Bob Peters
Well-known member
When hunting at the end of day, should you be out of the field at end of shooting hours, or can you hunt until the closing bell 
and then walk out?
and then walk out?
End of shooting hours,? for evening hunters
- Thread starter Bob Peters
- Start date
I know some people unload after 3 birds or at sunset when still out hunting. I do not. Strictly a personal preference, but I keep it loaded in case we have an unplanned and unwelcomed run in with furry critters (raccoons (yes, I know non-residents can't pursue them with dogs), coyotes, mountain lions, etc.).
More days than not, we are hunting until the sun goes down (hence the username), and walk back after it does. Most times I try to time it so we aren't walking more than a half an hour back, so we don't have to walk in the dark, when dusk leaves us.
More days than not, we are hunting until the sun goes down (hence the username), and walk back after it does. Most times I try to time it so we aren't walking more than a half an hour back, so we don't have to walk in the dark, when dusk leaves us.
A5 Sweet 16
Well-known member
I unload right after 3 roosters or at sunset, whichever comes first. Ace will protect me from wolves, bears & mountain lions. He's really tough.
Does he ever tangle with raccoons? My springer (also named Ace), would actively seek out fights with raccoons. Honey, not a springer, is the same way. But since she is a pointer and since I have learned her body language when pointing raccoons now this year, I can convince her to leave them alone before the fight.I unload right after 3 roosters or at sunset, whichever comes first. Ace will protect me from wolves, bears & mountain lions. He's really tough.
I've never seen her fights, since they are always under cover. I get the impression a lot of head movement and bites are involved.
I saw one of Ace's fights once in the open. He went for the under side of the neck and locked on. He meant business.Springer22
Well-known member
itās hunt until the closing bell for whatever game you are hunting.
A5 Sweet 16
Well-known member
Nope. Ace is a pheasant dog. Not a coon hound.
Wind River
Well-known member
Couple of rules are in order, limit by two, cleaned by three and cocktails at four. Cold and dark is my beer, not when I clean birds.
BrownDogsCan2
Well-known member
I must be old. I like to get some driving in before the sun goes down. I will hunt chickens until the very last minute of the day and then slide out.
I try and time it so Iām back at the vehicle by the end of shooting time. If I donāt quite make it I do unload my weapon. Iām not saying they would but I think a game warden could make a pretty good argument that you were still āhuntingā if you have a loaded weapon and dogs running around.
Of course my preference is more aligned with Wind Rivers timeline, just doesnāt happen that way very often.
Of course my preference is more aligned with Wind Rivers timeline, just doesnāt happen that way very often.
Goosemaster
Well-known member
Is a limit 3,or 6 per day?
In SD, 3 per day, per person. Possession limit of 15.
You can gift them to someone in SD, as long as you do it where they live. At least that is what I recall from reading the regulations in the past. I don't think that would get you around the 3 per day, but it does subtract from the 15. In other words, if you shot 3 per day for 5 days, but gave them all away, you would now have a possession of 0, and could start another 5 day hunt (since the out of state licenses are sold in 2 blocks of 5 days each). If you didn't give the birds away, and were alone, you wouldn't be able to hunt the next 5 days if you got 15 in the first 5 days, if you were hunting back to back 5 day blocks, and didn't eat any.
I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong. Maybe even if I am right!
And to be clear, that is all for SD. MN is 2 per day and 6 possession, until Dec 1st to end of season, where you can shoot 3 per day and have a possession of 9. If you gift them to someone who doesn't live at the same address as you, you have to fill out information on a sheet of paper for them to keep, as proof of the gift. That subtracts from your possession limit, but is more formal than in SD, due to the documentation requirement. If they live at the same address as you, you don't have to document it.
I'll leave ND, IA, and the other states to others to describe, other than mentioning you can't party hunt for pheasants in ND and IA and some other states (can't shoot more than 3 birds (or whatever the daily limit is in the state in question), per day, even if you are hunting in a group). MN and SD allow party hunting. Just can't go over the daily limit for the group. If you have a 10 guy grabass group, the group can shoot 30 roosters, if the daily limit is 3 per person. One hunter out of the 10 could shoot all 30 birds for the group while the others watch in shock and awe.
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KEOutdoors
Well-known member
Cant fire a shot at a rooster before or after legal. Some people think you cannot leave the parking lot until legal in the morning as well, but that is not the case unless the area has usage times. Can always be hunting "rabbit", which closes at sunset most places so usually after phez closing so no need to unload the gun unless you want to. Also legal for coons/yotes all night so you cant get a ticket for having a loaded gun at any time while hunting.When hunting at the end of day, should you be out of the field at end of shooting hours, or can you hunt until the closing bell
Goosemaster
Well-known member
No grab ass,no fondue,no group.You can gift them to someone in SD, as long as you do it where they live. At least that is what I recall from reading the regulations in the past. I don't think that would get you around the 3 per day, but it does subtract from the 15. In other words, if you shot 3 per day for 5 days, but gave them all away, you would now have a possession of 0, and could start another 5 day hunt (since the out of state licenses are sold in 2 blocks of 5 days each). If you didn't give the birds away, and were alone, you wouldn't be able to hunt the next 5 days if you got 15 in the first 5 days, if you were hunting back to back 5 day blocks, and didn't eat any.
I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong. Maybe even if I am right!
And to be clear, that is all for SD. MN is 2 per day and 6 possession, until Dec 1st to end of season, where you can shoot 3 per day and have a possession of 9. If you gift them to someone who doesn't live at the same address as you, you have to fill out information on a sheet of paper for them to keep, as proof of the gift. That subtracts from your possession limit, but is more formal than in SD, due to the documentation requirement. If they live at the same address as you, you don't have to document it.
I'll leave ND, IA, and the other states to others to describe, other than mentioning you can't party hunt for pheasants in ND and IA and some other states (can't shoot more than 3 birds (or whatever the daily limit is in the state in question), per day, even if you are hunting in a group). MN and SD allow party hunting. Just can't go over the daily limit for the group. If you have a 10 guy grabass group, the group can shoot 30 roosters, if the daily limit is 3 per person. One hunter out of the 10 could shoot all 30 birds for the group while the others watch in shock and awe.
You can pick up 3, I guess there is no limit to how many you can leave in the cattails.
gimruis
Well-known member
Why wouldn't you just use your 12 gauge?
I keep mine loaded in case I encounter a zombie, bigfoot, or aliens. There's lots of bad things out there that want to take you out.