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Post by firstwd on Oct 30, 2021 20:11:39 GMT -5
Once again it seems the farm has become the favorite place for the spot lighters to visit. We still have beans in the field and is the only standing field of any kind within a mile or so. We also have quite a number of deer on the farm this year.
Yes, I know it's legal, but it's aggravating. The one tonight jumped out and identified himself when my brother pulled up behind him. I'm not certain that was smart because he is a retired LEO and the likelihood of him not having a firearm in the vehicle is slim. Also, spotlighting the cabin that sits on a hill above and beside the field simply can't be an intelligent idea. With all the issues we have had with the drug crowd over the years, bright lights shining in the windows tends to get met with loaded guns.
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Post by tynimiller on Oct 31, 2021 13:22:01 GMT -5
Man I’d be planting some miscanthus strips or something along road.
That is frustrating because some are completely innocent, but you cannot know which is the one that is gonna take a crack shot
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Post by medic22 on Oct 31, 2021 13:36:41 GMT -5
Spotlighting private property, especially property someone lives on is inconsiderate and should be addressed at the rule making level
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Post by firstwd on Oct 31, 2021 13:47:14 GMT -5
Spotlighting private property, especially property someone lives on is inconsiderate and should be addressed at the rule making level I have actually put a proposal in multiple times to cover this issue. We'll see if it makes it past the "send in your ideas" part this time around. My ask is simple but I know it will anger some. I asked that "from a public road right-a-way except during the commission of legal job duties" be added to the illegal list under spotlighting. Basically it would make spotlighting from a road or road ditch illegal and force people to be on the ground they are shining. Which in turn would mean they could only shine land that have permission to be on. |
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Post by firstwd on Oct 31, 2021 13:48:33 GMT -5
Man I’d be planting some miscanthus strips or something along road. That is frustrating because some are completely innocent, but you cannot know which is the one that is gonna take a crack shot I did a lot of work on that front last winter and into the spring. The flood this summer wiped all of that out. |
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Post by Ahawkeye on Oct 31, 2021 14:03:14 GMT -5
What are miscanthus strips? I own the one acre my house is on and that is all. In my opinion spotlighting should be illegal unless you own the ground you are spotlighting. Public ground included.
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Post by span870 on Nov 1, 2021 5:30:33 GMT -5
By no means trying to start an argument, just don't get it.
What is the argument against it? I don't and could care less if it's legal or not. Is it being inconsiderate and shinning the house or is it not wanting someone to see what's on your property as far as deer? Growing up in PA it was a tradition and you'd run into friends doing it all the time. I remember when done all consideration was taken not to disturb anyone and even getting close to someone's house with the light would result in a quick cuffing on the back of the head by the old man. I know there is a rule in PA against shinning a dwelling and it's a steep fine, if I remember correctly it's couple hundred dollars. Would that alleviate issues or is seeing what's there? Honestly just curious
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Nov 1, 2021 5:33:06 GMT -5
By no means trying to start an argument, just don't get it. What is the argument against it? I don't and could care less if it's legal or not. Is it being inconsiderate and shinning the house or is it not wanting someone to see what's on your property as far as deer? Growing up in PA it was a tradition and you'd run into friends doing it all the time. I remember when done all consideration was taken not to disturb anyone and even getting close to someone's house with the light would result in a quick cuffing on the back of the head by the old man. I know there is a rule in PA against shinning a dwelling and it's a steep fine, if I remember correctly it's couple hundred dollars. Would that alleviate issues or is seeing what's there? Honestly just curious My thoughts are the exact same. Passed a lot of time in high school and college driving around just looking at deer with a spotlight. |
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Post by Woody Williams on Nov 1, 2021 8:05:33 GMT -5
Early on when I was just starting (Circa 1970) deer hunting a group of us went to PA to hunt deer. I think the towns we were at was Tidioute and Tionesta (sp?) ?
Shining deer was a family thing there. As I recall it was no shining after a certain hour…maybe 10pm?
Maybe that would work here?
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Post by arlowe13 on Nov 1, 2021 8:51:58 GMT -5
We have quite a few folks that spotlight our farm, as well. More than once, last year, I got lit up by a spotlight while coyote hunting. They get goin' down the road real quick when they do that, lol, maybe because of the "wave" I give them.
