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If the law was written correctly in the first place we wouldn't be having this discussion. Not against the compromise but not 100% for it either. Will that targeted time of high poaching cases just shift from Nov to Dec/Jan and we never really gained much? I don't know the answer to that. Leave it the full length of deer season like the other states mentioned. I'd rather see deer season pushed back 2 weeks and end sooner if there needs to be a compromise. .
 
A lot of people are suggesting that thermals are being allowed because of a “loophole” in the law when compared to NV or infrared. Hard for me to think that is the case and if it was that legislature wouldn’t have fixed by now. Logically I think the law is as it is intended and didn’t want to blur the lines with casting a light (spotlight) and NV/infrared. Thoughts?
 
Muskrat24 said:
A lot of people are suggesting that thermals are being allowed because of a “loophole” in the law when compared to NV or infrared. Hard for me to think that is the case and if it was that legislature wouldn’t have fixed by now. Logically I think the law is as it is intended and didn’t want to blur the lines with casting a light (spotlight) and NV/infrared. Thoughts?
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It’s always been illegal to spotlight. The rule added IR because it is spotlighting.

People aren’t understanding how NV works. NV scopes collect available light and enhance it to give you a better picture of what you’re looking at. IR lights are a “spotlight” that project a light that is not easily visible with our eyes. The law/rule banned the use of “IR” lights, not NV scopes. IE: projecting a beam of light. There are IR lasers that you only see through the scope also. The guys that are really in to the “night” hunting tend to use a handheld thermal for locating and the NV and IR for the actual shooting. It’s going to take a pretty decent (not cheap) thermal to identify whether or not a deer is worth shooting. The hard horned rack isn’t holding enough heat to really stand out.

A decent NV scope and some good moonlight would be more than adequate to hunt. Range wouldn’t be great but it’s doable. More guys are buying thermals because they are better at locating objects. A cheap NV scope with a decent IR light is a whole lot better at identifying things, just not as good at locating.

The majority of the night hunting being done with thermals in Nov is guys chasing raccoons, at least around my area. It’s crazy the amount of coon being shot. We are talking hundreds a night.
 
seven twenty said:
The majority of the night hunting being done with thermals in Nov is guys chasing raccoons, at least around my area. It’s crazy the amount of coon being shot. We are talking hundreds a night.
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Out of curiosity are they actually skinning them out and selling or just leaving lay? Are they doing it on their own property for population control to protect crops or maybe to save some nesting birds?
 
Sligh1 said:
From an academic pov or from the outside - it doesn’t. When u live in this world 24/7 u grasp the reality of the situation- then u understand when it stops. The VAST majority of deer poaching happens in November. Maybe up to mid December.
You can get crime stats on any topic btw or get feedback from law on when things are the worse. Like when your family crossed the border illegally to come here- you did it during the dry season to get across the river easily.
Nov is when MOST the lunatics plan their “hunting trips” (poaching adventures) or get the bug to do it. When we busted the meth head with 47 bucks….. started late October & we busted him around thanksgiving. Even meth heads know when to go & when bucks are visible all over. Poaching in general…. When u hear rifle shots after dark, when u start finding headless deer in fields, when CO’s are being called on poaching - it’s much like a bell curve - peaking in early/mid November. Poachers do slow down. Amount of calls to CO’s do slow down.
Case in point…. 2 weeks ago or even today- bucks have racks…. How much poaching is going on or how many calls are the CO’s getting?????? Close to zero.
Come on CW. You can do better than this!!! I know you have common sense. The poaching in all variety of cases & when CO’s are bombarded with it: Nov 1 to Dec 15 (roughly). CW- this is COMPROMISE too. Which one side doesn’t ever seem willing to do. The folks that want thermals gone, want it gone during all of deer season. When adults get in the room & all sides discuss this who want the same goals- less poaching & more tools for law enforcement that they request…. U work through these. Instead of 4 months u don’t use thermals (and 8 months you do) …. Maybe it’s 1 month you don’t & 11 months you do. When CO’s are also overloaded in November - we have to consider their needs. Not just ME ME ME. I’m listening to their requests & absolutely - all sides are listening to the thermal guys POV. Maybe look at things through their POV & look at the facts of them trying to do their jobs. even chew on when you think most the poaching is going on & when they need the most tools & relief on busting scumbags. If at the end of the day guys couldn’t listen to all sides & make some common sense adjustments, especially if they are minor…. Don’t expect the opposition to compromise at all when they want the scumbaggery things in their favor. & when the deer exploiters like crossbow companies or outfitters or “kill em all” groups go after us…. Make no mistake …. This won’t be a thoughtful compromising fight- thank goodness we have folks with backbone that won’t let any of that crap get through.
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So skip hypothetically if we close the thermal hunting season from oct1-jan10th and I decide to drive around with my thermal rifle what would the repercussions be if I was stopped by a co??
 
