Deer spotlights?

BubbaJr · Sep 22, 2005

Yes Robert I read your post. I don't look at expensive cars I can't afford, and I don't drool over large tractors I don't need. And I also don't waste time looking for animals I can't shoot. I usually come up with much more constructive activities to consume my leisure hours. Why go around making the neighbors nervous doing something that has no useful purpose, other than to use up some idle time looking at animals running wild. I guess we have totally different tastes in "time wasters".

I have never seen any "spotlighters" in my area of Ohio. Maybe because the deer will run out in front of you so often that you have play "dodge em" with them. It's almost like they are looking for us. My wife came within 10 feet of running into one Monday morning that was just standing in the road looking at her.

Do you suppose these deer are the equivalent of human "spotlighters"? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Wannafish · Sep 22, 2005

"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."
With that said, no one asked my opinion but I'll give it anyway /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

In Michigan, provided there is no weapon in the vehicle, shining is legal from 6 am till 11 pm every day (except for the month of November when it prohibited).

I've done it, and I do it occasionally. I'm very careful not to shine other's buildings. This is out of respect of others and not wanting to cast a dim view of shining.

I do not shine others fields in order to see where might be a good place to hunt. I like to monitor the deer population within a 5 mile radius (approx.) around my farm. I have been doing this for the past 30~ years and am able to tell what I can expect to see around the farm.

On another note, not all "shiners" are as respectful as I. I got tired of people shining my house while going by after shining my field. The field has 1/2 mile road frontage on two roads. The road my house is on now has a 100' wide strip of corn along it. They can't see anything there so they don't shine that area anymore /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. Problem solved.
I did leave the back side open as there are a couple large hills between the road and my house acting as a natural buffer and they can shine that area all they want.

Robert_in_NY · Sep 22, 2005

Your last post made a lot more sense to me. We both are talking about our own areas. New York State is a hunting state. Our government knows this and caters to the hunting population but the anti's are also quite vocal in this state.

As I said before, I was surprised at the reaction to this spotlight issue on here as it is unheard of around here. The only complaints I ever hear are about trespassers and poachers. Of course spot lighting has been going on for a long time and I guess most everyone is use to it around here.

It does come down to respect though. If we had some idiots lighting up peoples houses every night then I am sure I would run into some resistance. But where I spot light (and even then it is only maybe 15 times total over 3 months) the houses are so spread out that you have to intentionally do something stupid to get them upset because there is so much empty land where you don't bother people. Also, most of the vacant land is owned by farmers and are crop fields. Once the corn fields are cut down you get a lot more people out shining those fields.

But as in most cases everything is different from county to county and state to state. What is normal and accepted here is considered abnormal and unacceptable where you are.

Anyway, take care and enjoy your evening.

BubbaJr · Sep 22, 2005

Hi Robert,

I just came across this from the Ohio DNR.

 Spotlighting of wild animals from vehicles, including illuminating with headlights, is prohibited. Spotlighting is illegal whether hunting implements are carried in the vehicle or not.

That explains why I haven't seen anyone spotlighting in this area. Since we are both right /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, let's just agree to disagree, and I wish you a very successful hunting season, and I hope we are still TBN "buddies".

Robert_in_NY · Sep 22, 2005

I didn't know we disagreed about something? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I do not know the laws in other states and I make it a point to learn the main ones in any state I do hunt from time to time (I use to hunt Ohio but haven't in the last few years).

As for TBN friends, I don't hold grudges over trival things and I was not offended by any of the post on here. These types of discussions are how I learn about different views. It is no different then having a discussion with a few people when we are set up at a Sportsmen convention. The difference there is that I can see the other persons face. So yeah, we are still "TBN buddies" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Take care.

Docsknotinn · Sep 23, 2005

Wow, I would sure hate to be neighbors with some of you guys. Getting your shorts in a twist because someone shines a light in your field??? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Then there is the ever present anti hunting group that has to try to turn the issue to poaching or other illegal activity like shinning a house or the road.
Here in MI neither the DNR or the police will NOT respond because its perfectly legal to shine. A lot of good reasons have already been given for this. Another reason people shine is that they may be your neighbors or people who hunt surrounding public or private lands with permission. In sections of the country this is normal scouting to see what deer are where and when they move. This can assist the hunter in a perfectly legal daylight hunt by having more knowledge of the local deer herd. Yup some people poach, some drink and drive or use drugs. There are bad apples in every group including those who own tractors.

Wannafish · Sep 23, 2005

I hate to rain on your parade, but in Michigan it is ILLEGAL to shine at any time during the month of November, and between 11:00 p.m. and 6 a.m. the rest of the year. The DNR do respond to compaints for shining - they have planes in the air at night specifically to locate "shiners", during both legal hours and afterwards.
They are in radio contact with either a DNR officer or local police in a vehicle on the ground. They pretty much know who the poachers are in a given area, but if you happen to be shining in an area poachers frequent, expect to be stopped.

Keep it legal and you'll have no problems. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

HGM · Sep 23, 2005

I think some are missing the point here..

This whole thread, in my opinion, was about inconciderate people shining a 2mil candlepower light through someones front window. I dont care how you spin it, its wrong.

Concideration is the key to the whole thing. If you follow the laws and only shine public property (away from houses) or property you have permission to hunt or shine(away from houses) I doubt anyone would give you a problem. The DNR will bw interested. I seriously doubt, wherever you live that they would not like to know about shining deer, leagal or not. My point is that in alot, not all, but alot of situations, these lights are followed by gunshots. I am a hunter, I have shined, I also have a family that I protect and expect to live a normal life without being shot at. This is why we left Miami. When someone drives down my street with thier spotlight out, they will have the law called on them to make sure they have good intentions. If they are leagal, no harm, no foul. If they arent, well, whatever happens was deserved.. Either way, they will learn that someone is watching this area and it is not desireable to shine there, and will move on. Simple as that.

