Lanse couche couche

Gents,

As I indicated in another thread, I checked out the issue of tracking a wounded deer after dark and shooting it. The only wildlife officer I was able to contact was here in Ohio, so I can't necessarily speak for other states. According to him, it is perfectly legal to use a light to track a wounded deer in the dark. However, (and I admit that I was wrong here) he stated that it is illegal to carry a loaded gun while doing so.

But, before we all chip in to buy NY a round of beer for being right, keep this in mind. The officer was clearly a bit uncomfortable when he stated that carrying a gun and shooting the deer under these circumstances wouldalways get someone in hot water. In fact, he finally offered his opinion that the issue is a "gray area," and it would depend on the particular law officer on the scene and the specificset of circumstances.
Dunno if this settles anything other than to indicate that even some game wardens don't see everylaw in black and white. Also, as i indicated, the laws, and local game wardens' interpretations of them, will likely vary from state to state.

Merry Christmas!!

NY Bowhunter

Thanks again lanse my friend for the info that I've known for 18 years of hunting.[:-]

Thanks for the beer offer too, but I had enough last night........ I'll take a rain check.

As far as the "grey area"?? There is none bud. It's pretty much black and white. Hunting with a light is poaching period. I wouldn't go taking my chances on that one hoping you get an officer that has a big heart.

It's really that plain and simple. Whether you feel bad for bambi or not it's poaching. There are 2 alternatives. Make a quick clean kill shot (as we all know doesn't always happen unfortunately) or expend every ounce of energy you have to track the animal in a legal manner.

Lanse couche couche

Dunno what to tell ya bud. When a game warden tells me something is a gray area, you better take it to the bank that it is a gray area. I think that a uniform and badgetrumps your 18 years of hunting experience. So, under those circumstances that DD described, I'll take my chances. Consider it a form of redneck civil disobedience.

Bob H in NH

Often times a "grey area" is something that by the book is illegal, but by following the law you are doing the "wrong" thing. Leaving a knowingly wounded deer overnight that you could find, due to the law saying you can't shoot it when you find it, is probably "grey" to some.

Alot would depend on the officer that you get to discuss this with after the fact.

3Ddepression

To track and kill a wounded deer is not hunting in my, and our old world legislaters opinion and the hunting laws simply dont apply there. The cruelty to animals act takes over and it is only safety issues that override the above.Simply put you can use anything you see fit and if the deer has left your land you are obliged to notify the landowner. If he does not allow you to pursue the animal it is his responibility to go after the deer. If you cant get hold if himyou call the police to get the OK to follow the deer on the other fellows land. Dog is mandatory.

How does this sound to you? Is it still hunting to go after a wounded deer?

Spiffy

For someone to say that tracking a wounded deer at night is poaching is outragous. Why in the world would anyone leave a wounded deer over night to suffer and in many cases go to waste just because they don't want to shoot it again? I don't even agree with leaving a deer over night even if you are pretty sure it's down. Over night is way to long to leave a wounded or dead animal in the bush regardless of what the law says.



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Champlain Islander

I was following a poorly hit deer (not mine) one bow season and it got dark. We went back to the truck and left our bows, got some lights and continued to look for the deer. We never found the deer and the blood trail ended. We were on hands and knees looking some more and I could hear someone coming and saw some lights. 2 Game Wardens came upon the scene and checked our licenses and told us that they were driving by and noticed the truck still parked at the edge of a hunting spot so they decided to check. They told us we would have been ticketed if we still had a bow with us. They asked if we had permission to hunt the private land and we did. They then asked if we had our name on the stands which we also said we did. We did everything right except for the bad shot on the deer. The infraction would mean a 3 year loss of license plus a hefty fine for hunting with a light and killing a deer after legal hunting hours. There wasn't much gray in what they told us. Had we found the deer alive I would have found a way to quietly complete the retrieval without a hunting weapon. That decision to put the bows away, have permission to hunt with our names on the standwas the right thing to do and it saved us getting into big trouble.

Lanse couche couche

I think that Champlain's example represents the potential "dark side" of the gray area. Fortunately, there are indications that it could go the other way with another game warden. As for me, i have helped track deer after dark and on posted ground and have not yet (knock on wood) had to deal with a game warden. But i guess that i am just a lowdown poacher along with everybody else that i was raised with.

FlDeerman

I track deer all the time in the dark.No we don't carry weapon other than knives,long knives.I've never heard of any one having a problem with it here.

hillbillyhunter1

Oh yeah, well what about Coon hunting. A HA! I thought so.

Seriously though, I think it depends where you are and the overall circumstance and with that I will say there is a gray area. What if you (Like in Champlain Islanders scenario) hiked 5 miles into a place and hunted there until dark. Two hour after dark you may still be walkin out. You have your bow/gun and maybe a flashlight. Are you poaching? No, don't think so.
Hunting in MT--sometimes you are hours away from the truck at dark.
"Well is your gun unloaded?"
Hardly. is yours?

As for the deer tracking/killing. Sorry but I do love the animals I hunt and would never let one suffer if I could help it.

Life, unlike the early episodes of the Andy Griffith Show, is not always black and white.