ORIGINAL: KodiakArcher
ORIGINAL: quiksilver
One thing that should be mentioned is that with this law in place,it makes itall that much harder to catch a poacher, putting LEO's at a further disadvantage of enforcing the law.
Before, ifa WCOcaught a guy walking out of the woods with a bow in one hand, and a T/C encore 13" .223 scoped pistol in the other hand, the warden could just start writing out the fine. Now, you have to catch him in the act, which is much, much more difficult.
Was there a law that said that I can't carry a firearm in the woods during bow season? Most I've seen simply say that a firearm isn't a legal means of taking an animal not that I can't carry a firearm. I could just argue that I was plinking or squirrel hunting. If there were other legal, legitimate reasons to be in the woods with a firearm, which there always are... there would be a real tough case to be legally proven for writing me a ticket for hiking out with a bow and a rifle/pistol. I don't think this law really changes anything, they've still got to be caught in the act taking an animal through inappropriate means for the violation to stick.
Ithas beenillegal to carry a firearm while bowhunting in ND. It is in the works to allow carrying handguns. The only dangerous thing I worry about is stumbling across some druggy making methout in the old abandonedfarmsteads here. We found signs of meth being produce in one of the boss's old abandoned farmsteads.
Poachers will be poachers. Laws only seem to effect the law abiding but Quicksliver has agood point about making it tougher on the wardens to enforce. My family and my saftey are a better point though. My handgun doesn't do me a bit of good sitting inthe truck when I am bowhunting. Heck I leave it at home for the most part nowduring bow seasonfor fear some idiot will break in my truck and steal it.
If it does pass we will be carrying this fall.
Tim