Just backing of SPOT LIGHT

A big no no here........

I spotlight here in NY myself, often see bucks I never do during the day. But NY's spotlighting laws are kinda open to the DEC Ofcr's. intrepretation. 1st you can't spotlight within 500ft of a dwelling, 2nd your really not suppose to have any weapons in the vehicle or at least not readily accessible. Locked in a case in trunk, or in a bolted down gun rack, and ammo in the trunk. Plus your not suppose to be harassing the deer. I guess some would say its illegal to do. So I guess if you spotlight too long, and the deer take off you could be ticketed for harassing. I just kinda flash spot quickly. If I catch horns I only stop on that deer for a few extra seconds. If they begin to move I turn it off.

Here's a funny story that happened to me one night. I work the 3-11 shift, so spotlight often on way home. I drive by a creek closed to fishing, and its often poached for salmon. I see a vehicles taillights back off the road near the creek. Just happen to catch them in my headlights. Thinking its someone poaching fish, I throw on the spotlight to spook them. Thinking it'd be funny to see some poachers running! But to my surprise it was a NYS DEC Law Enforcement vehicle. I almost crapped my pants!! They instantly put their lights on, and came after me. I immediatley pulled over. Of course they wanted to know just what the heck I was doing. I explained my spotlight reason. They then laughed, and said so you could see our tail lights from the road. I said yes. They actually thanked me explaining they were trying to catch the poachers themselves, and would have to hide better. Then told me to have a good night! WHEW!!!!! [8D]

It's one of my most highly recomended methods. It's the "go to tool", very first step.

There is no better "sign" than seeing one.

Um, it's illegal in IL (I'm pretty sure but not positive) but i learned this past spring (not from persoanl experience.....ehmmm) that it's a good way of keeping track of the deer that have lost their antlers and those who haven't. Good way of finding spots that might hold those antlers you're looking for.

silent.......that's a really good excuse. Hopefully I won't have to use that but at the same time I have had one of my GSP's get loose at night and looked for him using a spot light.

You know what,,i was on my way to my stand two hours early and my Tikka headlamp flashed upon an Elk!! 25 yards:::staring at me,,and it was just standing there!!(glowy eyed),,and i'm like {{{ 0oh geesh}},,it bolted within a short time. Wow!!

cheaters

Huh? If you're going to post something like that, you should probably explain yourself a little better.

HuntingBry,

Don't take the bait....which is exactly what that post was.


I spotlight in my neck of the woods too. As HB elaborate earlier it is perfectly legal in PA provided it is done before 11 pm, not during rifle season and provided there aren't any weapons in the car. At one point in the past I spotlighted quite often but then I found it more productive to actually just look right at twilight when they were first exiting the woods for the fields. All in all spotting is good for determining what deer are in the area but not much else in my opinion.

guys ...watch out for the anti's.......they look at posts like these to bring hunting down....