[TBrom]

I'm curious if they called a dog in to find that bull?

Probably. Look how it was buried deep in that mountain laurel. Lol!! I got a chuckle out of that.

 

[R. S. B.]

I will give you my opinions on the subject.

First of all though the wording of the law does make tracking, even of wounded game, part of the act of hunting. That means it is technically illegal to track game after hunting hours. That would also make it technically illegal to have a firearm or bow with you on an injured animal's blood trail after hunting hours.

But, with that said even though the wording of the law is clear I don't for one minute believe the legislative intent of the law was to prevent hunters from tracking and recovering deer after hunting hours. Nor do I believe the legislative intent was prevent a person from dispatching an animal that was down and unable to get up after hunting hours. Legislative intent has been successfully argued in court on cases where the law was technically violated but the violation was outside the parameters of what the Legislature had intended when the law was passed.

Therefore, I never had a problem with anyone tracking and recovering wounded game after hours even if they were using a light to do it. Over the years of my career I encountered many people tracking wounded game after hours and when I had time I would help them look. To me it just never made sense for them to possibly not recover game or have it eaten by a bear or coyotes by waiting until the next day.

I never had a problem with them also still being in possession of their bow or firearm if they were still searching and hadn't been back to their vehicle to safely store their equipment before looking for the wounded game. Nor, would I have any problem with them dispatching a wounded animal that was down and unable to get up and run away. If the animal was still getting up and running from them I would not suggest they shot at it though.

Those are grey areas of the law and different officers might disagree with the way I view it. The way it would be enforced, or at least successfully prosecuted, would be more dependent on the way the local courts would look on the difference between the black and white words of the law verses the meaning, practically and legislative intent of the law.

It is still a good idea to call the Game Commission if you are somewhere practical or even possible to do so then be guided by the local officer's advice when you have a need to track a wounded animal after hours. It might not even be a bad idea to broach the subject with your local officer before you find yourself in the situation where you have the need to track wounded game after hours.

Dick Bodenhorn

 

[TrashPanda]

I will give you my opinions on the subject.

First of all though the wording of the law does make tracking, even of wounded game, part of the act of hunting. That means it is technically illegal to track game after hunting hours. That would also make it technically illegal to have a firearm or bow with you on an injured animal's blood trail after hunting hours.

But, with that said even though the wording of the law is clear I don't for one minute believe the legislative intent of the law was to prevent hunters from tracking and recovering deer after hunting hours. Nor do I believe the legislative intent was prevent a person from dispatching an animal that was down and unable to get up after hunting hours. Legislative intent has been successfully argued in court on cases where the law was technically violated but the violation was outside the parameters of what the Legislature had intended when the law was passed.

Therefore, I never had a problem with anyone tracking and recovering wounded game after hours even if they were using a light to do it. Over the years of my career I encountered many people tracking wounded game after hours and when I had time I would help them look. To me it just never made sense for them to possibly not recover game or have it eaten by a bear or coyotes by waiting until the next day.

I never had a problem with them also still being in possession of their bow or firearm if they were still searching and hadn't been back to their vehicle to safely store their equipment before looking for the wounded game. Nor, would I have any problem with them dispatching a wounded animal that was down and unable to get up and run away. If the animal was still getting up and running from them I would not suggest they shot at it though.

Those are grey areas of the law and different officers might disagree with the way I view it. The way it would be enforced, or at least successfully prosecuted, would be more dependent on the way the local courts would look on the difference between the black and white words of the law verses the meaning, practically and legislative intent of the law.

It is still a good idea to call the Game Commission if you are somewhere practical or even possible to do so then be guided by the local officer's advice when you have a need to track a wounded animal after hours. It might not even be a bad idea to broach the subject with your local officer before you find yourself in the situation where you have the need to track wounded game after hours.

Dick Bodenhorn

Cue the countdown to someone coming on to tell you that you’re wrong. Or start a line of questioning trying to make it look like you disagree with the PGC…………..

 

[mfuff]

I will give you my opinions on the subject.

First of all though the wording of the law does make tracking, even of wounded game, part of the act of hunting. That means it is technically illegal to track game after hunting hours. That would also make it technically illegal to have a firearm or bow with you on an injured animal's blood trail after hunting hours.

But, with that said even though the wording of the law is clear I don't for one minute believe the legislative intent of the law was to prevent hunters from tracking and recovering deer after hunting hours. Nor do I believe the legislative intent was prevent a person from dispatching an animal that was down and unable to get up after hunting hours. Legislative intent has been successfully argued in court on cases where the law was technically violated but the violation was outside the parameters of what the Legislature had intended when the law was passed.

Therefore, I never had a problem with anyone tracking and recovering wounded game after hours even if they were using a light to do it. Over the years of my career I encountered many people tracking wounded game after hours and when I had time I would help them look. To me it just never made sense for them to possibly not recover game or have it eaten by a bear or coyotes by waiting until the next day.

I never had a problem with them also still being in possession of their bow or firearm if they were still searching and hadn't been back to their vehicle to safely store their equipment before looking for the wounded game. Nor, would I have any problem with them dispatching a wounded animal that was down and unable to get up and run away. If the animal was still getting up and running from them I would not suggest they shot at it though.

