Spot lighting is ok for deer count, i have done it in Oregon and New york, it helps The DEC to help determine aprox. how many deer per square mile. It doesn't hurt the deer at all, and most deer don't even pay attention to you. I use to do it alot in Eastern Oregon with Mule Deer, use to see alot of really nice bucks...We ahd alot of fun counting deer, also where deer and elk are hurting crops, DEC will hire you to do counts and chase them off the properties, sometimes it works and other times it don't...Deer and Elk can put a hurt on newly planted trees, now they are getting to where they also put up real high fences in smaller places, but you can't do that in a 1000 acre place, well you can but it will cost alot..Just like on the Oregon coast where people grow cranberries, Dec will issue permits for the owner to harvest deer to cut down on the harvest damage....But back to the issue at hand, spotlighting is good for counts or observing, not for people who hunt that way...(Not very sporting in my book)....Not saying anyone here said it was..