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Poll Question #2: Thermal Coyote hunting

Would you support banning thermal predator hunting during deer season consistent with NV law?

  • Yes

    Votes: 64 80.0%

  • No

    Votes: 16 20.0%
  • Total voters
    80
IowaBowHunter1983

IowaBowHunter1983

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Poll Question #2: Thermal Coyote hunting

Night vision is currently illegal during deer season. Thermals are currently legal during deer season.
 
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Matthewfox_45 said:
No! All this does is effect guys like me who do things right and within the boundaries of the law. Poachers are gonna poach regardless
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I understand that argument, but right now you cant tell the poachers from the good guys.

Additionally, the intent of the law was not to be night hunting during deer season. Thermals created a loophole as they didnt exist when the law was written.
 
Matthewfox_45 said:
No! All this does is effect guys like me who do things right and within the boundaries of the law. Poachers are gonna poach regardless
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Absolutely understand what you’re saying- but that’s everything. The regs only keep legal people legal- season dates, bag limits, hunting hours, the list goes on. I was always told- a lock will only keep honest people honest. Same with regs- it will only keep legal hunters legal. However- with the lack of DNR staff, we need to help give them easier options for controlling poaching options. (Not trying to argue it at all)
 
Coyote fur is prime in November and starts going downhill from there especially into January and February.
“Most people don’t kill coyotes for the fur” well maybe we start enforcing the wanton waste laws. Then people will really start crying that there’s too many coyotes and raccoons.

Why are deer more important than opportunities for people to kill quality coyotes? Just because the law says you can’t use them doesn’t mean poachers aren’t going to use them. I mean look at it now they are using guns and crossbows during bow season. Does that mean we can’t have a gun in our vehicle during bow season?

Maybe legalize IR during deer season to increase opportunities for people to harvest coyotes. The reason IR isn’t allowed is because it emits a light. The law was written to stop spotlighting not NV and thermal hunting.
 
Radios aren’t legal during the gun seasons because people would use them to hunt deer, we can’t shine a spotlight and have a gun in the vehicle because people would use them to shoot deer.

The argument “the bad guys will do it anyway “ always gets thrown around and then we complain about the grey areas in our laws. Make this stuff illegal to possess in your truck or on you during deer season, that way the criminals are crossing that line the minute they leave their driveway. It will make enforcement a lot easier that way.

Currently the way the law reads I could have a thermal mounted on my deer gun as long as I pull the trigger during legal shooting hours.
 
Iowa said:
Radios aren’t legal during the gun seasons because people would use them to hunt deer, we can’t shine a spotlight and have a gun in the vehicle because people would use them to shoot deer.

The argument “the bad guys will do it anyway “ always gets thrown around and then we complain about the grey areas in our laws. Make this stuff illegal to possess in your truck or on you during deer season, that way the criminals are crossing that line the minute they leave their driveway. It will make enforcement a lot easier that way.

Currently the way the law reads I could have a thermal mounted on my deer gun as long as I pull the trigger during legal shooting hours.
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With that rationale, you could never have any other weapon or hunting accessories for other types of hunting in your vehicle, other then what’s currently allowed for deer season.
 
Matthewfox_45 said:
With that rationale, you could never have any other weapon or hunting accessories for other types of hunting in your vehicle, other then what’s currently allowed for deer season.
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Yeah I guess it just comes down to what it is and what’s being abused at the time. If I get pulled over with my 12 gauge and steel shot November 1 I doubt the game warden will accuse me of poaching deer with it. But if I have a .350 legend and a thermal that should probably throw a red flag.
We need to understand that sometimes we are putting our law enforcement in a situation where it is impossible to enforce the law. I can’t bring lead shot in my blind bag duck hunting, can’t bring my squirrel rifle in the tree stand. Why ? Because the DNR doesn’t have the staff available to watch me 24/7 to make sure I don’t use them the wrong way. If they get lucky enough to catch someone with that stuff in the first place they need to be able to shut it down before it’s used.
 
