I was curious as to the best time to spotlight. i went out just now at 12:30 am and saw some deer but a nice buck on property i can't hunt. is best time for spotlighting like an hour or so after the sun goes down or later on like 12 or 2 am. also, is there any good way to see if the deer are bucks or does at night. most of the places i spot light are fields and sometimes the deer are 100 or more yards up in the field and all i can see is eyes. just curious as to what other people do. thanks

Anytime the game warden is on the other side of the county.

Just kidding. It's not legal where I hunt but I will do frequent 3 point turn arounds. It's good to stay in practice.

3 million Candle power light, Good set of BINOCS... and anytime ... big bucks are out LATE

When it is dark. Sorry couldn't resist. [8D]

Dont get caught Legacy, here in Pa you have to stop spotting at 11:00 pm, I go out at 930 till 1100

I have to agree with BobCo19-65 on this one. I'm gonna have to go with night time as the best time to shine. Yep. Night time, it is.

In Maine it's best between 12/16 and 8/31 of the following year. I have best luck between dusk and 10pm or so.

adams, is it leagal at all in Maine? I remember a few years back we just shined the headlights in a field looking for deer and got chewed out.

As long as it's not between 9/1 and 12/15. The expanded archery season opens on 9/11 this year and closes on 12/14. The give the deer a couple of weeks prior to "hide" and it's legal again the day following the close of the season.


ILLUMINATING WILDLIFE: From September 1 to December 15, it is unlawful to use artificial lights from 1/2 hour after sunset until 1/2 hour before sunrise to illuminate, jack, locate, attempt to locate or show up wild animals or wild birds, except raccoons.

I love the way they word this damn provision. I sure hope it's illegal to "jack" wildlife.

i checked the book and you are only allowed to spotlight til 11 pm in pa. good thing cowboy told me about that before i got in trouble[:-]