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Post by slowsuby on Feb 23, 2014 18:36:35 GMT -7
On the F&G website it says "You only need a hunting license if you are hunting". They also said you can target shoot on any public land so long as it's safe and away from roads etc. but didn't mention the need for a license. I was always under the impression that if you had targets up and it was clear that you were target shooting that you were ok. We saw a sheriff drive by with no incident. Thanks for pointing that out. I'll need to call F&G and get clarification straight from the horses mouth so to speak.
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Post by slowsuby on Feb 23, 2014 19:25:37 GMT -7
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Post by broper on Feb 24, 2014 6:29:32 GMT -7
Don't depend on what the regs say. It seems that every F & G officer has a different interpretation. Myself, I'm going to have a license no matter where, what or when I'm shooting just to make sure my butt is covered. They don't cost that much and it's good insurance on taking a chance at loosing your gun and hunting rights.
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Post by slowsuby on Feb 24, 2014 7:42:42 GMT -7
Don't depend on what the regs say. It seems that every F & G officer has a different interpretation. Myself, I'm going to have a license no matter where, what or when I'm shooting just to make sure my butt is covered. They don't cost that much and it's good insurance on taking a chance at loosing your gun and hunting rights. Yeah, I certainly plan on getting one regardless, I just find it hard to believe that there are unwritten laws that we have to follow. If a F&G officer stopped and clearly saw that targets were set up and there were no dead animals in the area, then it's pretty clear that no hunting occurred. If there was some rogue officer with an agenda who decided to bust someone for hunting when it was clearly target shooting that was taking place, that action wouldn't hold up under any sort of scrutiny. I wonder if there are any cases where someone was target shooting and had their guns and ammo confiscated and hunting license revoked for 3 years. I'm sure there are some cases where someone claims that is the case, but in reality the F&G officer had evidence otherwise like dead animals in the area. I'm going to call F&G and if they say that is the case, then it's no problem to get licenses for both of us. I just don't like giving money to the government when I don't have to.  |
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Post by broper on Feb 24, 2014 14:31:57 GMT -7
You have the right to do whatever and however you choose but I'm going to keep myself covered. Good luck getting a definite answer out of F & G. They are known for not giving you a yes or no anmswer and also for everybody you talk to giving you a different answer and interpretation.
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Post by Timber Butte Outdoors on Feb 24, 2014 17:17:46 GMT -7
We are not trying to turn you from shooting, by any means! I have been hunting and shooting in Idaho for over 40 yrs. And I am sure Bob has been hunting and shooting in Idaho long enough to know what is going on.
I have and know people that this scenario has happened to. We are just trying to help you not lose your privileges to hunt in Idaho or any other State.
Like I mentioned before, if you are on an established shooting range you can shoot without a license, but if you are out in the foothills, a F&G Officer is going to believe you are hunting, whether there are dead animals or not in the area you are shooting.
With F&G, You are guilty until proven innocent! We just want you to do it right! We want every shooter/hunter/sportsman that decides to go out in the field with a gun, to have a license, we don't want that to reflect bad on all hunters/shooters in Idaho. We ask all sportsmen to follow the F&G Regs as closely as possible. It is your responsibility to know the Laws and Regs of the State your are hunting, because the F&G and the Courts, all assume that you do know them inside and out!
Bob is right, you will not get one correct answer from F&G HQ, you will get a bunch of different answers. Best thing is to call the County Sheriff Office and ask them, or find a F&G Officer in the field and question them.
Later
Gary
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Post by Timber Butte Outdoors on Feb 24, 2014 19:14:21 GMT -7
moose99,
I wrote that because a F&G Officer once told me about 25 yrs ago, that they are like the IRS, they assume you are guilty, until you prove different, unless they witness or there is an eye witness.
Just sharing an experience! I don't know if they all think that, but I do know one did!!
Thank You for the Idaho Code!
Gary
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Post by broper on Feb 26, 2014 17:47:32 GMT -7
All F & G officers seem to interpret things different and don't always go by the book/rules. Just be cause something is written doesn't mean that's the way it's going to be. I feel that most of the time you are guilty until proven innocent. That's why I'm going to have my butt covered no matter what, where, or when I'm shooting. I try not to give them any excuse to nab me.
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Post by aspencreek on Feb 27, 2014 17:57:09 GMT -7
I can certainly attest to the fact that different officers interpret the rules differently, or may not even know all the regs as well as they should. Case in point a few years back I took a buddy out pheasant hunting at one of the WMA's and we managed to each get a bird or two. We got stopped in the parking lot area by a F & G officer to do a license and WMA permit check. We both had valid licenses and permits, and had marked on the permits with a sharpy the date and location of the birds and had blackened out the little triangle thing like you are supposed to. At the same WMA a year or so before that I had been told by another officer that blackening out and such was just fine, and in fact I verified that in the regs as well. But apparently this particular officer didn't think that just writing with a sharpy was good enough and said that you had to physically cut the triangle out to be legal. He confiscated our birds and did a "perp walk" with us through the lot with a bunch of other hunters around, and took mug shot photos of us before writing us up with tickets. After I got home and pulled out my regs I found where it specifically said that what he had done was just fine! I called in to the F&G office and got them to drop the tickets thankfully once I pointed out what had happened. And then a day or so later the officer called me and apologized for his error. I suppose that was nice, but I certainly didn't appreciate the embarrassment and hassle and loss of game from his mistake.
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Post by broper on Feb 28, 2014 8:28:09 GMT -7
Exactly!
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