Hunting with the aid of a Vehicle

[huntjunkie]

Wow!.... Ahhh beavas!

I agree with twigsnapper. Last I checked we all use vehicles to aid in taking game.

I know that there are no elk in Phx but seen them up north. So I guess I better start walking. Don't want a ticket.

[123456]

I have first hand knowledge that a judge has upheld this atleast twice to my knowledge.

[123456]

It is not the 4b manager.

[Willyhunts2]

I've had the "road hunting" talk givin to me twice by the same warden. Both times was driving to a different spot to hunt the evening. The reason it looked like I was road hunting was because my bow was in the passenger seat and not put away in a case I guess. Nothing happened but was reminded both times road hunting is illegal.

[azgutpile]

So let’s say that you see a buck the night before 1 mile away. What would be the appropriate way to go after that buck; would it be like golf where you have to drop no closer to the hole?

 

 

I guess we can now, refer to it as the good old days, the day when you run into a game and fish officer, say hello, have a good conversation and then go on our way. Nowadays, it would probably suit you best to keep your mouth shut until you know the officer’s intentions.

[huntjunkie]

Yep! You are guilty till proven innocent!

[Becker]

Guilty until you prove your innocent anymore! Its a shame so many young guys get the almighty power, stick their chest out, I'm the LAW, going to catch you, I know you are doing something wrong, attitude these days.

[huntjunkie]

I learned that the hard way last year. Cost me nearly $20,000 dollars. Just keep your mouth shut!

[123456]

The real problem is that, even if you think it is not going to hold up in court, the cost of court is not cheap, and as mentioned above, you are guilty until proven innocent. I would really like a game manager to talk to all of us about this subject. Seems to me as though most game and fish laws are grey. The problem with grey is, we usually see it as white and the warden sees it as black. I know a particular warden, who said there is not a chance he would ever give a ticket for this offense. Then in the same breath, he told me how the law was written, and it left it up to the officer to interpret. I have a feeling that is the truth of the matter, so it seems that AZGFD needs to come up with a stance on this issue, and then discuss the outcomes of their decision. Road hunting is a serious problem, but penalizing the guys who in my mind are not "road hunting" is wrong. When i said, I had first hand knowledge, I guess it isn't first hand knowledge, because it hasn't ever happened to me, but I know a person involved in the cases.

[123456]

JLW thanks for posting the link to a thread that involved this subject. I just read the whole thread, and the game manager that chimed in, said exactly what I thought. GREY area.

[billrquimby]

"The real problem is that, even if you think it is not going to hold up in court, the cost of court is not cheap, and as mentioned above, you are guilty until proven innocent."

 

 

Actually, the bromide should be: ""You are innocent until proven bankrupt."

 

Here's a scenario that stretches the definition of road hunting and provides examples of why we should not try to legislate ethics and sportsmanship:

 

You know a spot where a certain buck you've been watching beds during the day. It's an easy 200-yard shot uphill from a graded road, It's cold and spitting rain when you arrive there before first light, so you decide to stay in your truck until the sun is well above the horizon. You've been parked there, on the edge of the road, for 45 minutes when you see your buck sneaking toward the cliff and trees that hide his bed. It's still raining. If you open the door to get out, the deer will see you and bolt before you can shoot. Do you risk it, or do you roll down the window and shoot?

 

Let's say you roll down the window and shoot, and are seen by a wildlife manager. He cites you for shooting from a motor vehicle.

 

Now, let's say you crawl over the transmission hump, and get out on the opposite side of the truck, lean over the hood and kill the buck. Again you're seen by a wildlife manager, who cites you for road hunting because although your truck was mostly off the road, your feet were not when you leaned over the hood. Were you really shooting from or across the road?

 

As for road hunting, you were at the spot for 45 minutes before the buck arrived. On the other hand, you drove a road to a spot to where you knew that deer would come.

 

Also, while your truck is a motor vehicle, why couldn't your defense be that you were using it as a ground blind? Federal waterfowl laws talk about pursuing ducks and geese from a moving boat powered by a motor. Turn the motor off, lift the prop out of the water, and you can shoot ducks legally.

 

Something to think about.

 

Bill Quimby

[azshtr]

"The real problem is that, even if you think it is not going to hold up in court, the cost of court is not cheap, and as mentioned above, you are guilty until proven innocent."

 

 

Actually, the bromide should be: ""You are innocent until proven bankrupt."

 

Here's a scenario that stretches the definition of road hunting and provides examples of why we should not try to legislate ethics and sportsmanship:

 

You know a spot where a certain buck you've been watching beds during the day. It's an easy 200-yard shot uphill from a graded road, It's cold and spitting rain when you arrive there before first light, so you decide to stay in your truck until the sun is well above the horizon. You've been parked there, on the edge of the road, for 25-30 minutes when you see your buck sneaking toward the cliff and trees that hide his bed. It's still raining. If you open the door to get out, the deer will see you and bolt before you can shoot. Do you risk it, or do you roll down the window and shoot?

 

Let's say you take the second option and are seen by a wildlife manager. He cites you for shooting from a motor vehicle.

 

Let's say you crawl over the transmission hump, and get out of the truck, lean over the hood and kill the buck. Again you're seen by a wildlife manager, who cites you for road hunting because although your truck was mostly off the road, your feet were not when you leaned over the hood.

 

Bill Quimby

 

I'm not sure your examples are in line with the OP. Shooting from the truck or from the road, even at the edge, is not good. However ticketing for driving to where you know a buck is, to cut the distance, shouldn't be a ticket able offense. As mentioned how far back in time during a hunt does that go. To an extreme it would be scouting.

[AZLance]

What if my Smart Scouter game cam sends me a picture of a buck, can I drive to my tree stand area and hunt, or do I have to hike from my house?

[THE RIFLEMAN]

I just keep a white-tipped cane in the truck with me so whenever I see the law I can jump out and play blind! If they don't get the hint I'm pretty good at playin deaf also

Your avatar indicates some other issues besides blindness or being deef!

[firstcoueswas80]

I learned that the hard way last year. Cost me nearly $20,000 dollars. Just keep your mouth shut!

 

Not to play devils advocate, but $20,000 seems like a lot if it was just a minor problem. I am assuming it was mostly court/attorney fees? I know its personal but can you share anything about the incident?