It is not a god given right to shine your light wherever you want, be conciderate of others and it wond be an issue. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

slowrev · Sep 23, 2005

Some think shining is nice some think it is bad, me ? I saw the movie and I sure don't want it around me /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ben

Docsknotinn · Sep 23, 2005

( I think some people are missing the point here...

This whole thread, in my opinion, was about inconciderate people shining a 2mil candlepower light through someones front window. I dont care how you spin it, its wrong. )

I agree with you. Some people are missing the point. Not all activity by any one group can be lumped together. IE, Shinning means poachers, drunks and inconsiderates who shine homes.
We certainly agree that following the golden rule and obeying the law should leave only a few with their shorts in a bunch because some one shined a light in their field......
OOOH MY! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Farmwithjunk · Sep 23, 2005

There's legal, and then there's appropriate. I'm sure YOU'D be all in favor of someone bouncing spotlights off your bedroom window at 4AM! As I've said in a few earlier posts, I used to spotlight deer. I've done it in areas where I was very familiar with. Still, we'd on occasion, "find" someones house by accident. (How much of an accident is debatable)

If you're spotlighting in a totally uninhabited area, MILES from anyones house, I'd say go for it. But where do you find places like that anymore?

There's a BUNCH of obscure laws still on the books from days gone by. They allow (or in some cases prohibit) certain activities that were OK 100 years ago, but don't apply to todays world. Just because something's legal doesn't make it RIGHT.

Bottom line is, it's illegal in my state, county, and surrounding area. Show up here with a spotlight and expect the law to be having a long conversation about your activities. (And they won't debate it, just impound your car or truck, and let you debate it with a judge)

Docsknotinn · Sep 23, 2005

( I'm sure YOU'D be all in favor of someone bouncing spotlights off your bedroom window at 4AM! )

Now that was rather uncalled for Junkster. Is this your idea of being courtious? I'm positive I never condoned any such behavior. PS. I kinda like some of those 100 year old laws. Heck I even like the Constitution and its REALLY old by your standards. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

ratter · Sep 23, 2005

Yeah, I'm not sure I made the initial post clear enough. This is all happening within a radius of a few hundred yards of my house and my neighbor's house. And both houses are in plain sight as you drive this particular stretch of road (even at night...porch lights). One field that gets spotted is actually more my yard than it is a field. It's 2 or 3 acres adjacent to my house, fenced in with the house. And as the road starts towards the house, the yard is between the road and house. Which means a light across the yard hits the house. Then there's my field across the street from my house. It's about 15 acres of open field, but my neighbor's house sits at the other side of it, so any light shined across that field has a high likelihood of going right into their living room.

Anybody who doesn't see why this is inconsiderate, and not acceptable behavior, well I'm not even sure what to say...

Oddly enough, since I posted this thread, I haven't seen a single one. Maybe they all read TBN? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Maybe I just haven't been watching enough. But in the days leading up to this thread, there were at least a half-dozen each evening that I saw.

DMF · Sep 23, 2005

( 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. )

First off, let me state my disclamer:
I am a hunter. I own land. I shine my own fields.

That said, I can't imagine how anyone could cry "hunter harassment" if someone lit up your vehicle while you were spotting in their field? I mean, no one is really engaged in the act of hunting while they are spotting, right? If they are, around here they call it "jacking deer" and that is frowned upon by the game wardens and hunters alike.

Docsknotinn · Sep 23, 2005

" As I've said in a few earlier posts, I used to spotlight deer. I've done it in areas where I was very familiar with. Still, we'd on occasion, "find" someones house by accident. (How much of an accident is debatable.) " 

 Are you admitting you engaged in an illiegal activity in your state and further compounded this activity by "finding someones home with your light????? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

But your against shinning and breaking the law and all for common courtesy? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Robert_in_NY · Sep 23, 2005

How ever they want to write it up it is still harassment. I was with both the sheriffs and DEC as they told hunters at some of the shows we go to that if someone harasses them while they are hunting or spotlighting legally that all they have to do is call them and they will take care of it as it is illegal to harass anybody for doing something that is legal.

Second, it is illegal to shine the road let alone another car. So if it does happen I am sure you won't even have to say hunter harassment as the state police will be more then happy to come over on that call.

Spot lighting is considered a hunters activity (as this thread constantly refers back to). So I believe that is why it falls under hunter harassment. I will talk to my friends and see what they tell me defines "hunter harassment". Later.

Farmwithjunk · Sep 23, 2005

And now you start with the personal cheap shots....

I USED to spotlight. (YEARS ago) Don't anymore. I grew up.....

Docsknotinn · Sep 23, 2005

(

Bottom line is, it's illegal in my state, county, and surrounding area. Show up here with a spotlight and expect the law to be having a long conversation about your activities. (And they won't debate it, just impound your car or truck, and let you debate it with a judge) ) 

 LOL, maybe you missed your own statement in reference to to shinning being illegal in your state, county and surrounding area ? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Secondly I think you missed the fact that I posed a question and did not accuse or take any cheap shots. (like shinning a house! ooops /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif) 
You certainly have a very interesting perspective. One thing never changes. Those who are full of sheep dip always step in their own poo doo. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Farmwithjunk · Sep 23, 2005

( Those who are full of sheep dip always get step in their own poo doo. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

With that in mind, make certain you wipe your feet before entering your home.