States response to night hunting

Pennsylvaina mania

www.pgc.state.pa.us/

COYOTES: No closed season. Unlimited. Outside of any deer or bear season, coyotes may be taken with a hunting license or a furtaker license, and without wearing orange. During any archery deer season, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting deer or with a furtaker license. During the regular firearms deer and any bear seasons, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting deer or bear, or with a furtaker license while wearing 250 square inches of fluorescent orange. During the spring gobbler season, may be taken by those with a valid tag and meet fluorescent orange and shot size requirements.

1) During the regular antlered and antlerless deer season, it is unlawful to take or attempt to take other wild birds or mammals, except game birds
on regulated hunting grounds, migratory waterfowl, coyote * and bear (in designated deer/bear concurrent season WMUs).
* Note: Coyotes may be taken with a hunting or furtakers license, and without wearing orange, outside of any deer or bear season. During any
archery deer season, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting deer or with
a furtakers license. During the regular firearms deer season and any bear season,
coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting deer or bear or with a furtakers
license, while wearing 250 square inches of fluorescent orange material in a
360-degree arc. During the spring gobbler season, coyotes may be taken by
persons who have a valid tag and follow shot size requirements.
2) Raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat and weasel may be hunted
any hour, day or night, except during restricted periods in paragraph 1 (also
see furbearer section), and groundhogs, opossum, skunk and weasel may not
be hunted prior to 12 noon during the spring gobbler season.

Unlawful Firearms & Devices: 1) Automatic and semi-automatic
(autoloading) rifles and handguns; 2) air or gas operated rifles and
handguns.

Firearms - Magazine Capacity: It is unlawful to hunt small game,
furbearers, turkeys, waterfowl or crows with a manual or autoloading
shotgun unless the magazine is limited to a two-shell capacity. A plug
must be a one-piece filler installed so it cannot be readily removed
without disassembling the gun or magazine.

Electronic Devices: It is unlawful to hunt with any electronic contrivance
or device except: 1) Electronic callers may be used to hunt
bobcats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and crows. 2) Lighted pins on
bow sights and scopes with lighted reticles may be used as long as
they don’t cast a beam. Any device used as a sight or scope on any
firearm, bow or crossbow that projects a light beam of any kind onto
the target is unlawful. 3) Portable, two-way radios and cell phones
may be used for general communications with another hunter, but may
not be used to direct or alert another hunter of the presence or location
of live game or wildlife. The use of electronic communication devices
to alert hunters to live game is not only a violation of the Game &
Wildlife Code, but violates the concept of Fair Chase.

