My previous post was defense against those accusing guys like me being full of it....100 percent wrong.
Can't say it much better than TY said it. Mirrors my feelings and why I choose to do it the way I do. I pride myself on abiding by game laws out of respect for generations of hunting and the animal I hunt. I dont' really pride myself on going 29mph in a 30mph. I don't think my values or ethics are going to be questioned if I don't stay one mph under the speed limit. Drunk driving? Going 77 in a 30mph? Yeah little different. That's why I said such comparisons are irrelevant. Two different situations IMO. Again.... that's just me and my personal feelings. Something I choose I can live with MYSELF or not. I can live with myself, go to sleep at night, going 31 in a 30. I can't killing an animal during NON legal shooting times. If others can... like I said so be it. I dont' look down on them. If they are good with it so am I (as long as not blatant).
I hate that law and feel your pain PT, PA used to be ending time at sunset. But htey have changed it. I've killed some deer in pretty low light conditions. I've also been drawn back and never released the arrow cause I couldn't feel good about the shot. One thing I know for sure, getting old really cuts down on extending my hunting to the limits of legal shooting time compared to my younger eyes. I just can't see in the dark like I used to.
Stupid law. I wonder what the thought process is behind it? Probably drafted by some bureaucrat that has never been in the woods. Glad I don't have to deal with that. If I did have to....and see well enough to make an ethical shot, I'm taking it.
We have 1/2 hour also prior sunrise and post sunset. It's usually too dark to see pins at sunset much less 30 minutes later. But if I can see my pins and it's legal shooting times it's gonna die. "Live Life at Full Draw"
I hunt private land so I tend to take a little more liberty with a few rules. I hunt until I feel I can make a good shot. I did have a friend of mine that was gun hunting years ago and a buck came out and he looked at his watch and he had 2-3 minutes left so he made the shot. Right after he shot truck lights came on and it drove out to him and it was the DNR. They told him that he shot it after legal time and he said that he checked his watch and he a couple minutes left. He said that only his watch is the one that counts and he took his deer. He didnt give him a fine though. Personally I think that he took the deer home.
I've been in this situation. Could clearly see the buck and pins. It was outside legal time and he walked. I don't have to agree with the game laws but I do have to abide by them. This is not traffic laws and such and I will freely admit to speeding.... This is a battle of wits between me and my prey. And the prey most always gets the better of me. When that mount is on the wall, I personally want to be proud of my hunt. Not going to bash anyone for their answer. We all have to make up our own minds. Extemely happy I don't live in NY!! Not sure why the law is written that way but I think it is safety related. Every few years, we will hear reports of a hunter being shot with a bow or a near miss.
Maybe this one is more civil because you didn't ask a question, specify that there was "no right or wrong answer here" and then sit back like a spider in it's web waiting for someone to post something you didn't agree with.
For those of you that claim that you wouldnt take the shot I have a question for you. What if it was 1 minute passed legal time? Would you still pass on the shot? What if you thought you were in legal time but when you looked at your watch after you shot and it was a minute past legal time? Would you turn yourself in? I dont have a problem with anyone abiding by the rule/laws, but sometimes laws dont make much sense. Just use common sense.
True that although I don't remember Jeff being uncivil in that thread. It is basically the same exact discussion. I'll see if I can find it in the vault. I recall BHF stating a strong opinion on this one as well.