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Post by firstwd on Nov 1, 2021 14:54:52 GMT -5
By no means trying to start an argument, just don't get it. What is the argument against it? I don't and could care less if it's legal or not. Is it being inconsiderate and shinning the house or is it not wanting someone to see what's on your property as far as deer? Growing up in PA it was a tradition and you'd run into friends doing it all the time. I remember when done all consideration was taken not to disturb anyone and even getting close to someone's house with the light would result in a quick cuffing on the back of the head by the old man. I know there is a rule in PA against shinning a dwelling and it's a steep fine, if I remember correctly it's couple hundred dollars. Would that alleviate issues or is seeing what's there? Honestly just curious If it was just an occasional light across the field, it wouldn't be a big deal. This turns into a parade some nights here. This farm and general area has traditionally been poacher central and we still deal with the shooters every year. A few years ago some teenagers in a side by side went around the area and shot 7 deer that we know of in one night and just left them lay. We have been lit up while checking traps in the dark. When the truck backed up someone got out and we had to yell and shine back before they took off. The only reason to get out that I see is the use the truck for a gun rest. This last group turned out to be 2 trucks and the car my brother talked to. The trucks were running a figure 8 around 2 country blocks in one direction and the car the opposite. They would stop and talk as they passed each other. If you're just out killing time, why would you spend more than an hour circling the same 8 mile stretch of road? |
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Post by jjas on Nov 1, 2021 15:13:49 GMT -5
If you find out who the spotlighters are, then maybe you could drive to where they live and sit out front and spotlight their houses.
That would p*ss 'em off.
Before anyone gets too P*ssed @ me, I'm just kidding...sort of.
I do think that spotlighting anything other than your land (or land you have permission to spotlight) should be illegal.
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Post by firstwd on Nov 1, 2021 21:52:01 GMT -5
Update on the car driver from the other night.
1. He was a cop a long time ago.
2. Found out he really like his alcohol.
3. Sheriff Department is currently at his house for a domestic violence call and dispatch has on recorded line him and the girlfriend that said he hit her arguing over drugs as the deputy pulled up.
4. Oh, he lives a mile up the road from the cabin. Gonna be a fun season.
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Post by Ahawkeye on Nov 2, 2021 4:55:26 GMT -5
By no means trying to start an argument, just don't get it. What is the argument against it? I don't and could care less if it's legal or not. Is it being inconsiderate and shinning the house or is it not wanting someone to see what's on your property as far as deer? Growing up in PA it was a tradition and you'd run into friends doing it all the time. I remember when done all consideration was taken not to disturb anyone and even getting close to someone's house with the light would result in a quick cuffing on the back of the head by the old man. I know there is a rule in PA against shinning a dwelling and it's a steep fine, if I remember correctly it's couple hundred dollars. Would that alleviate issues or is seeing what's there? Honestly just curious With the same idea that I'm not trying to argue. I find it intrusive, and gives cover for poachers. Same stiry as above different county, people shooting deer and leaving them lay or just cutting the heads off. |
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Post by span870 on Nov 2, 2021 5:40:06 GMT -5
By no means trying to start an argument, just don't get it. What is the argument against it? I don't and could care less if it's legal or not. Is it being inconsiderate and shinning the house or is it not wanting someone to see what's on your property as far as deer? Growing up in PA it was a tradition and you'd run into friends doing it all the time. I remember when done all consideration was taken not to disturb anyone and even getting close to someone's house with the light would result in a quick cuffing on the back of the head by the old man. I know there is a rule in PA against shinning a dwelling and it's a steep fine, if I remember correctly it's couple hundred dollars. Would that alleviate issues or is seeing what's there? Honestly just curious With the same idea that I'm not trying to argue. I find it intrusive, and gives cover for poachers. Same stiry as above different county, people shooting deer and leaving them lay or just cutting the heads off. Let's call it a discussion and not an argument 😃😃 and just on this point. Wouldn't outlawinging it because of something someone might do fall into the same category as outlawing guns because of what someone might do? The intrusive point unfortunately would fall under first ammendment as long as they would stay on public property. You couldn't tell someone in the daylight to not stop and look at a deer standing in someone's field. Honestly though I really was curious if it was that most didn't want people to see what deer were on their property. Most are more concerned about people poaching it seems. I will say I know several people that do spotlight. To a man, none own any huntable land and mainly just hunt public. Most know private holds big deer and just want to see big deer. Zero motives but to look. |
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Post by MuzzleLoader on Nov 2, 2021 6:00:47 GMT -5
It’s just like anything else. Someone will always ruin it for others.
