Light regulations by state:

California substantially missed the mark with that one-line blurb. Most of Central Eastern and Southern California is open to 12 volt vehicle-attached spotlight hunting for coyotes year-round. You need a license to hunt. You can't operate a spotlight while the vehicle is moving. You can't shoot from or across an asphalt highway. Bobcat season is 4 months long and requires tags, $11 for 5 tags. Fox is also a 4 month no-limit season, no tags required, no electronic calls for fox, but lipsqueaking prior to pulling the trigger is legal. After you wade through these few species-specific regulations and then plot the long-winded description of the night/light-hunting zone on your road map, you're good to go. There are millions and millions of acres of diverse public land open to hunting and all of it contains healthy populations of coyotes, bobcats, and foxes.

A tip you won't find anywhere else - Experience shows that when in the San Bernardino County area near inhabited dwellings in the western end of the county, one should use a shotgun instead of a rifle. While F&G rules make no mention of weapon requirements for varmint hunting, zealous SB county sheriffs have occasionally cited hunters for firearm violations when rifle hunting.

California, being the left coast, may have a huge human population in the cities, but hunters per capita are extremely low and chance encounters with other hunters in the field occur only very rarely.
 
in Missouri, you can use an artificial light ONLY for furbearers,('coon, 'possum, bobcat, skunk, etc.) when treed with the aid of a dog.

Any use of a light to locate, observe, count, etc. wildlife, is considered to be "attempting to take wildlife with aid of an artificial light", and it is a BIG citation, even if you are not in possession of a firearm or archery equipment. ('Course, it's worse if you ARE in posession of such weapons.)

One of the locals stopped at the entrance of a field, some time ago, to answer the call of nature. This was about 10:00 P.M., and he stepped out of the vehicle to relieve himself, leaving his headlights shining across the field. He was immediately surrounded by 2 or 3 agents, and written up for "attempting to take wildlife...", even though he had no gun or bow.


Methinks the "weapon" he had in his hand would probably not be able to kill a deer.

Sometimes, I think the agents refuse to use common sense, and are merely writing tickets to earn Brownie points.
 
Nevada
most countys except in city limits are a yes clark and washo are difrent no license for unprotected ie: coyotes and jack rabbits you can eaven pick them up for personal use butt if you plan to sell the fur you need a traping license this per the game worden.
 
Per Nevada Devision of Wildlife Regulations book.


Some Nevada County Ordinances on Hunting at Night

This list of state and county laws is only a partial list of the laws on firearms and the discharge of firearms in the state of Nevada. Each hunter is responsible to know the laws of the state and those of the county where one is hunting. Please contact NDOW for more state regulations and the County sheriff's Department for county laws for the areas you will be hunting.

Washoe County - 50.162 Nighttime shooting and spotlight hunting prohibited.

Except as otherwise authorized by law, it is unlawful for any person to discharge a firearms of any kind between one-half hour after sunset and one =half hour before sunrise or shine a spotlight between on-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise for the purpose of hunting a wild animal in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Pershing County - 9.16.020 Unlawful Use of Spotlight:

It is unlawful for any person to cast a spotlight from or within three hundred feet (300') of any motor vehicle in the unincorporated areas of the County while having a firearm in possession or immediate physical presence, between the dates of September 1 and February 28, inclusive, of each year.

White Pine County - Chapter 10.20 Firearms - 10.20.010

(b) It is unlawful for any person to discharge a firearm, shotgun, pellet gun, air gun, or spring gun anywhere in the unincorporated areas of White Pine County, NV, between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise.

Lander County - Chapter 9.16 - Weapons - Section 9.16.010 - Discharge of Firearms Prohibited -

It is unlawful for any person to discharge a firearm of any kind in the unincorporated areas of Lander County, between one hour after sunset and on-half hour before sunrise. Violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor.

