In VA it is 1/2 before and 1/2 after, which is technically dawn and dusk, not sunrise and sunset. A buddy once told me if you can see you shoe laces....shoot!!
Ours has the 30 minute windows as well. To be honest, like others have said. I don't wear a watch and rarely drag my phone out of my vest on a hunt (ESP in the dark). I will check to see but I'm betting I am within legal times, I'm not the guy who sits trying to squeeze every ounce of "shooting light" out of the day possible. Hell, I'm usually so starving by the time it gets dark I a anxious to get down and go grub lol
We have a no-same-day-airborne law up here that prohibits you from hunting until 2 am the day after you have flown in to camp. That being said, I would never hunt a minute before 2 am in that case. Otherwise, if I can see to shoot (without artificial light), it's okay to shoot.
Honestly here in pennsylvania it is dark like way to dark a couple days of the year to shoot but they say thats when hunting is allowed and others its been light out for a good 15 mins so honestly Id have to say once I feel its a ethical shot I take it.What I mean is if its close to shooting time within 10 or 15 mins Id have to say its ok but not like 30 or more mins that to me would be poaching.
I think it depends on conditions really. If I was on my private land, I had enough light to see the deer well, and see where he runs to, I would shoot. I am very ethical when hunting. I just believe shooting time is a rough estimate and 10 minutes is close enough if the conditions are right. Hope I don't catch too much flack for this.
I've always waited until legal shooting time. Currently in stand 5 minutes before legal time and it's pretty open with leaves down. I honestly can't see past about 20yds, 10yds I can see detail. Wouldn't feel comfortable shooting in these conditions. Don't have bow but sure the pins would gather light, it looks bright but it's not.
If its light enough for me to get a good shot then its legal shooting hours. That means buck down. Plain and simple.
That is pretty much how I feel. Of course we have the 30min rule, so technically if its light enough to see to make an ethical shot, it would be legal anyhow. I've never ever looked at what "legal shooting hours" are for the days I'm hunting. I honestly didn't know some states made you legally quit while its still plenty light to make an ethical shot. Definitely one of the dumbest laws I know of.
