Deer spotlights?

[dmccarty]

Bob,

There is something you can do....

Call the sheriff. You have an unknown vehicle driving slowly down the road shining a light. This is suspicious. You don't know what they are doing. The deputy can pull them over and ask questions. If he sees they are drinkng, drugging or have a firearm off they go.

Later,
Dan

 

[slowrev]

How safe is this spotlighting thing. Imagine driving along and getting blasted in the face with a 2 million candle power spot. I don't think you will be able to see where to drive for a bit....
I know they are not supposed to spot the road, but I am sure it does happen.

I wonder if there is a market for a BIG spotlight you could mount and would come on when hit with another spotlight ?

Ben

 

[HGM]

It has been mentioned several times in this thread, but the DNR(Game Warden) or whatever the term is in your area would love to hear about spotlighting. I live in the country and have been spotlighting myself in the past. Usually it involved several adult beverages and a lets go get into something attitude. Not meaning any harm or intending to shoot any deer, but just wanting to see what was in the area and what time they were moving. I would never do it in or arround a homestead. We have overlooked clearcuts and vacant hunting camps or public land. I completely agree this is not the right thing to do to a property or homeowner.

With that said, you dont know their intentions. To the best of your knowledge, and the DNR will agree, they are poaching. They would like to investigate further any report of spotlighting they receive. Give them a call next time, things will slow down. For the most part the offender wont even know who called, so if that is a concern mention it to the DNR when you have them on the phone. Wether they meen to disturb anyone of not, if they are met by a badged official whenever they frequent a certain area (especially if they have been drinking) they will learn to avoid it.

 

[ByronBob]

Yea, I think their might be some line where harassment might be a viable excuse to spotlighting in an area.

By and large I just don't think this type of thing really goes on in any large degree where someone might need to call the police.

I have a neighbor who has a rock band. They crank it up to where the house windows shake. We have discussed this in the past and one time I did call the sheriff because my 2 attempts to keep it quiet went unheard. By 12pm I'd had enough.

Oh yea the 150 people and 4 kegs had nothing to do with it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

He's a good guy and I hated to do it but.........we still wave and smile. No hard feelings.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Yes you can because it is illegal to spotlight buildings and pastures. Call the cops if it happens

 

[slowrev]

Call the cops if it happens.
//

If they come at all for this type of call the perps will be long gone.

Just put tinfoil on all your buildings, it will reflect their light back and keep out the brain control rays from the govt too /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ben

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Wow, are you upset at me for some reason or did I just mis-read your post? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

First off, I do not condone anyone spot lighting near a house nor did I ever say I did.

Secondly, you admit you have no problems with people taking pictures of deer on "your" land. Why do you think people want to take pictures of deer? If it is because they enjoy seeing them then you have to understand that most of the monstrous bucks are only seen at night and even then it is a rare opportunity to see one. I usually have my video camera to film the deer that we see at night. Why do I take pictures of deer I can't hunt? Because I enjoy seeing them as do a lot of people.

Spotlighting deer is not an invasion. If you have some idiots in your area lighting up your house talk to the police and report it. When someone comes down your road and hits your house with a light, hop in your car and catch up to them, write down their plate number and give it to the police. It is that simple. Don't talk to me as if I am poaching deer in your living room.

I have posted numerous times about what the law is here and what rights people have on both sides of the issue. You need to calm down and read thru this thread again as I did not say anything about your view or feelings being wrong.

As for why people would want to see big bucks, it is a dream of most hunters to just see a 200 class buck. Shooting a Boone and Crocket class buck is like winning the lottery. It is a very rare thing. It is almost as rare to even see one in the wild and most hunters never will even see one in their lifetime.

So if you do not want people spot lighting your fields hand up reflectors as it is the best deterrent. But posted signs do not cover spot lighting as it is not hunting nor trespassing.

If in the end you still don't like it then talk to your local officials and see about getting the law change. It is your right to voice your thoughts on an issue and if enough people agree with you then you can change it.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Around here the sheriffs do come out. As I said in a previous post, I have a lot of friends in law enforcement and we talk about deer related issues all the time. Heck, I have even seen some of the police cars use their spot lights to see a deer in a field.

One thing I am learning is that a lot of people do not understand hunters and their admiration for deer. A lot of hunters spend thousands of dollars every year on equipment and such to improve the habitat for the wildlife. Does it make it wrong if someone doesn't understand why they do it?

One thing I have learned is that a lot of people who live in towns or citys and then move to the country have the attitude of what is mine is mine and don't look at it. I understand why they have this outlook as anything you do is able to be seen by a dozen neighbors and you always have a few disrespectful kids tossing garbage and cutting thru their yards. However, in the country, especially growing up in the country, you have a different outlook on things. Land is just that, land. I don't get mad if someone looks at my land and to be honest I have better things to do then worry about it. The only thing I care about is respect. You respect other people and they respect you.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( How safe is this spotlighting thing. Imagine driving along and getting blasted in the face with a 2 million candle power spot. I don't think you will be able to see where to drive for a bit....
I know they are not supposed to spot the road, but I am sure it does happen.

I wonder if there is a market for a BIG spotlight you could mount and would come on when hit with another spotlight ?

Ben



)</font>

It is illegal and I do not know of anyone who shines a road. Most people I see and know shut off their lights when another car is on the road. It is a respect thing, we know the lights we use are bright and can be a distraction so we shut them down out of respect for the other driver.

Once again, this type of thing can be said about anything though. People shouldn't have tractors because they might go into the road and cause an accident or people shouldn't be allowed to watch tv because they might fall asleep and not turn out a light and the light shorts out and starts a fire and ....

No matter what is discussed you will always have the what if's.

 

[Jim57]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It's illegal to point a spotlight at someones house here. It's VERY illegal to spot deer if you happen to have a gun in the vehicle. Call DNR (Dept of Natural Resourses) or whatever the game warden is called in your state. They might want to "ambush" a few spotlighters.

When I was younger, I used to do just what bugs the krappe out of you now. Nowdays, it bugs me too. Just had one go down our road a few minutes ago. )</font>


It is ILLEGAL here in SC whether you have a gun or not. They will fine you for harrassing wildlife and if you have a gun... they will take your gun and vehicle, PLUS fine you. I thought it was that way all over the country. Apparently not /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Jim