Nye County Code - Chapter 9.16 - Weapons - Section 9.16.010: Discharge Prohibited:

Any person who discharges any pistol, shotgun, rifle or firearm within a radius of three (3) miles from the County Courthouse in Tonopah shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Elko County 7-102: Firearms, Discharge of:

It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge a firearm of any kind in the unincorporated areas of Elko County, between one-half (1/2) hour after sunset and one-half (1/2) before sunrise: provided, however, that this section shall not apply to the following circumstances:

A) Any peace officer discharging a firearm in the performance of his duties;

B) The discharge of a firearm in a shooting gallery or any designated pistol or file range.

C) The discharge of a firearm by any person in the necessary defense of himself, his family or property.

Douglas County - 9.68.030 Discharge of Firearms

A) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any firearm, gun, pistol, rifle, shotgun or other firearm across any county road or highway.

B) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any gun, pistol, rifle, or other firearm with the exception of shotguns or air rifles within one thousand five hundred feet of any dwelling occupied by any other person or persons within Douglas County without the permission of the occupant.

C) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any shotgun or air file within five hundred feet of any dwelling occupied by any other person or persons within Douglas County without the permission of the occupant.

D) This section shall not apply to peace officers, nor to persons shooting in any regularly established and authorized rifle range, gun club or shooting gallery, nor to any person lawfully discharging a firearm in protection of life or property.



Nevada Counties That DO NOT Prohibit Shooting at Night or Spotlighting in the Unincorporated Areas of the County:

Churchill County
Lyon County (see section 7.02.02 - Discharge of weapons in congested area)
Humbodlt County
Douglas County (see 9.68.030 Discharge of Firearms)
Mineral County
Nye County (see section 9.16.010 Discharge Prohibited)
Esmeralda County (must be at least one mile away from an occupied residence)
Carson City County ( see chapter 8.12 Firearms and 8.12.010 Discharge of Firearms unlawful)
Storey County (see Chapter 9.16 Weapons)
Clark County (see ordinance on congested areas)
Lincoln County ( see ordinance on congested or incorporated areas)
 
Arkansas let's coonhunter uses lights. SO i think they need to make predator huting at night where you can. But the Game and Fish said that would just help deer poachers. A poacher is going to kill a deer any time they want it no matter what law they have.VM
 
varmit master,

Sounds like you need to get that law changed! Minnesota was that way for years. We are going to get a bill in the legislature NEXT MONTH and we have our DNR's support!!! Sounds like it may just pass.
 
I couldn't find Ohio online but here's what I got out of the book:

Persons hunting, trapping, or pursuing furbearing animals at night must carry a continuous white light visible for at least 1/4 of a mile. When two or more persons are hunting or trapping together for furbearing animals, only one light is required and may be carried by any member of the party. Persons hunting foxes or coyotes with a call from a stationary position may use a single beam light.

I have talked with several state wildlife officers, and each told me that even though you're supposed to use a white light they have no problem with predator hunters using a red filter, but to check with the officer in the county you will be hunting since it's the discression of the office in that county. You must also purchase a fur taker permit if you are hunting furbearing animals (this does not include coyotes).
 
Hi R Buker i have been talk to them about it and they said that would give the poacher a easy way to kill deer predator hunting at night. I sent them of a list of all the state that allowed people to predator hunt at night. I said if the poachers would kill all the deer when why has TX has so many deer. They said if a perosn seen a big rack buck they would shoot it at night. I said Illinois has some of the biggest bucks around and they let them hunt. One of the guys on the Game and Fish board said just ask a W/O and he would let you hunt them at night. But is says right in the hunting book that you cant. So if he said i could he could turn around and write me a ticket for night hunting. I told him. The Rich People here owns the game and fish. The coyotes are bad around Little Rock city you see it on the news or in the paper where a coyote has jumped on somebody family pet and eat it. For me i would shoot a coyote over a deer any day. I wish they had the deer up there the sun dont shine. VM
 
Randy,

Nice job on the post. Here in Pa, even though it does not say and is a bit technical, we can't have a light mounted on our scopes either. I asked one of our WCO's here, said it was a no-no, and the "firearm" includes a scope as well..
so we learn to hand hold whatever light we use.......