Spotlighting Wildlife: It is unlawful to 1) spotlight wildlife while in
possession of a firearm, except by individuals who have a License
to Carry Firearms permit, and only with firearms authorized by the
permit (most sporting arms are not authorized), bow and arrow, or
other device capable of killing wildlife; 2) spotlight wildlife during
the regularly scheduled statewide antlered and antlerless deer seasons
(Nov. 30-Dec. 12), including those days separating the seasons
and including the late firearms deer seasons in WMUs 2B,
5C & 5D; and 3) cast an artificial light upon any building, farm
animal or photoelectric cell. Recreational spotlighting is lawful between
sunrise and 11 p.m., except as previously noted. Spotlighting
includes handheld lights, accessory spotlights on vehicles and
vehicle headlights when intentionally used to locate or view wildlife.
A person hunting raccoons, skunks, opossums, bobcats, weasels,
foxes and coyotes on foot may use a handheld light, including
a gun-mounted light. Furbearer hunters still may not use a flashlight
or spotlight that projects a laser light beam, though.
Cultivated lands: It is unlawful to 1) hunt in unharvested buckwheat,
corn, sorghum or soybean fields without permission from
the owner or caretaker; 2) operate a motor vehicle on any cleared
field or private property without the landowner’s permission; 3)
block lanes to cultivated fields, mail boxes or private property; 4)
leave gates open; 5) damage real or personal property; 6) break
down or damage fences, or 7) harass, injure or kill livestock.
Taking Advantage of Food or Bait: It is unlawful to hunt in or
around any area where artificial or natural bait, food, hay, grain,
fruit, nuts, salt, chemicals or minerals, including their residues, are
used, or have been used within the past 30 days, as an enticement
to lure game or wildlife regardless of the type or quantity. Hunters
are responsible for ensuring that the hunting area has not been
baited before they begin hunting. They should physically inspect
the area and question landowners, guides and caretakers. This
section does not pertain to hunting near areas where accepted
farming or habitat management practices are taking place (example:
hunting near food plots on game lands is legal). Any natural or
manmade nonliving bait can be used to attract coyotes for hunting
or trapping.
FURTAKERS SEASONE AND BAG LIMITS
HUNTING (A furtaker’s license is needed to hunt all furbearers except coyotes)
Foxes & Raccoons: Oct. 24-Feb. 20, 2010 Unlimited
Opossums, Skunks & Weasels: No Closed Season Unlimited
Coyotes: (Statewide) - No Closed Season. Outside of any deer or bear season
may be taken with a hunting license or a furtaker’s license and without
wearing orange.
(During Any Archery Deer Season) - May be taken while lawfully hunting
deer, or with a furtaker’s license.
(During The Regular Firearms Deer Season and Any Bear Season) -
May be taken while lawfully hunting deer or bear, or with a furtaker’s license
while wearing 250 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange-colored
material visible in a 360-degree arc.
(During Spring Gobbler Season) - May be taken by persons who have a
valid tag and follow shot size requirements.
Need a furtaker license to trap coyotes.
Opossums, Skunks & Weasels may not be hunted on Sundays and prior to noon
during the spring gobbler season and, along with Foxes & Raccoons, not during the
legal hunting hours of the regular antlered and antlerless deer season.
Bobcats (WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4D & 4E): Oct. 24-Feb.
20, 2010
Requires a furtaker license and a Bobcat Hunting-Trapping Permit. Limit of one cat
per permit. Applications for a bobcat permit may be submitted by going through the
PGC website www.pgc.state.pa.us and clicking on “The Outdoor Shop,” or through
the PALS system at a POS location. It is unlawful to take bobcats during the
legal hunting hours of the regular antlered and antlerless deer season.
Firearms For Hunting Furbearers: It is unlawful to take furbearers, including
bobcats, with shotguns using shot larger than size number 4 buckshot. Manually
operated rifles or handguns of any caliber can be used. Persons hunting for furbearers,
including coyotes, foxes, bobcats, raccoons, skunks, opossums and weasels,
may use gun-mounted lights that do not project a laser-light beam.
Dogs: Dogs are permitted to hunt furbearers.

 

Jimmie no argument here, any thing crafted has to be fool proof.
I will look into the states that have nolights to see if any legislation has been crafted for N/L hunting, or if it has even been tried

 

New York New York

To hunt furbearers, you need to possess a junior hunting, small game, small/big game, sportsman, super sportsman, non-resident hunting, or non-resident super sportsman license. A trapping or big game license does not allow you to hunt furbearers. Furbearers may be hunted with a bow or firearm as described below. All laws pertaining to the use of a spotlight and firearm apply.

• You may hunt red and gray fox, coyote, bobcat, raccoon, skunk, mink, weasel and opossum.
• If you take a bobcat, it must be tagged and sealed.
• You may use a call, including an electronic call.
• You may hunt furbearers only after sunrise on the opening day. They may be taken at any hour, day or night, for the rest of their hunting season.
• Skunk may be hunted during their open trapping season.
• Mink may only be hunted in the Southern Zone with a firearm not larger than .22 caliber during their open trapping season. Mink may not be hunted with a firearm in the Northern Zone
• Muskrat may only be hunted on Lake Champlain during the open trapping season with a firearm not larger than a .22 caliber.
• You may hunt furbearers during the day using any handgun, shotgun, rifle or bow. You may hunt at night as described below.