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Iowa said:
Yeah I guess it just comes down to what it is and what’s being abused at the time. If I get pulled over with my 12 gauge and steel shot November 1 I doubt the game warden will accuse me of poaching deer with it. But if I have a .350 legend and a thermal that should probably throw a red flag.
We need to understand that sometimes we are putting our law enforcement in a situation where it is impossible to enforce the law. I can’t bring lead shot in my blind bag duck hunting, can’t bring my squirrel rifle in the tree stand. Why ? Because the DNR doesn’t have the staff available to watch me 24/7 to make sure I don’t use them the wrong way. If they get lucky enough to catch someone with that stuff in the first place they need to be able to shut it down before it’s used.
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22LR will drop a deer in its tracks but you could say you’re using it to check traps.

Guess we’ll have to shut down all hunting and trapping seasons during deer season because if you have a gun in your car during bow season you’re a poacher.

Take the good guys out of the field and you’re just giving that bad guys a free for all. Your CO will be at his daughters basketball game or sleeping and you’ll have no one out there to report Jim Bob for shooting a deer out his window with a crossbow.
 
Iowa said:
Radios aren’t legal during the gun seasons because people would use them to hunt deer, we can’t shine a spotlight and have a gun in the vehicle because people would use them to shoot deer.

The argument “the bad guys will do it anyway “ always gets thrown around and then we complain about the grey areas in our laws. Make this stuff illegal to possess in your truck or on you during deer season, that way the criminals are crossing that line the minute they leave their driveway. It will make enforcement a lot easier that way.

Currently the way the law reads I could have a thermal mounted on my deer gun as long as I pull the trigger during legal shooting hours.
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I got pulled over YEARS ago by a state trooper and he called the DNR- I had my bow and had my shotgun for pheasants (I was visiting my grandparents across the state)-literally was told if I was bowhunting I shouldn't have a gun because it could open a can of worms. I assume common sense has prevailed since that happened, but its a true thing. That DNR got called out to investigate me and essentially was wasting his time. I am sure it happens alot (or did anyway). Thats the unfortunate thing, people doing the right thing will ALWAYS have to deal with the idiots doing the wrong things..
 
Gosh - this one is tough as an avid thermal hunter but I voted yes. I've seen poaching done at night by thermal hunters and anything to stop it is worth it IMO. Sucks to have to "punish" the good guys but it's worth it in my opinion.
 
CurtisWalker said:
22LR will drop a deer in its tracks but you could say you’re using it to check traps.

Guess we’ll have to shut down all hunting and trapping seasons during deer season because if you have a gun in your car during bow season you’re a poacher.

Take the good guys out of the field and you’re just giving that bad guys a free for all. Your CO will be at his daughters basketball game or sleeping and you’ll have no one out there to report Jim Bob for shooting a deer out his window with a crossbow.
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Valid arguments - I've often thought me being in the field at night is good patrol of what's going on. Granted I can't tell if those shots in the distance are killing coyotes or deer but I have awareness of a little information just having been out and hearing the shots.

I'm on the fence on this one even though my first reaction was to vote "yes". Sucks having to build regulations to prevent the bad guys, is it possible? Maybe increase fines to be so hefty that deters them cause they most likely aren't going to care what rules are written, they're going to poach regardless.
 
I’m kind of surprised more laws a haven’t come out regulating thermals. I know of atleast 2 instances where people were shot because someone thought they were a coyote.
 
Iowa said:
I’m kind of surprised more laws a haven’t come out regulating thermals. I know of atleast 2 instances where people were shot because someone thought they were a coyote.
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More people get shot deer hunting every year, far more get hurt falling from tree stands…not to mention car wrecks from people hitting deer.

Seems to me like deer are the issue.
 
Right, but for some random guy out walking his farm checking traps to get shot because someone thought he was a coyote. I think it highlights how some of these cheaper thermals have way too poor of resolution to be lobbing rounds.
I feel like there must be some sort of way to wear something while thermaling that will be the thermal equivalent of hunter orange. No idea what that would be but someone smarter than me can figure that out.
Obviously the 99% are never going to do something this stupid but it’s not going to take very many people getting shot before this gets addressed ( and it shouldn’t ).
 
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