Really?

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

In Ohio it's considered spotlighting if you intentionally shine your headlights on a deer at night and you can be fined and even have your car confiscated, even if there is no type of firearm or weapon capable of taking that animal.  Sometimes laws are written with good intentions but end up making no sense when you get right down to it.  To be quite honest with you, if the guy isn't going to take a shot then I don't see what the big deal is.  

Although I do understand the argument that you can fine someone who has the ability to poach but not the intent.  I'm sure that if someone who does intend to poach gets caught before the act they'll just say they had no intent to shoot anything.  Kinda the one bad apple ruins it thing.

[Tsalagi]

Regarding laws. Among the Ancient Celts, at the end of the year, everyone got together and named all the laws. If any were forgotten, then they weren't important in the first place and life went on without those laws.

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

Originally posted by Mojostick:
I've personally suggested a traditional only bow week for early September to the DNR and NRC. I've also suggested that there's no reason archery season shouldn't open here on Sept. 1, even if antlerless only Sept. 1-Sept. 30.

Oddly enough, it's some bowhunters that complain about that suggestion. They say it's too hot or fawns have spots. But I say "don't go if you don't want to, but don't stand in the way of those who would take advantage of September bowhunting.

States south of us, like Ohio and Kentucky, which are much warmer in Sept. open in early Sept. and their fawns are small too. Those states have no problems with September hunting.

Actually you may want to check the hunting regs before you quote season dates because deer season doesn't start in Ohio until the last week of September.

[Ray Hammond]

I would still think they would have to prove INTENT in court to make the thing stick.

If the person is not intending to shoot- and carried only field points in his quiver- how could they prove INTENT? Or for that matter, didn't carry any arrows, or only a judo point perhaps?

[Bowwild]

KY's bow season starts 1st Saturday in September and ends 3rd Monday in January. A biologically sound season that provides lots of diversity in terms of climate, cover, and deer behavior. Fawns are weaned and most are unspotted. Some bucks are in velvet but most aren't. It was 46 degrees F opening morning this year. I love it!

I also strongly support one-buck/season rules in states that would like to improve the overall age structure of their herd.

[bobman]

IF he doesn't intend to shoot why bring the bow at all? just go sit in the stand and watch the deer

on private land here in Georgia I doubt they could do much unless they saw you shoot at a game animal

On WMAs they have a strict set of rules about weapons the only exception being made for is concealed carry permit holders can carry

[Wary Buck]

You know, I was thinking exactly what bobman just said.  Why bring the bow at all if there's no intention of shooting?  It just sounds suspicious and while I dislike Big Brother assuming I'm doing something I'm not, why make it pretty hard for anyone to NOT think we're up to something?

Just like the guys who insist on carrying a weapon for protection while they're bowhunting, we have to remember that these laws were probably originally put into place at the behest of hunters (and very likely bowhunters at that), to keep rifles from being used to fill bow tags.

If one thinks they must carry a bow on a preseason scouting trip, pack your quiver full of judo or rubber blunts then.