Furbearer Hunting at Night

You may hunt furbearers at night, with or without a light, as follows:

• Use any handgun or bow.
• Use a shotgun loaded with shot (any size).
• Use a rifle chambered in any cartridge, except that you may not possess a centerfire rifle afield, during the day or night, during any open season for deer in areas restricted to using a shotgun only for deer.
• If hunting without a light, the use of a light gathering ("starlight") scope is legal on any firearm listed above.

NOTE: Westchester County and Long Island - Rifles are not allowed
Selling Furbearers

• Furbearers may be bought and sold with or without pelt attached to the carcass.
• Bobcat pelts, or carcasses with pelt attached, shall be possessed or transported only in the manner described in Pelt Sealing.

More about Furbearer Hunting:

• Bobcat Hunting Seasons - Maps showing the areas open for bobcat hunting.
• Coyote Hunting Seasons - Maps showing the areas open for coyote hunting.
• Raccoon, Red & Gray Fox, Opossum & Weasel Hunting Seasons - Maps showing the areas open for red fox, grey fox, opossum, weasel and raccoon hunting and season dates.

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    • Furbearer Hunting
      • Bobcat Hunting Seasons
      • Coyote Hunting Seasons
      • Raccoon, Red & Gray Fox, Opossum & Weasel Hunting Seasons
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  email us

 

The olny problem I have with NO lights is beening sure of your target, you shoot a farmers cattle dog or his wifes house cat and $hits going to hit the fan !!

 

I'm a little confused, WV only allows rimfires and rabbit shot and smaller for night hunting, that's acceptable? I'd say 30 yards and under 4 shot would kill OK, I've killed a few turkey hunting.

Currently not having a legal night hunting season is an asset to LE to catch deer poachers. I understand their stance, if hunting at night with lights were allowed, everyone they check would simply be coyote hunting.

I used to enjoy fox hunting at night very much, I just don't see the value from a coyote perspective, they are easily called in the daytime, foxes aren't.

I understand both sides of this, it just is strongly opposed by most law enforcement officers.

To me the more imortant things would be allowing larger shot size for coyote, you can shoot all kinds of centerfire rifles, but not 4buck in a shotgun... and why does the shotgun need to be plugged for coyotes? You don't have to have it plugged for deer, why coyotes?

I'd also like to see the cat hunting go through February, not that many people kill cats after deer season, if too many are being taken then remove the gun deer season portion... Just my 2 cents on improving opportunity for predator hunting in KY, it is the fastest growing hunting sport these days in my opinion.

 

#1.I call BS on this one,where is most of your poaching done from if not all of it,from the road.Thats right,from the road.Is hunting from the road illegal,yes it is.COs like it easy,driving around looking for spotlighters that they had a call about spotlighters spotlighting from the road.How many COs are back in the woods looking for spotlighters?So definately a big BS on this one.
#2.If they are so easily called in why arent they piling them up in the varmint thread,this one.

 

NO

I don't want to have to buy yet another tag!!!!! Especially to hunt something I can't eat.

 

Let me tell you why your answer is wrong!! First, we can't hunt them at night now anyways. Second, if you don't like it, then don't buy it!! Then you would be right back in the boat your in now, not able to hunt at night. Surely you have been in the world long enough to know "nothing comes for free"

 

Coon hunters don't need another liscense, why should we? And untill there's big money in coyote hunting like there is in coon hunting we won't be night hunting. And we even get PERMISSION to hunt our spots.

 

i would'nt mind buying a tag if it is to night hunt only. I don't think it would be fair to others who just wanted to hunt during the day to have to buy a tag that covered that in with the night hunting. I got coyotes on camera just behind my house in a area that i call all the time and never see anything, i think the only way to get them is when they are more active at night.

 

I don't wanna buy another license or permit either. But, if it could open the door for night hunting, it could be worth it. I would only support the permit for night hunting though, daytime hours should remain as they are. Then if one choose's not to buy the permit, they can continue hunting like they always do....JMO