Your Hunting hours??
 

For Gun hunting in your state what are the legal hunting hours?

Currently, in Illinois the gun hunting hours are from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.

There is legislation to change it to 1/2 after sunset too. I'm a little leery of this, but I'd like to know if other states have the same shooting hours and don't have problems.

Thanks.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

We run 1/2 hour b4 sunrise and 1/2 hour after sunset. Also depending on where you live in the province with reference to the middle additional math is required. For example i hunt 3 hours east of the 0 mark so i can hunt 15 minutes earlier but have to shut down 15 minutes earlier in the evening. so 8:30 sunrise and 5:00 sunset equals 7:45 am and 5:15 for me. The half hour after sunset has never been a problem for me in regards to being able to see game and surrounding perfectly.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

Michigan has the same hours as you do for gun and bow.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

Kentuckyyou can shoot deer between1/2 before sunrise-1/2 hour after sunset. You can beafield as early or late as you like.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

I think it's a good idea, it's still light enough at that time.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

I have trouble seeing a deer at 20 yards at 1/2 hour after sunset on overcast days with no snow.

I'm a bit concerned about guys with shotguns trying to hit a dark blob at 100 yards a half hour after sunset. If they hit it, will they be able to tell? Will they be able to figure out where the deer was standing?

I know WI has it until 20 mins. after sunset, which I like better. I've rifle hunted up in N WI and could still see pretty well at that time. Of course, there was almost always snow on the ground. You can't count on snow cover in most of IL during gun season.

Anyhow, I'm open to the idea though. That's why I'd like to see if it works for other states with rather high populations of hunters and non hunters.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

1/2 hour beforesunrise and 1/2 hour after sunset for all deer hunting in Vermont. Good for hunting because that first and last half hour is when they move the most. On overcast days however, there is a safety factor. IMO hunter orange should be mandatory at least during those times. We don't have orange requirements here and if I don't have it on during the mid day period I always put it on at the ends of the day.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

Same for MO.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

1/2 Before sunset to 1/2 after sunset.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

Same here in FL.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

HNI christine., does your lawshave where you half to have your weapons cased after sunset? well if not ,then if they go to the 1/2 hour after sunset hunt maybe they should make a law that you have to have your weapons unloaded and in the case during non-hunting hours while afield., and when ever., i know there is alot of states that you dont need to case your gun or any weapons.,but here in minnesota we must have them unloaded and in caes during non-hunting hours and while taking afield before the 1/2 in the morning and after the 1/2 after sunset .,i know it is a pain in the butt going to and from stand while weapons in case,. but to me its safe!

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

1/2 before sunrise and 1/2 after sunset.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

I belive kansas is 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

Christine, A good scope will gather enough light to shoot beyong legal shooting hours. I know that my Bushnell 3x4x38 wide angle scope will do that. I've only looked through it about the time legal shooting light was to end and could actually see better through the scope than I could with my eyes.

Chief

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

IDK what the official rules are, but for deer hunting I hunt from whenever it's light enough to see until 10-10:30. Then go back out at 2 and hunt till dark.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

Here it is 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. It was 1/2 hour after sunrise and 1/2 hour before sunset but, that wasn changed a few years ago. The first year it was changed we did have one fatality as a result of an overcast evening as a storm was moving in. as always it is sad when anything like that happens. So always be sure of your target before you shoot please.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

How is that any safer???????????????????
What if you happen upon a pack of wild dogs???????
A law that takes defense away from weapons is no law I care for!!!!!!!!!!!
What about us ground hunters that travel rather large areas??? I have had to walk a few miles from my sunset location to my vehicle.
But If you are happy haveing a club soawkward you can't even swing it I guess that is ok!?

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

In Illinois the gun can only be loaded during legal shooting time. But it does not need to be in a case.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

1/2 before sunrise 1/2 after sunset in ohio

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

i was wrong ., i just read thru my regs and it does not say that we have to have it cased going into and comming out . after those 1/2 hour times., our law book has 128 pages to read .,and some how i thought but was wrong on this ,.im sorry .,

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

Sorry, but wrong. The question asked is about Gun hunting. Bow it is half hour before and after, but gun it is half hour before to sunset. I hate having to stop at sunset when gun hunting, I wish I did not have to. But I know they do it for our protection from like you said, to many people would shoot at blobs moving at 100 yards!

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

Michigan is not the same as Illinois. Michigan is 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

I was talking to an Alabamagame warden a few weeks ago about this. He said as long as it was natural sunlight (not moonlight) I could hunt as long as I could see. I got out of the stand yesterday at 5:50 centralwith six deer in the field I could have still shot.

RE: Your Hunting hours??
 

1 hr before till 1 hr after :D

mello