Lights on Shotgun

AWS

AWS

Custom Accessory Maker & Retired PM Staff
I'm looking to set up for night hunting with lights. I'm from MN and hunted nights there but only by moonlight on the snow. This light stuff is all new to me. I will be hunting tight cover with a shotgun, cleart cuts and open woods. I've been looking at the Optronics 350 light or the Nite LIte Wizard, both of them are called scope lights. Can they be hung under the barrel of a shotgun and will they handle the recoil of a 3" mag buckshot load? This has been a great site for information, you can't just walk into a store and ask guy behind the counter these questions anymore.

Help!
AWS

Most of my hunting will be solo.
 
AWS,

Littleguy put this set of plans on how to mount a light to a shotgun.

I was impressed, but if I understand our state laws correctly you have to have a handheld light source for hunting here.

Double check the game laws before you put this plan onto the works.

Jeff
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Jeff

I went through the pamphlet and the only restriction I could find listed was that it couldn't be done during big game season. I'll give the game department a call and see what they say. Thanks for the heads up.

AWS
 
I use a mini-mag light with the lense kit (amber), and a pressure switch that screws in to the back of the light, mount the switch on your receiver. I purchased a light holder specifically for shotguns that mounts the light under the barrel. With the amber lense I can easily see eyes out to 40-50 yds wich is all you need for a scattergun anyway. All items can be purchased at "Cabelas" for under $ 50.00.
 
Krustyklimber

I called the Mill Creek office of the Fish & Game Dept. and they referred me to the Hunter Ed. division in Olympia. I spoke to Chuck Ray there and he said that there was no restriction on haveing a light mounted on the gun as long as it wasn't durring big game season. If you have another interpretation of the law from another party please let me know so I can pursue this even farther. I've been a staunch advocate of hunter ethics and I don't want to screw this up. Thanks for all the input so far, I like the fog light set up, but I want to put this light on an OU and keep my pump for days.

Thanks again
AWS
 
AWS I have used that 100 yard scope light cabela's sells on my Mossberg 500 camo turkey. The one that fits on the 1" scope tube.

It mounted under the magazine tube just fine or just in front of the magazine cap tupe on the barrel. The plastic mounting clip was snug. Put the battery pack on my belt, held the switch in my left hand or mount it somewher with velcro strips. Either way I could pump the handle. Took one yote that way at night that was hanging around the house buggin my dogs.

Threw a nice beam out there, would be just fine in tight cover.

Now I have a Benelli M1 Super 90 with a sure fire light mounted, all I have to do is get the red lense cap and I'll really be set. Batteries will be expensive though.
 
AWS,

First of all... by NO MEANS did I intend to say you were less than ethical... I am also concerned with ethics, but I see this as legallities which here in this state you almost have to be a lawyer to hunt and not break any laws.

I have done a few searches now, and found very little on hunting with lights... it appears you are absolutely correct about their use only being prohibited during big game seasons, I apologize for confusing the situation.

The problem, as I see it, is you must obey the laws pertaining to any game in season at that moment... if Spring Bear is open anywhere in the state today, you must comply to those regs... no matter what or where you are hunting. Bears are big game so are you hunting coyotes with lights illegally then?
Even if I am coyote hunting, I never ever take the plug out of my shotgun... somewhere, some bird is in season, and I don't want to get caught with too many shells in my gun... or even the possibilty of putting in an illegal shell. Better safe than sorry.

The other problem, as I see it, is unless you already have a dead coyote in your truck, local law enforcement is going to try to accuse you of poaching deer.

I am also fairly sure that you cannot power your light from your truck, and that you cannot hunt within 50' of said truck with lights.
But I may have misread that part too!

I am VERY interested in the outcome of this, I believe all our westside coyotes are purely noctornal and night hunting may be the only way I am ever gonna see one.

Best of luck!

Jeff
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AWS,

I have a Nite Lite for sale that sounds like would fit you good. I had a barrel adapter that I bought from the nite lite catolog that simply slipped onto the barrel of my .22 and my head lamp connected to that. I used the spot light connected to my wheat light to shine for eyes and then I simply switched the the head lamp on my .22 to shoot. It's a nice set up. You might see if they have one of those adapters for your shotgun. anyway it's for sale in the classifieds if your interested.
 
Jeff

At no time did I feel that you besmirched my ethics. I have never hunted with a light at night and knowing that this state has some very complicated laws I am trying to get all the correct info befor I do. I quess it's time that I try and get a ruling from the enforcement division and see if I can get it in writing. I apreciate your imput as it makes me work a little harder to make sure that I get things right.

Thanks
AWS
 
Krustyklimber,
Hunting at night using a light is legal for Coyotes,Foxes and Coon as long as where you are hunting that no big game is in season.

You can hunt from your truck in many states and here in Washington I belive you can as long as you are not shooting from inside the truck and not on state or DNR property. Have to look in the WAC laws on this one tho.

I have hunted coyotes for about 28 years now and using a light at night has never caused any problems in this state. Also no restriction on the amount of shells in your shotgun, if using it for Coyotes or Foxes, the restriction of 3 shells is for game birds and animals.
 
I use a 1" scope ring mounted to the bottom tube on my mossberg. used the scope mounting base to attatch to a spotlight. I just slide the spotlight onto the scopering and tighten it down keep the battery in a fanny pack with switch mounted to the back of the spotlight. Spotlight is easy on and easy off and I just leave the scope ring mounted to the lower tube of the shotgun. I have the same set up on my .17. Only the 1" scope ring is mounted upside down and I slip the light on and off of it in the same way.
 


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