As we get close to deer season and it combines with our use
of night vision for hunting night time critters, it is important to understand
your state’s regulations. It is important to know legal shooting hours in you
state for animals that can only be harvested during daylight hours.
South Carolina
has for instance a one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset legal
shooting times for deer. Times are posted in your regulation booklets as well
as online. Dates and times need to be set on your units and a recording of any
shot can be critical to determine if a hunter was legal or not in a court.
When you pull
that trigger at game, we must be responsible to know our game laws and follow
them.
If we are walking out from deer hunting after hours and I
see a coyote or hog on legally registered property, I will record if I shoot at
that animal. I will make sure my time and date are correct so that if I arrive
at my truck and DNR is waiting for me, I can prove through video what exactly I
shot at after legal hours for deer.
If I shot at a
deer during legal hours, I will also record so that if I track and drag a deer
after legal shooting hours, I can show the DNR in my scope the recorded shot.
DNR will obviously go by the time they heard any shots so we must have evidence
that we followed state laws. The recording capabilities will work in the lawful
hunter’s favor.
Lastly, if you are
unsure, do not shoot. If you are not certain of your target or what is beyond, it is best not to take any shot. We are given something great right now in our
ability to use equipment that hunters never dreamed about in the past and it is
our job to protect it.
