IMO shooting deer just to kill it and take the hind quarters and back straps is poaching. Wasting game is a violation of the law and that in my book is poaching. It does not mean you have to get every little 1/4 oz of meat. You just have to use resonable effort to recover game and use it.

As for shooting deer after hours the law states a time to end and if you go past that you are violating. In WI I have talked to wardens and they have stated that they do give a little lee way on the issue but will not say how much. In my descussions with wardens they have stated that many of the laws are on the books because in court the judge will usually throw out several violations.

As an example if you have your open bow case in the back of your truck and it is raining so you just set your bow in the case and then close it that is a violation in WI. You are supposed to bring it out in the rain and enclose it before it goes in the truck. Otherwise it is considered to be an uncased weapon in a vehicle. Now I did this once in front of a warden and he just told me that I shouldn't do this. However if I had shot a deer without a tag, after hours and with a spot light then he would have written me up for the case law as well. Then the judge would come accross as a nice guy and drop that case charge. It's kind of like speeding. If you go to court they will usually drop either the fine or the points but seldom both.

There are many laws on the books and some I agree with and some I don't. I have broken some over the years and wether I agreed with them or not does not make it right. The main one being shooting from a haywagon parked in the middle of a field. I don't see why that is a problem but it is the law in WI and I don't do it anymore. I now set up next to it and do not even use it for a steady rest. I have tried to set a better example for my 2 kids over the last 10 years or so. I now know the rules and wether I like them or not I follow them.

Just my opion.