too_pointer Posted July 15, 2006 Report Share Posted July 15, 2006 I have a question. Do you notice how many time on tv and tape hunt that they recover most of the deer in the dark. That is fine, but they carry their bow or gun with them in the dark. I don't know about other states but in Michigan it is against the law to have either one in possesion that time of day. I want to hear is the legal anywhere too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heathcoerracin Posted July 15, 2006 Report Share Posted July 15, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? Yes in alabama as far as i know its legal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IowaDeerHunter Posted July 15, 2006 Report Share Posted July 15, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? I am not sure about Iowa. I have never heard of it being illegal, and have never read anything about it in the game laws. Honestly, ever time I have taken a deer at night I have brought my bow with me just incase it was still alive. (suffering on the ground, not running away). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimPic Posted July 15, 2006 Report Share Posted July 15, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? In PA. if you are in the woods with a weapon after legal shooting hours,you are "in the act of hunting"-punishable by a hefty fine.This is probably under the discretion of the game officer.One officer told me you have a reasonable time to get out of the woods after legal shooting hrs. or if you're dragging a deer out--it's pretty much the officer's call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted July 15, 2006 Report Share Posted July 15, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? It is illegal here in Illinois.Your firearm has to be unloaded at sunset. As a question of ethics,try this scenerio.You make a marginal hit on a deer in the last ten minutes of legal shooting time.You see it bed down in view,but no way to finish the animal from the stand.You don't know how well the hit is or if it was lethal.What would you do? Climb down and walk up to the animal anf finish it,even though it is now 15 minutes after legal shooting time? or Climb down and leave and come back the next morning and take a chance of losing the animal Luckily I'ne never had to track a deer at night yet,but I've run this scenerio through my head at least a hundred times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowJoe Posted July 15, 2006 Report Share Posted July 15, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? I'd say the "every means possible to recover the animal" clause comes into play here. I say if it decreases the suffering of the animal then go for it. It's just my oppinion but I wouldn't feel comfortable with it suffering and I'm sure any compassionate Cons. Officer would feel the same. I think though that only a situation where the animal is spined would be viable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaTrophyHunter Posted July 15, 2006 Report Share Posted July 15, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? [ QUOTE ] Yes in alabama as far as i know its legal [/ QUOTE ] ditto you just better not get caught with a light and a loaded gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted July 15, 2006 Report Share Posted July 15, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? I believe in Iowa you can have your gun along as long as it is unloaded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
konfuzed Posted July 15, 2006 Report Share Posted July 15, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? A buddy of mine was hunting in Illinois and had to track a huge buck late into the night and left his shotgun in the truck because he was unsure of the laws. Walked up to within 10 feet of the big buck and he was still alive. He backed out, contacted the local wildlife officer and explained the situation to him. He told him to get his gun, go back and finish the deer off. They got back in there and of course, the buck was gone, headed out into the swamp as best they could tell. He hated he lost it because it was truely a big buck, plus he felt terrible for the bad shot he put on him. From the way it looked as it was laying there his angle was a bit off and he only got one lung. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowJoe Posted July 16, 2006 Report Share Posted July 16, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? Sometimes their is a conflict of whether to do what you feel is right and ethical and then their's an official's interpretation of the law. If it meant that I'd be ticketed then so be it. I did what was right and no court can either ease my conscience or hurt it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CBU93 Posted July 16, 2006 Report Share Posted July 16, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? [ QUOTE ] A buddy of mine was hunting in Illinois and had to track a huge buck late into the night and left his shotgun in the truck because he was unsure of the laws. Walked up to within 10 feet of the big buck and he was still alive. He backed out, contacted the local wildlife officer and explained the situation to him. He told him to get his gun, go back and finish the deer off. They got back in there and of course, the buck was gone, headed out into the swamp as best they could tell. He hated he lost it because it was truely a big buck, plus he felt terrible for the bad shot he put on him. From the way it looked as it was laying there his angle was a bit off and he only got one lung. [/ QUOTE ] Alright dude... Who is this??? That was definitely a better buck than what he first thought. At least if we are thinking about the same guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted July 16, 2006 Report Share Posted July 16, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? legal in wyoming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted July 16, 2006 Report Share Posted July 16, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? Nope not here in Vermont,, A knife and flashlight is all you are allowed to be in the woods with after shooting hours.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaTrophyHunter Posted July 16, 2006 Report Share Posted July 16, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? so you have to out of your stand in time to get back to the truck before shootin hours are over? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted July 16, 2006 Report Share Posted July 16, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? [ QUOTE ] so you have to out of your stand in time to get back to the truck before shootin hours are over? [/ QUOTE ] I'll refraise..... One half hour before and after shooting hours,, which here in VT is determined by sunrise and sunset... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 16, 2006 Report Share Posted July 16, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? Honestly have not ever really given this much thought. Legal shooting times here are also determined by the sunrise and sunset times. You have 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after. I think so long as you do not have an arrow knocked, got the cap off your ml, or dont have a round in the chamber here you are ok. Dont think I would want to go completely unarmed after dark looking for deer in some parts of this country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billkay Posted July 16, 2006 Report Share Posted July 16, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? One thing to keep in mind when you see this on TV or a home DVD is that "Camera Light" is gone long before legal hunting light. Hence, although a light is being used on a camera, and it looks like midnight, it may very well still be within legal shooting hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
konfuzed Posted July 16, 2006 Report Share Posted July 16, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? Good point billkay. cbu93,,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted July 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? That is interesting on which way hunters might go. I really agree with all of you. Twice that I can remember having to use my knife to finish off a deer after taking my bow or rifle back to my truck ! No enjoyment out of that I always tag my deer where I gut it, and many wait till the drag is over so the tags isn't torn and missing.The second makes more sense to me. too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasDeerHunter Posted July 16, 2006 Report Share Posted July 16, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? Texas it is not legal to have it after dark, just to use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted July 16, 2006 Report Share Posted July 16, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? [ QUOTE ] ...I always tag my deer where I gut it, and many wait till the drag is over so the tags isn't torn and missing.The second makes more sense to me. too_ [/ QUOTE ] The next time you have a chance try something different. In West Virginia where I hunt it's Illegal to move a deer before it's tagged. I stay within the law by sticking the tag into the ear cavity. Put your finger in the middle of the tag and push it in as far as it will go. Your legal and the deer is "Tagged". Since I've started doing this it has Never Fallen Out!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted July 16, 2006 Report Share Posted July 16, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? i know you can coon hunt in iowa in the dark so a loaded gun is not illegal,but as far as finishing off a wounded deer i don't know? definatly ethical like most agree and i think a game warden would agree if there is 2 fatal shots on the deer not a flesh wound or something like that and then the kill shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedicast Posted July 16, 2006 Report Share Posted July 16, 2006 Re: Is this legal ? My brother and I both finished off wounded deer after shooting hours this past season. While it may not be legal, and i'm pretty sure it wasn't....How ethical is it to leave a wounded deer to die a slow death, or to not be recovered. Mine was a saturday night, and we can't hunt on Sundays in CT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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