Retrieving game after legal hours

Had that same problem in B.C. I was bow hunting on a friend's land with his permission but his neighbour was anti hunting and came out to challenge me on my friend's property saying I had no right to hunt etc etc (very emotional).

I stood my ground (knowing my rights) and she then backed down and then told me if the animal I shot ran on her land I would definitely have no permission to retrieve it. I assured her that I would not go on her land and it would just die there (a very real possibility with bow hunting).

After she left I phoned the conservation officer and he verified what she said was true. If I did not have permission to retrieve my game on her land then it would have to stay there unclaimed. If I did, I could be charged with trespassing.

Sorry if this is not exactly on topic but it is an important point.
 
My personal experiences with Conservation Officers has been positive, for the most part.
I did run into one nasty specimen many years ago. Seems someone p****d in his cornflakes.
He was determined to find something to nail us with, but we were absolutely legal, so we
escaped unharmed.

I erred once in the East Kootenays, and ended up on mine property. CO was waiting for me
when I exited the woods [someone saw me and reported] Very nice CO. Treated me with respect
and did his best to make the incident as painless as possible. In the end I paid a minimum fine
and there were no other consequences. Lesson learned though...land does not have to be posted
to be off-limits, and a good map is a definite asset to have. :)

All that being said, I would recover an animal after legal shooting light. Doubt it would have any
negative consequences here in BC. You have an obligation to recover wounded/dead game. Dave.
 
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hoytcanon said:
You have an obligation to retrieve your game, but you might want to unload and case your rifle afyer legal light though...
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This is an absolute requirement in Ontario one half hour after "official sunset" and one half hour before "official sunrise". Under no circumstances may a hunter enter upon private property without the owner's permission at any time. If the animal falls on private property and permission to enter hasn't been obtained,oh well.
 
I think the law would allow for what is reasonable. Driving up to tag a deer, vs tracking a wounded one. I hunt big game on land with permission only as even if you try to follow all the rules, there’s always a sign that is not quite visible, the map is out of date by a month or even the landowner gives you permission when another relative has a tiff.
 
I'm glad BC doesn't have this stupid law. I get you can't "Shoot" after legal light, but if the shot was made within legal light you have an obligation to retrieve your animal. Something I have wondered though is what if you discover the animal is wounded, but still alive!? ... Then there really is nothing you can do.
 
The law is pretty straight forward in Sk. That being said, I have never heard of anyone calling a CO to retrieve an animal after dark.

Do what you will and face possible consequences, but I would highly doubt any CO would make a big fuss out of it if your rifle was unloaded or put away. A good thing to avoid would be walking with a loaded rifle and a flashlight...
 
Sumonda said:
I'm glad BC doesn't have this stupid law. I get you can't "Shoot" after legal light, but if the shot was made within legal light you have an obligation to retrieve your animal. Something I have wondered though is what if you discover the animal is wounded, but still alive!? ... Then there really is nothing you can do.
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Same for Alberta. Leave your game out overnight and at least, the coyotes will get a fair share of it, maybe even the local Grizz. :(

Grizz
 
Sumonda said:
I'm glad BC doesn't have this stupid law. I get you can't "Shoot" after legal light, but if the shot was made within legal light you have an obligation to retrieve your animal. Something I have wondered though is what if you discover the animal is wounded, but still alive!? ... Then there really is nothing you can do.
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That is an interesting conundrum. I'd be awfully tempted to shoot it again and deal with the consequences if any came.

I did hear a CO on the Meateater podcast basically say he'd be fine with it as long as you can show two bullet holes to corroborate your story. Of course that's just what some guy on a podcast said... but the COs I've dealt with have been nice people so who knows...
 
Sumonda said:
I'm glad BC doesn't have this stupid law. I get you can't "Shoot" after legal light, but if the shot was made within legal light you have an obligation to retrieve your animal. Something I have wondered though is what if you discover the animal is wounded, but still alive!? ... Then there really is nothing you can do.
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A sharp knife lashed to a stick liberally applied to the throat on a deer. But on a moose or bear I would look over both shoulders and then get my gun cased again quickly. Of course for bears or even moose it may be safest to just wait till morning!
 
wow thats quite the interesting rule

Years ago I shot a deer at last light and then dragged it from the edge of the worksite to the middle to gut it.

Guess who shows up, CO he was nice enough to drive right up to me and the headlights of the truck were a great help while gutting, we chatted the whole time I was gutting.

It wasn't until I put the deer on the back rack of the quad that discussion turned to the paperwork. So he checked my license and tag and then watched me put the tag on the deer. Then he was on his way.
 
I always cancel my tags as soon as I drive up to the animal. I am always worried I wld forget and load the animal. Also find its easier to cut the notches out before all the blood and guts. Then its photo time, tuck the tongue in… followed by at least the antler tag going on and the other 2 before loading.

I feel if one was to shoot an animal and wound it they should have to report that immediately. Coming back the next day, if there is only a hoof left shld result in you still having to cancel your tag. I feel archers are the worst for this. You dont find it and there’s blood, you shld have to eat ur tag.
 
Over the years I have dropped quite a few animals just before last legal shooting light but never encountered problems from a CO for dragging my animal out in the dark. I always made a point of tucking the rifle back into the vehicle before starting work on the animal. I have even had a CO pull up beside my truck when he saw me walking back to drop off my rifle, then walked back in to help me drag out a kill.
 
The only game I retrieved after legal hours is when I was looking for a duck(s) in the marsh grass with my flashlight. All big game at dusk were DRT.
 
Sumonda said:
I'm glad BC doesn't have this stupid law. I get you can't "Shoot" after legal light, but if the shot was made within legal light you have an obligation to retrieve your animal. Something I have wondered though is what if you discover the animal is wounded, but still alive!? ... Then there really is nothing you can do.
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I would do what’s ethical if it was a wounded animal and accept any consequences that came from it, even if I had to argue my case in front of a judge.
 
i would say 100's of shots if not thousands ring out minutes before legal light is over in most rifle seasons . i hear a handful everytime im out hunting.
the only problem i would say if a CO hears gunshots after legal and he is waiting by your truck for you to come out of the bush, and believes they where your shots...
 
PSE said:
Had that same problem in B.C. I was bow hunting on a friend's land with his permission but his neighbour was anti hunting and came out to challenge me on my friend's property saying I had no right to hunt etc etc (very emotional).

I stood my ground (knowing my rights) and she then backed down and then told me if the animal I shot ran on her land I would definitely have no permission to retrieve it. I assured her that I would not go on her land and it would just die there (a very real possibility with bow hunting).

After she left I phoned the conservation officer and he verified what she said was true. If I did not have permission to retrieve my game on her land then it would have to stay there unclaimed. If I did, I could be charged with trespassing.

Sorry if this is not exactly on topic but it is an important point.
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^^^
the world would be a better place with a few less karens
 
Hunted over four decades in Sk. Never had an issue retrieving game after shooting hours. Once legal time is done the gun goes in the case and the flashlights come out. Even ran in to a CO a couple of times and when they see you have no gun with you and you tell them what you are doing they totally understand. ( Maybe I have been lucky to only run into decent people). I know the regs state it is an offence to knowingly waste wild game so IMHO making every effort to retrieve your game is the least you can do.
 
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