Those are grey areas of the law and different officers might disagree with the way I view it. The way it would be enforced, or at least successfully prosecuted, would be more dependent on the way the local courts would look on the difference between the black and white words of the law verses the meaning, practically and legislative intent of the law.

It is still a good idea to call the Game Commission if you are somewhere practical or even possible to do so then be guided by the local officer's advice when you have a need to track a wounded animal after hours. It might not even be a bad idea to broach the subject with your local officer before you find yourself in the situation where you have the need to track wounded game after hours.

Dick Bodenhorn

Your line of thinking and interpretation falls in line with making every reasonable effort in attempting to recover hit/wounded game. That type of rational and level headed approach is appreciated.

 

[Patrapper01]

Only a couple of these tv guys show everything; good, bad, & indifferent. Thats the ones I watch, most like this guy only show highlights. It is what it is & makes no difference now but as I said early on its obvious that bull wasn't dead too long before the hero shots.

 

[R. S. B.]

Cue the countdown to someone coming on to tell you that you’re wrong. Or start a line of questioning trying to make it look like you disagree with the PGC…………..

So, you too have noticed that?

Dick Bodenhorn

 

[TrashPanda]

So, you too have noticed that?

Dick Bodenhorn

Hard to not notice. Rest assured that quite a few of us out here see through the smoke screens, and are extremely thankful that you are on here.

 

[bohunr]

Only a couple of these tv guys show everything; good, bad, & indifferent. Thats the ones I watch, most like this guy only show highlights. It is what it is & makes no difference now but as I said early on its obvious that bull wasn't dead too long before the hero shots.

liver / gut shots take some time to kill the animal. especially if he just nicked or missed the liver. it could have died shortly before they found it.

 

[rabbithunter6111]

Isn't that a weapon, too?

A knife is not a legal weapon to take big game or any game. Besides, it would be very dangerous to take on a wounded deer with a knife. Let alone an elk. That said, I don't have a problem with someone going after a wounded animal after hours. It is ethical to not let an animal suffer and to do whatever possible to prevent that. Common sense has to be part of ethical. Most GWs are about the law only. I understand that, but there are times for exceptions.

 

[rabbithunter6111]

I will give you my opinions on the subject.

First of all though the wording of the law does make tracking, even of wounded game, part of the act of hunting. That means it is technically illegal to track game after hunting hours. That would also make it technically illegal to have a firearm or bow with you on an injured animal's blood trail after hunting hours.

But, with that said even though the wording of the law is clear I don't for one minute believe the legislative intent of the law was to prevent hunters from tracking and recovering deer after hunting hours. Nor do I believe the legislative intent was prevent a person from dispatching an animal that was down and unable to get up after hunting hours. Legislative intent has been successfully argued in court on cases where the law was technically violated but the violation was outside the parameters of what the Legislature had intended when the law was passed.

Therefore, I never had a problem with anyone tracking and recovering wounded game after hours even if they were using a light to do it. Over the years of my career I encountered many people tracking wounded game after hours and when I had time I would help them look. To me it just never made sense for them to possibly not recover game or have it eaten by a bear or coyotes by waiting until the next day.

I never had a problem with them also still being in possession of their bow or firearm if they were still searching and hadn't been back to their vehicle to safely store their equipment before looking for the wounded game. Nor, would I have any problem with them dispatching a wounded animal that was down and unable to get up and run away. If the animal was still getting up and running from them I would not suggest they shot at it though.

Those are grey areas of the law and different officers might disagree with the way I view it. The way it would be enforced, or at least successfully prosecuted, would be more dependent on the way the local courts would look on the difference between the black and white words of the law verses the meaning, practically and legislative intent of the law.

It is still a good idea to call the Game Commission if you are somewhere practical or even possible to do so then be guided by the local officer's advice when you have a need to track a wounded animal after hours. It might not even be a bad idea to broach the subject with your local officer before you find yourself in the situation where you have the need to track wounded game after hours.

Dick Bodenhorn

Well said. Some laws contradict other laws. Wanton waste. Does that end when hunting hours are over. I think not. It is our obligation to recover that animal as soon as possible. End it's suffering and put the meat to use. And you might need a weapon to do that. Not let it die a slow death and then spoil before you find it. Ethical and common sense. I guess if a bear or coyote find it, bonus for them. But I don't want to be the one to add it to their diet. They get enough on their own.

 

[rabbithunter6111]

If you find a deer after dark and dispatch,you clearly broke the law.There's no dispute and the only reason to carry a weapon after dark is if you plan on doing so.I'm actually shocked that the guides allowed him to bring it and get it all on film.

Watching the video again it was still light when they returned. Carrying his bow then is legal. They found the bull after it got dark. It still might have been shooting hours. Regardless, he didn't use the bow for a second arrow. It was dead from a liver and gut shot earlier in the day. Shooting hours half an hour after sunset is too late to be shooting anything ethically. That is on the PGC. Most of the time in PA we have cloudy conditions, and it is very dark by then.