ethics/legal question

A

awesomeame

Regular
Rating - 100%
28   0   0
Location
Etobicoke, Ontario
this past rifle season i was on stand in the late afternoon. It became too dark to see very far, (i was in thick bush) although it was still during LEGAL shooting hours. I started a very slow walk back to the truck. I had to pass through a clearing, so before I did I panned my flashlight across it, and damned if there wasn't a deer standing about 15yrds in front of me. i kept the flashlight on it and it stood/fed there pretty content for a few mins before walking off.

i've seen spotlights for sale which mount onto scopes. if i had had a spotlight mounted to my rifle i easily could have had this deer. so my question is, would this be legal? i was still within hunting times, but at the same time isn't using light considered harassing game? hmm!! opinions?

Matt
 
In BC, it's illegal to hunt using an "illuminating device" regardless of time of day.

You don't list your location, rules may vary province to province.
 
Ethics

Regardless of if you are within legal shooting hours, IMHO I think it is prudent to use conservative judgement. I've always maintained that if I can see it CLEARLY with my eyes or scope, It's within legal and ethical limits. You've also got to consider being able to track the animal should it still run a couple hundred metres.
 
lights to hunt deer is a no no the light makes them freeze thats why poachers use spot lights at night....what honest hunter could live with cheating?...I've passed up on simular shots you would be surprised how bright it is out when legal light is over....
 
how was it still legal light if it was dark in the clearing?
if you need a light to shoot a deer,even in the middle of the day,it's time to rethink your strategy...or take yer shades off...
 
Light conditions in a bush and in a open field are not the same? In Ontario legal shooting time is 1/2 hour before sun rise and a 1/2 hour after sunset. To be legal you would need to know these times as this is what a CO would have to use for a conviction.
 
tracker said:
Light conditions in a bush and in a open field are not the same? In Ontario legal shooting time is 1/2 hour before sun rise and a 1/2 hour after sunset. To be legal you would need to know these times as this is what a CO would have to use for a conviction.
Click to expand...

And don't forget that sunrise/sunset times vary by several minutes from east to west in any given province.
 
Claybuster said:
This would not be legal in Ontario. From the Regulations Summary:

"No person shall use, for the purpose of hunting, any device capable of throwing or casting light on any object."
Click to expand...

There we go, I guess that's what I was after.

I use my GPS sunrise/sunset functions. Since I usually hunt pretty thick stuff as opposed to field edges i usually lose vision even though it's still legal shooting light as per the 30mins aftersunset rule, which is what brought this question up. so if you can't use light, would one be able to use a nightvision scope within the 30mins after sunset?

Matt
 
I use my GPS also.

I have shot deer in the last minutes of the last day after waiting to see if something better might present itself. In that type of case, I prefer the accuracy of the GPS. It would be interesting to hear if anyone had problems shooting a few minutes either side of sunrise/sunset. Perhaps that might be fodder for another thread.
 
awesomeame said:
There we go, I guess that's what I was after.

I use my GPS sunrise/sunset functions. Since I usually hunt pretty thick stuff as opposed to field edges i usually lose vision even though it's still legal shooting light as per the 30mins aftersunset rule, which is what brought this question up. so if you can't use light, would one be able to use a nightvision scope within the 30mins after sunset?

Matt
Click to expand...

I also hunt the thick stuff....when its to dark to hunt where I am...my day is over. Usually only on a very cloudy/overcast day will you lose the last 4-5minutes of "legal" shooting.

Conversely, when there is snow on the ground and its a full moon you can still see very well 10-15 minutes before/after legal hours. And if you are bow hunting...
only you will know when the shot was taken. Its up to the individual, either you do things legally/ethically or you don't. What kind of person are you??? :confused:

Leave the NV stuff for the war zones. :cool:
 
oopswasthatyourdog? said:
In Quebec that would be a big nono!
We cant even use a light that projects for tracking when it's dark. It would cost the "hunter" his rifle,truck,permits, and a hefty fine. Some folks have lost their permits for up to 5 years.....
Click to expand...

If you can't use a flashlight to follow a blood trail in the dark then that is really f#*@ed up. How do they expect you to recover an animal? If that's the law then that is the stupidest wildlife regulation I have ever heard of. Do they allow you to use a flashlight to walk out of the bush in the dark, or are you supposed to stumble around blindly in the dark?:confused:
 
From an ethical position, I had a similar situation a few years ago when I first started bow hunting.. is was getting dark (but still legal) and is was a light rain..

being my first deer with a bow, I decided to take the shot.. I regret that shot even to today.. it was not a perfect shot, and after a few feet, I lost the blood trail. the rain made it even worse.. I searched for 3 hours in the dark.. Nada..

To this day, when I'm ready to shoot that deer, I ask myself . "If I where to shoot , can I track down this animal??" if there is any doubt.. I let it live to the next day. .I don't need a deer that bad..
 
oopswasthatyourdog? said:
In Quebec that would be a big nono!
We cant even use a light that projects for tracking when it's dark. It would cost the "hunter" his rifle,truck,permits, and a hefty fine. Some folks have lost their permits for up to 5 years.....
Click to expand...
For tracking a wounded animal after shooting it? (am i misunderstanding?)
Sounds odd. We have tracked around here with a flashlight in each hand after wounded game in the dark so the yotes wouldn't eat em at night.
(A Quebec thing maybe?)

This should be legal grounds to go scouting with lights to find and protect your food and make sure it's properly dispatched no?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom