Deer spotlights?

[Farmwithjunk]

First off, I'm not upset at you. What have you done to me?

Secondly, I wasn't commenting exclusively on cameras being used to take pictures of deer, but just people looking at the scenery in general, and MAYBE taking a picture of whatever they see. (We get a lot of that around here)

People spotlighting in what is best described as a semi-urban area is uncalled for, unwelcome by the area residents, ILLEGAL here (apparently we have different laws than your home state)

Next issue.... I don't need to "calm down", nor do I need to re-read anyones post. My reading comprehension is just dandy. You weren't speaking a foriegn language, and I understood the point you are TRYING to make.

And FINALLY, seeing as to how you're closely affiliated with the sport of deer hunting, I'd be particularley careful about DEFENDING (in a broad sense) "hunters" right to offend, irritate, and in some cases, VIOLATE THE RIGHTS of many folks who have no space in their lives for hunters in the first place.

Believe it or not, those "tree huggers" have a vote too.

Don't take this as me "dissing" hunters, hunting, guns, or wildlife oriented sports. I'm a hunter myself. (wild turkey mostly) But just as I was an extreme advocate of MANDATORY HELMET LAWS while I was a motorcyclist, I believe in hunters showing responsible behavior, ESPECIALLY around people who have no use for them.

My favorite "saying" has always been "Perception is greater than reality". If ONE HUNTER makes all the rest look bad, they ARE bad in the eyes of those who would vote against hunters rights.

 

[BubbaJr]

<font color="blue"> ( What's the point of spotlighting deer on property you can not hunt on? )
</font>

More importantly, what's the point of spotlighting deer before or after hunting season. Even if you find some, I guarantee they won't be there when it is legal to hunt them. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[YanmarFever]

WOW, this spotlight thing is getting a little out there !

I have a solution for everyone Just buy a set of night vision goggles and its over. you can stare at anybodys land, deer, house, tractors ect... and they wont even now it !
Just leave the spotlight at home & no one will ever know what you are doing. Not only that but goggles are great for night driving with your lights off. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif You can see cars coming for miles before they actually get to you. (dont ask how I know all this) /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Ernie

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Did you read any of my post? I already explained the reason. Why look at a 400 hp tractor when you know you can never get it? Why look at a Ferrari when you know you can never justify it? Why? Because you can and it doesn't hurt anyone to look at something.

As for spot lighting after season, there are two reason for this. First is people still enjoy seeing the animals. Second is there is another sport called shed hunting. It is where people try to find the shed antlers that fall off the deer every winter. When you see a big buck in an area and you know he is usually in one area you can ask the land owner for permission to look for these antlers. It does not require any guns or licenses in New York State and most land owners (larger and small) do not mind granting access. It is great excercise and a very rewarding experience if you do find even one side of the antlers let alone both sides. And I do not know of any farmer who will deny access to his land to shed hunters as the antlers do cause a lot of flat tires on tractors every year when they are shed in a crop field. This is all done "after" deer hunting season has ended, well at least that is how things are done in my area of New York State.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

You see, you are not reading what I am posting. I am talking about the reason why this is done. That is the question that was asked. I am not defending hunters, poachers or tree huggers. I am not promoting anything either. The question was asked, "why". I tried to simply explain it and not say if it was right or wrong.

Again, I do not have any problems here in my area with spot lighting. It is legal in my state. I know the laws and even then it still comes down to respecting the land owners. If they ask me to not do something then I won't.

Lastly, you are not looking at this topic in any view but your own. Your view is that of one or two people that are offending you in your "semi-urban" area. "I" live in the country, there is no semi-urban area in the country. "I" spot light large, empty fields that are no where near anyones house, building or pasture. "I" obey all of New York States laws and respect the rights of the land owners. "I" do not support or promote anything in any state that is illegal. Again, all I was trying to do was answer the why question that was originally asked before you took this to the point where "I" was offending "you" and "your rights" about something that was never even brought up.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I agree, when it comes to deer on this board it seems like it is a "bad" thing to talk about it. A lot of people can look at both sides of an issue but you always get one or two that won't. But thats ok, they are entitled. Good luck this year.

 

[Cityboyfarmer]

Robert in NY,

Relax. People have opinions and they are voicing them here. It is not deer that is causing the controversy and spirited discussion; it is private property rights. You are attempting to convince thread readers that the activity of spotlighting someone’s private property is appropriate. As Farmwithjunk put it “perception is indeed greater than reality”, and whether you realize it or not, this spotlighting activity puts hunters in a bad light. (Pun intended.)

I understand your point. I still love to watch the deer on my land. After we cut the timber and the tender browse began growing; we received regular visits from the whitetail community, including a big beautiful doe and her spotted fawns, during daylight hours. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Every now and then the local big boy will let you have a look at him and his rack, but never during hunting season. Funny how they figure that out. He is getting old and will probably live till he dies of natural causes unless a poacher gets him out of season.

Anyway, the opposing point of view here is suggesting that there are other ways to enjoy viewing wildlife than shining bright lights on private property at night.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

So... I'm wrong because I don't agree with your position? Hmmmmmmmmm.

Once again, I read all your post's, and fully understand their intended meaning. I'm not illiterate. I can read simple sentences, and derive a meaning from them.

What you see as a God-given right is seen by MOST everyone as in infringement on our rights. It's very clear that you see it as everyones right to spotlight on other's property because (in your estimation) you're doing it properly and legally (in your home state).

Just because the majority choose to not announce they are opposed to the practice of spotlighting, and a few more vocal fellow spotlighters/deer hunters choose to stand by your claim to the right, there still isn't any denying most folks don't want you lighting up their homesteads.

It's obvious we disagree. At this point, we might just as well let it go at that. Fortunate for both of us our states take a totally different view on infringing on the rights of private property.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Not quite. I wasn't worked up. I am not trying to convince anyone of anything and this thread wasn't about that. As I said, the question was asked why. I tried my best to explain that and it led to questions about me personally.

What I do think is interesting and I haven't said before is this. In NYS if you shine a spot light on a vehicle who is shining fields he can press charges against you. It falls under hunter harassment and our state does not look kindly on that. There are laws in this state to protect everyone and the hunting laws are brought up all the time. If an issue like spot lighting was such a hot topic here it would have been change. It does not take long for hunting bills to get changed in New York. Almost everything is done within a year. To be honest, I have not heard of anyone complain about spot lights being shined on their property in this area. So I admit, I was surprised this thread went this way. It isn't about right or wrong and it was never supposed to be. It was only about "why".

 

[Farmwithjunk]

As is the case with most legal issues, how something is phrased means more than the cold hard facts sometimes. In Kentucky, it is illegal to "hunt" from the road. I'd venture to say 99% of spotlighters are in trucks or cars, ON THE ROAD. If someone was to be stopped for "casting rays of artificial light" (as the law pertaining to it reads) and mentioned that they were hunting, even if only in a figurative sense, I'd suspect they'd get the royal treatment from police and/or game warden.

I suppose it pays to know the history of Kentucky, and the nature of the people to understand the dislike for people intruding on ones private space. (For some good reasons, and some bad ones, I'd suspect)

As I said in an earlier post, I USED to do some spotlighting myself. We were chased by homeowners, shot at in one instance (or at least shot fired in our general direction), lights pointed back at us, Police called on us, and in one instance, a picture of my truck posted on a bullitin board in a local gas station. (At least it wasn't the Post Office /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif)

The point I'm trying to make is that a part of your hobby/passion of hunting, is merely an irritant to most people not involved. Things that bother people tend to go away in time. At that point, you are on the outside, looking in. I'd offer to you that great discretion be used, even if you're legally "in the right".

As I referred to in an earlier post, I'm an advocate of mandatory helmet laws (on motorcycles) In our state, it's legal to ride without one. I respect ones right to make that desicion on their own. BUT.... It does the "sport" of cycling a great dis-service everytime a "bike hater picks up the paper and reads where someone has splattered their brains on a car bumper.

It pays to be an advocate of "good karma" for your sport as much as for the right to participate.

We have to pick our fights carefully. Sometimes, in order to win a battle, you put yourself in a position to loose the war.