here in Jersey Hunting time is a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset. And the times are given in the Hunting Digest. Heck with the canopy overhead in early fall I can' t see the ground for 15 min. after and before shooting time. As far as bending the rules your not supposed to have a nocked arrow or loaded gun before shooting time,I must admit come shooting time I want to be ready, not trying to knock an arrow or listening to the action of the gun. Although the first and only time I loaded my gun during Pheasant season 5 min. before hand a game warden yelled and proceeded to come check my gun. fortunately I unloaded it on my way to him. Meanwhile you can hear people shooting else where 15 min before legal hours. I' ve had to let deer pass 20 min. ahead of time for fear people in the houses would complain. This while there was snow on the ground and the deer was clearly visible.