Hawk32 said:
Out of curiosity are they actually skinning them out and selling or just leaving lay? Are they doing it on their own property for population control to protect crops or maybe to save some nesting birds?
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Majority are just leaving them lay. They aren’t worth anything. If it wasn’t for thermals and a continuous open season, I doubt we’d be seeing this much activity. Thermals eliminated the need for dogs and it’s not spotlighting. It’s so much easier also. Pull in a gate, scan the ditches or trees, and move on to the next. No need to get out and walk.

The continuous open guidelines are getting abused. I haven’t heard any landowners complaining about the population reduction tho. I don’t think a lot of guys understand the guidelines that were set out. They just see the “continuous open” part and go not realizing that you need to be on your own ground outside of the “trapping” season.
 
seven twenty said:
Majority are just leaving them lay. They aren’t worth anything. If it wasn’t for thermals and a continuous open season, I doubt we’d be seeing this much activity. Thermals eliminated the need for dogs and it’s not spotlighting. It’s so much easier also. Pull in a gate, scan the ditches or trees, and move on to the next. No need to get out and walk.

The continuous open guidelines are getting abused. I haven’t heard any landowners complaining about the population reduction tho. I don’t think a lot of guys understand the guidelines that were set out. They just see the “continuous open” part and go not realizing that you need to be on your own ground outside of the “trapping” season.
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Just a heads up too that I am sure it is CO specific but even tho coons are not worth anything you are technically not allowed to shoot and leave lay. I asked my CO about this and the answer was properly disposed of to include burial.
 
Muskrat24 said:
A lot of people are suggesting that thermals are being allowed because of a “loophole” in the law when compared to NV or infrared. Hard for me to think that is the case and if it was that legislature wouldn’t have fixed by now. Logically I think the law is as it is intended and didn’t want to blur the lines with casting a light (spotlight) and NV/infrared. Thoughts?
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IR is casting a light. NV doesn't work without an IR light.
 
CurtisWalker said:
I’ve been out plenty been catching lots of fish.

Next question, why does poaching just end on January 10th? Bucks still have antlers so why would it be okay to hunt with thermals on January 11th but not Jan 10th?
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Good point!.. and to expand why do banned practices for scouting/etc only begin and end with the season dates?? Possible enforcement #1 reason. The deer don’t ever win tho! We have it too easy! Wish we could easily separate all the good dudes whacking predators as hard as possible and all the guys using as much tech as possible to make deer hunting easy
 
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The current law was most definitely meant to ban any scope/light source/optic from being used at night for hunting during the deer seasons. Whether that is the right thing to do or not is a different subject. Totally understand the argument on why do “deer regs” trump everything else. It’s a valid argument! The answer is $$. It’s always the answer. Not saying it is fair or not but predator/thermal/nv hunters will have to outspend deer hunters in order to get anything changed
 
IowaBowHunter1983 said:
IR is casting a light. NV doesn't work without an IR light.
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Actually it does. A NV scope amplifies any available light. IR lights are an accessory. An IR light is not needed to use a NV scope. Moonlight works, just not as well. The range is greatly increased with a light.
 
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Ryandh said:
So skip hypothetically if we close the thermal hunting season from oct1-jan10th and I decide to drive around with my thermal rifle what would the repercussions be if I was stopped by a co??
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If the law mimicked IR & spotlights- using afield during that timeframe- would get a ticket if u were using it.
Oct - Jan - if I get pulled over with a rifle & a spotlight - nothing they can do. The second I put that spot light into a field & there’s a rifle next to me- different ballgame. We’re not trying to re-invent a new system now. We are simply adding thermal to IR & spotlight class.
Sure- I would prefer that during deer season: u can have none of that stuff in your possession…. I don’t see how that could pass though.

