Follow up to Alabama legal times

[timbercruiser]

Several weeks ago there was a thread about the legal hunting times for the state of Alabama while deer hunting. I talked to a Wildlife Officer I know the other day about the subject. I know he enjoys deer hunting and that he uses a Schmidt & Bender 2.5x10x56 scope (very good under low light conditions). I simply ask him what time he stopped hunting. He replied that as long as you are not using a light or are relying on the moonlight, that you can legally hunt. No mention ofsunrise/sunset hours or the harvest times of fresh water mussels was mentioned.

[Carpmaster]

It does vary by state and by season of game....

[saltflat]

thats the way i have done it. If I can see it its in trouble.

[C. Davis]

That "Did you break the law thread" also got me to thinking. In Texas, I have always been in the habit of sitting in the stand until I absolutely could not see anymore. The Texas Game Regs say legal shooting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise, and 1/2 hour after sunset. My GPS gave the sunrise time at 7:14 a.m. and the sunset time at 5:33 p.m. That means legally you could shoot at 6:44 a.m, and 6:03 p.m.

Today,I was in the woods with the muzzleloader at both of those times, and It was too dark to make a good open sighted shot with my sidelock. In fact, with my scoped rifle, it would also have been right at the limit.

I feel safe with my sit till you cannot see rule in Texas.

C. Davis

[North Texan]

From what I have seen, enforcement in Texas has typically been that way. I haven't ever seen anyone get in trouble for shooting around or after the 30 minute window. Everyone I know of that has run into trouble shot after dark, using a visual aid (spotlight).