They changed the law a few years ago allowing you to carry a defense pistol while hunting. Probably due to the guy in MN who opened up on hunters with an AK.
So it doesn't matter if you possess an LTCH. You think city cops are ruthless, draw the attention of a Conservation Officer and see how well you do.
IMHO: There is no reason for spotlighting deer other than poaching. If you are out doing that while armed you are poaching.
How would you like it if a deer and some of his deer buddies rolled up on you and shined a spotlight in your face and then blasted you in the gut? Its a good thing humans eyes don't reflect light.
And some of us don't take kindly to people shining bright spotlights onto our "empty" property.
I've called TIP several times when I encounter people out doing in in my neck of the woods as I drive home. I've had people spotlight on my lake late at night. Normally you can't see the house from the road, but they tend to leave real quick when I spot them back.
I'll apologize to anybody here that really goes out spotlighting deer just because they enjoy doing it. Perhaps I am jaded by my experiences. Every time I have ever come across someone out spotlighting deer (someone who claimed to be just spotlighting deer) they were poaching or stealing or doing something illegal.
I used to take my mom and dad out in the evening when they would come to visit just so they could see all the deer around and we would have supper at French Lick and drive back through the forrest.
I wanted to stop and jack a few deer and a couple tree stands but mom wouldn't go for it.
I saw you shining a light at that deer 100 yards away. You were going to shoot it with that .38 snub nose revolver in your ankle holster. Step out of the car please.
when i was 17 some football buddys and i decided to do a little partyin in the woods behind some cornfields on one of our land. we were trying to start a bonfire at night and it was damp so we had headlights on. no more than 30 minutes and 2 beers later, whop whop. up pulls dnr. he then corrals the 20 of us into the back of a truck like a scared herd of cattle with weapon drawn and pointed at us (i dont blame him there were 20 of us and he didnt know what was goin on)...but long story short he took away my field knife i had and was using to hack off little limbs for firewood. luckily a police officer friend of mine got me off on the underage drinking charge but they never gave me back my knife......and i liked that knife
I posted this question over at the Hunting Indiana message boards where they have a Ask the Conservation Officer room. His reply was that it is "Illegal to possess a firearm [no exceptions] while spotlighting". Even if you have a LTCH personal protection.
I posted this question over at the Hunting Indiana message boards where they have a Ask the Conservation Officer room. His reply was that it is "Illegal to possess a firearm [no exceptions] while spotlighting". Even if you have a LTCH personal protection.
While inside the car, yes, he's correct.
O.K., but we've already read the statute and I just told you that it is not as broad as DNR is trying to make it (flex their muscle and read stuff into the statute like any good bureaucrat).AGAIN...read the statute. It is not as cut and dried as the officer indicates.
I used to take my mom and dad out in the evening when they would come to visit just so they could see all the deer around and we would have supper at French Lick and drive back through the forrest.
I wanted to stop and jack a few deer and a couple tree stands but mom wouldn't go for it.
"Orangeville shortcut" through the Hoosier National Forest?
"Orangeville shortcut" through the Hoosier National Forest?