
GREAT discussion, though!
03-28-2007, 08:26 AM
#44
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location:
Posts: 4,553
RE: Is this cheating?
ORIGINAL: GMMAT
Red Lion:
It's AGAINST THE LAW to spotlight deer in my district of NC. Period. He was enforcing the law.
Red Lion:
It's AGAINST THE LAW to spotlight deer in my district of NC. Period. He was enforcing the law.
03-28-2007, 08:30 AM
#45
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Is this cheating?
Why wouldn't a stern verbal warning have sufficed?
03-28-2007, 08:49 AM
#46
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location:
Posts: 1,394
RE: Is this cheating?
MANNER OF TAKING
Definition of Take
To take is defined as all operations
during, immediately preparatory and immediately subsequent
to an attempt, whether successful or not, to capture, kill,
pursue, hunt or otherwise harm or reduce to possession
any fisheries resource or wildlife resource.The above is from the NC wildlife resources commission.
Looks like to me "preparatory, pursue, hunt" could be defined as sitting in a tree stand waiting and ready. And I don't think "unsuccessful" means having to have taken a shot and missed. I would agree that it isn't cut and dry, but it isn't in VA either. I did ask and I was told that if I wanted to be sure that I was doing everything legal, I shouldn't even enter the woods until 30 min before sun rise, as documented in the rise and set tables. This is why in VA you can't even check in on military bases before this time, and you are expected to be out 30 after sunset, or they come looking for you. They come looking for you for two reasons. One, you may be hurt and two, you're breaking the law.
Also, I'd like to add that NC and VA share a lot of laws, so I think their interpretation of the laws would be in agreement.
I'm not saying you're doing anything wrong, or illegal, but only because I think the regs are poorly written and could be beat if challenged. I just don't think kids sitting next to a broken down car looking at deer with a flashlight should be charged with a crime, and I'm recognizing that WE do stuff that is just as questionable.
I know you're a good ethical hunter. I'm not questioning that, I'm just making a point that it isn't black and white.
03-28-2007, 08:56 AM
#47
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location:
Posts: 4,553
RE: Is this cheating?
ORIGINAL: GMMAT
Semantics......and up for "opinion". The law is clear. It was left to the discretion of the wildlife officer......and he interpreted the law to the letter. If it hadn't been a problem in that particular county.....I'm sure the law wouldn't be in place, there (it's up to individual counties as to whether or not they choose to enact MORE STRICT laws regarding "spotlighting").
Why wouldn't a stern verbal warning have sufficed?
03-28-2007, 09:02 AM
#49
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 7,208
RE: Is this cheating?
I didn't read all the replies, but doesn't anyone else think that there is very little chance you are going to walk right up to a deer just cause it has a light in its eyes?