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Nov 2, 2021 6:23:52 GMT -5
By no means trying to start an argument, just don't get it. What is the argument against it? I don't and could care less if it's legal or not. Is it being inconsiderate and shinning the house or is it not wanting someone to see what's on your property as far as deer? Growing up in PA it was a tradition and you'd run into friends doing it all the time. I remember when done all consideration was taken not to disturb anyone and even getting close to someone's house with the light would result in a quick cuffing on the back of the head by the old man. I know there is a rule in PA against shinning a dwelling and it's a steep fine, if I remember correctly it's couple hundred dollars. Would that alleviate issues or is seeing what's there? Honestly just curious With the same idea that I'm not trying to argue. I find it intrusive, and gives cover for poachers. Same stiry as above different county, people shooting deer and leaving them lay or just cutting the heads off. I’m pretty positive poachers aren’t going to quit if they put a stop to spotlighting. Like a lot of other laws out there it just stops the law abiders from doing something they enjoy. |
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Post by greghopper on Nov 2, 2021 7:50:06 GMT -5
With the same idea that I'm not trying to argue. I find it intrusive, and gives cover for poachers. Same stiry as above different county, people shooting deer and leaving them lay or just cutting the heads off. I’m pretty positive poachers aren’t going to quit if they put a stop to spotlighting. Like a lot of other laws out there it just stops the law abiders from doing something they enjoy. Yep…. |
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Post by greghopper on Nov 2, 2021 7:52:01 GMT -5
By no means trying to start an argument, just don't get it. What is the argument against it? I don't and could care less if it's legal or not. Is it being inconsiderate and shinning the house or is it not wanting someone to see what's on your property as far as deer? Growing up in PA it was a tradition and you'd run into friends doing it all the time. I remember when done all consideration was taken not to disturb anyone and even getting close to someone's house with the light would result in a quick cuffing on the back of the head by the old man. I know there is a rule in PA against shinning a dwelling and it's a steep fine, if I remember correctly it's couple hundred dollars. Would that alleviate issues or is seeing what's there? Honestly just curious If it was just an occasional light across the field, it wouldn't be a big deal. This turns into a parade some nights here. This farm and general area has traditionally been poacher central and we still deal with the shooters every year. A few years ago some teenagers in a side by side went around the area and shot 7 deer that we know of in one night and just left them lay. We have been lit up while checking traps in the dark. When the truck backed up someone got out and we had to yell and shine back before they took off. The only reason to get out that I see is the use the truck for a gun rest. This last group turned out to be 2 trucks and the car my brother talked to. The trucks were running a figure 8 around 2 country blocks in one direction and the car the opposite. They would stop and talk as they passed each other. If you're just out killing time, why would you spend more than an hour circling the same 8 mile stretch of road? So how arrests have been made in this poaching heaven your referring to? |
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Post by firstwd on Nov 2, 2021 8:00:48 GMT -5
If it was just an occasional light across the field, it wouldn't be a big deal. This turns into a parade some nights here. This farm and general area has traditionally been poacher central and we still deal with the shooters every year. A few years ago some teenagers in a side by side went around the area and shot 7 deer that we know of in one night and just left them lay. We have been lit up while checking traps in the dark. When the truck backed up someone got out and we had to yell and shine back before they took off. The only reason to get out that I see is the use the truck for a gun rest. This last group turned out to be 2 trucks and the car my brother talked to. The trucks were running a figure 8 around 2 country blocks in one direction and the car the opposite. They would stop and talk as they passed each other. If you're just out killing time, why would you spend more than an hour circling the same 8 mile stretch of road? So how arrests have been made in this poaching heaven your referring to? Total over the years, I don't know for sure. Our last 2 COs would sit on yhe Hill behind the cabin and be able to watch a mile of bottomland. We haven't had a CO for the county in 3 years and the district is stretched pretty thin right now. We are supposed to get one from the recruit class that is currently doing academy. |
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