I personally would be just fine, after hearing from all sides- making it Nov or maybe Nov 1 to Dec 15. Would give the CO’s the tools & relief they need & when most the poaching is going on.

Now - for anyone that will not compromise or critically think one inch (fair enough) …. Can we agree IR & spotlights need to stay out of deer season? What other tools, penalties or additions to law enforcement could we come up with to combat the scumbag poachers? & if this issue gets far worse with more technology in far more people’s hands…. How should we respond when poaching gets worse?

& hey guys…. I got my .223 suppressed set up now. I got a rock river .243 suppresed & think I’m gonna add the nocpix s75r thermal to it. Not cheap stuff. I’ll be using it. Not near to the success or experience of others on here but I’m doing it too. Know of a whole lotta farms I know that have had 0 coyotes shot or trapped all year. Strong majority of farms in reality. Places people would let guys go. Maybe those in disagreement need to get your set up and let’s go blow away a pile of coyotes this next week. :)
 
NO NEW TECH, WEAPONS, SEASONS, ETC! Keep it simple!! Keep it understandable to the masses! And to the Legislature! Yes, we all might lose out on a few things we personally think would be good to have. so what!! We have it good! TECH in all forms is going to continue to be our greatest threat! Let’s all band together on one very simple concept and say enough is enough! WE HAVE TO STAND FOR SOMETHING! The simpler the message is the more all will understand it! Once we start to pick and choose what tech, seasons, weapons are acceptable our arguments get watered down and people start to question our intentions..
 
Muskrat24 said:
Just a heads up too that I am sure it is CO specific but even tho coons are not worth anything you are technically not allowed to shoot and leave lay. I asked my CO about this and the answer was properly disposed of to include burial.
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Who would let them lay? We eat them 3 meals a day!!!! We have neighborhood grill outs & everyone assumes it ribeye! I suspect all the kids at school are trying to talk my kids into trading lunches!
 
booneriverbucks said:
NO NEW TECH, WEAPONS, SEASONS, ETC! Keep it simple!! Keep it understandable to the masses! And to the Legislature! Yes, we all might lose out on a few things we personally think would be good to have. so what!! We have it good! TECH in all forms is going to continue to be our greatest threat! Let’s all band together on one very simple concept and say enough is enough! WE HAVE TO STAND FOR SOMETHING! The simpler the message is the more all will understand it! Once we start to pick and choose what tech, seasons, weapons are acceptable our arguments get watered down and people start to question our intentions..
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You have to remember- common sense isn’t common…when youth tags went to floating, A LOT of people around here let their kids use guns the entire time…..
 
Sligh1 said:
Who would let them lay? We eat them 3 meals a day!!!! We have neighborhood grill outs & everyone assumes it ribeye! I suspect all the kids at school are trying to talk my kids into trading lunches!
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I’m glad Skip got my drift. I can only imagine the number of people that get pulled over after the neighbors call in a bunch of shooting at night and when the CO asks “how’s the coonhunting going?” Ole Johnny redneck says “Oh it’s awesome, we killed over a hundred tonight!” And then CO asks “well can I see them?”

I know where I can drop mine off now so you and the kids don’t go hungry!!
 
Sligh1 said:
Who would let them lay? We eat them 3 meals a day!!!! We have neighborhood grill outs & everyone assumes it ribeye! I suspect all the kids at school are trying to talk my kids into trading lunches!
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Got any good coon recipes? Not for me… but some guy I know has them scattered in the ditches from my house to my office.
 
newfarmer said:
You have to remember- common sense isn’t common…when youth tags went to floating, A LOT of people around here let their kids use guns the entire time…..
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ARE YOU SERIOUSLY talking about the YOUTH SEASON!!! Haha! It’s for the FUTURE! Our CHILDREN! Haha. They NEED three weeks to kill a deer!!.. I don’t know if I’m up to debating that today. Haha.
 
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