Thanks,


John
 


We are going to get a bill in the legislature NEXT MONTH and we have our DNR's support!!! Sounds like it may just pass.




DNR's support? have there been any public hearings?
 
Chuck,

I'm betting on it flying. I've got lots more testifying and visiting to do. But... From here, at this point in time, all systems look like a go!
 
You are certainly welcome, Chuck. Keep those fingers crossed until I tell ya it's time to relax. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Randy,
You've got my curiosity going about the state laws on night hunting.
It used to be legal here in Oklahoma until a few years back.
What steps should be taken in trying to get the rules/laws changed about varmint hunting at night?
Calling State Senators or Congressmen or just calling the wildlife department.
The game ranger in our county will not give us (I mean absolutely no one) the permit for night hunting coyotes.
When we call the Wildlife Department and complain that our Game Warden will not give us the permit they tell us that it's up to his "own judgment". Otherwise - too bad.
I am ready to move to Texas - if they would have me.
Not all Game Wardens are this hard headed but the majority of them are.
If the Oklahoma Varmint Hunters would bond together I think the rules or laws could be changed.
Larry
 
Larry,

It was a long process. I started by contacting legislators and a lot of them not just my own. I went in armed with facts, facts, facts. I used other States laws as examples to give them. I also went armed with rebuttals for all the excuses I knew I'd hear such as poaching will increase, game wardens will be called out every time someone sees a light shining, cows and dogs will be killed, trespass will increase, etc. etc etc.

I contacted the president of the Minnesota Trappers association as they are very politically active. Gary Meis is the president and he's a wonderful man. He gave me contacts for those in the position to help me including legislators and DNR personnel. I went to meetings with the DNR staff and presented my ideas complete with a video to illustrate my points.

I had to make concessions with what I wanted, for example we won't be able to hunt bobcats with lights and we'll have a time-limited season that we can use lights in.

I had a lot of help getting signatures on petitions. We have about a thousand signatures on those petitions.

I personally have a couple hundred hours into this project and several hundred dollars between mailings, travel and printing costs.

Once this bill is introduced into committee,I'll have to go to the state capitol and testify to the committees in order to have it passed in committee. From there it will go to the general session of the legislature and I'm sure I'll have to go testify again. I'm looking at several trips to St Paul this winter to wrap it up.

From the support we have both in the legislature and the DNR, I'd say this is almost certain to pass. But, with the way the laws and legislature work, it may be that that it won't and all will be for nothing. It's a chance I'm willing to take. I've gone so far with this that I won't quit now.

If you decide to get into it, you'll have to be extremely dedicated and willing to work through and around the roadblocks in a cool and professional manner. You have to have your facts straight. And, you need to know you are in an uphill battle. But.... It just may work.

If you want give me a call at 218-338-HUNT and I'll visit with you some more about it.

Randy
 
Idaho: NO??? (With permission from landowner?)
you can go to the Fish and Game and get a spotlight permit for hunting Yotes and Jack rabbits on public land
 
MONTANA = YES. Any animal not classified as a game animal (coyote, red fox, skunk, porcupine, badger, raccoon, hares, rabbits, marmots, tree squirrels, ground squirrel) may be taken by any means the landowner is willing to allow. You can run them down with snowmobiles, shoot from aircraft, chase with motor vehicle . . . you get the picture. No restrictions on firearm type, size, caliber. No restrictions on voltage of lights, either. You can hunt them on Block Management and BLM land, too. You can hunt from the vehicle as long as it is not on a county road and not in the right of way.

Great job on this thread, Randy. You are truly a hunter's hunter! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
quote: "Oklahoma: No, except with permission from warden and landowner"

ok I am sooo confused now,I was told NO, no matter what...
but I was also told it was ok ON PRIVATE LAND as long as you were not going to sell the hides.
and was also told not to bother talking to the local game warden,he says NO no exceptions.
 


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