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Completely. I can't believe it hasn't been overruled in court yet.Which is absurd...! Not being able to go back to regular bow...
Yes. If have a round in the chamber or magazine , an arrow on the string, a bolt on the string, or a cap or primer on the (Or priming in the pan )muzzleloader before or after legal hunting time, it is considered hunting.
You can sit in the dark with and unloaded weapon as long as you want. For the most part...
Some states and game wardens will give you grief if you are walking out 3 hours late or going in 3 hours early.
In some hunts, you cant enter the woods until 1 hour before legal hunting time. Like the Wachusett watershed hunt last year.
Having the crossbow loaded.
You can’t walk in with a bolt in your crossbow, or your shotgun loaded. If you are hunting with a muzzleloader, you can have your powder and ball in the barrel, but you must not have a primer cap on the nipple.
Completely. I can't believe it hasn't been overruled in court yet.
My post was in response to Admin’s question about walking in to your tree stand before legal hunting hours.At least until you're more than150 feet from the road. Once you're that far in, you can cap, load and nock to your heart's content.
At least until you're more than150 feet from the road. Once you're that far in, you can cap, load and nock to your heart's content.
Pretty sure you can be on the road or near with loaded implement; you just can't shoot from, across or within 150'....
If an EPO catches you on the road with a loaded gun, you will be in deep poo.Pretty sure you can be on the road or near with loaded implement; you just can't shoot from, across or within 150'....
The problem with that link and all other .gov links is they always default to M.G.L which as M1911 stated contains “loaded” as a preclusion to being within 150ft of a paved roadway. Hence the disclaimer. Pretty sure the public way would mean walking path or dirt road. Again, it’s really poor wording in these laws.I don't doubt that but:
Carrying rifles and shotguns on public ways while hunting
You can carry a loaded or unloaded rifle or shotgun upon or across a public way if you are engaged in hunting and hold a valid hunting license. You do not need a trigger lock on the rifle or shotgun provided you are engaged in hunting and have a valid hunting license.
NOTE: You shall not possess or discharge a loaded rifle or shotgun within 500 feet of a building or dwelling in use without the owner or occupant’s permission. Also, you shall not discharge a rifle or shotgun upon or across any state or hard surfaced highway or within 150 feet of a highway.
Gun ownership in Massachusetts
Massachusetts residents 15 years and older who wish to possess, carry, and transport firearms, ammunition, and feeding devices are required to have a firearms license. Firearms licenses are issued by municipal police departments.www.mass.gov
My post was in response to Admin’s question about walking in to your tree stand before legal hunting hours.
1) You can’t hunt close to the road.
2) You can’t hunt outside of the legal hunting hours.
If you walk into the woods prior to hunting hours (as most hunters do), you still can’t load until you are 150’ from the road AND it is within legal hunting hours.
The problem with that link and all other .gov links is they always default to M.G.L which as M1911 stated contains “loaded” as a preclusion to being within 150ft of a paved roadway. Hence the disclaimer. Pretty sure the public way would mean walking path or dirt road. Again, it’s really poor wording in these laws.
FIFY
,Ill argue that you can have a loaded detached magazine in your pocket and still be legal.
That EPO is a Richard. That is a perfectly reasonable question and the EPO had to respond by proving he’s a tough guy.This is a question that's posed to the EPOs at almost every HE course. The definition that the EPO gave for the "public way" is: A hard-surfaced road. Student then asked what the definition of a hard surfaced road was. EPO responded, "Will your head hurt, when I throw you down on it?"
That EPO is a Richard.
I got checked by EPOs a couple times back when I hunted in Pantry Brook. I never had a problem with them, but I was doing everything right — before I got back to my car, my shotgun was unloaded, I had my LTC and hunting license with me, etc.But, out in the woods, the EPOs are like Judge Dredd (They are the law), and you might run into the Richards. This is why it's important to do the stuff that can get you jammed up, correctly.
I got checked by EPOs a couple times back when I hunted in Pantry Brook. I never had a problem with them, but I was doing everything right — before I got back to my car, my shotgun was unloaded, I had my LTC and hunting license with me, etc.
One time when I got back to my car, the EPO was talking to another hunter who didn’t have his hunting license, didn’t have his FID, etc.
This is unneeded and why they dont get respect. Right away he’s escalating a simple question to physical violence. Maybe he should find a different line of work.That EPO is a Richard. That is a perfectly reasonable question and the EPO had to respond by proving he’s a tough guy.
This is a question that's posed to the EPOs at almost every HE course. The definition that the EPO gave for the "public way" is: A hard-surfaced road. Student then asked what the definition of a hard surfaced road was. EPO responded, "Will your head hurt, when I throw you down on it?"
So, yes, a dirt road would likely be considered a public way, unless it's completely on private land. A walking trail, not.
IANAL IANAEPO
Didnt realize that. He said he gave one guy a warning last year making 4 copies of his lisc and having 8 deer tags in his possession while hunting deer. That does make sense to me, especially with the print your own tags thing.
Anyway I have a pic of my lisc on the phone now.
This is unneeded and why they dont get respect. Right away he’s escalating a simple question to physical violence. Maybe he should find a different line of work.
I had one warden in my area when I taught some of the HE courses. If he was the only one that could come to the class I recommended that he not even come. He would talk about night rifle bans, hated conceal carry, etc.... did students a disservice just listening to him
I dont carry a hunting backpack while hunting birds. Even if I did I would use two different packs as I would not want to take the same pack to the deer woods with dog/gun oil/dead bird scent all over it.I always kept my hunting license in my hunting backpack, so it was always with me.
I dont carry a hunting backpack while hunting birds. Even if I did I would use two different packs as I would not want to take the same pack to the deer woods with dog/gun oil/dead bird scent all over it.
I have one copy of my lisc in my deer hunting backpack always.
I
This is a question that's posed to the EPOs at almost every HE course. The definition that the EPO gave for the "public way" is: A hard-surfaced road. Student then asked what the definition of a hard surfaced road was. EPO responded, "Will your head hurt, when I throw you down on it?" So, yes, a dirt road would likely be considered a public way, unless it's completely on private land. ...
In central MA there are a many areas like Barre Falls and Birch Hill where there are dirt roads that are public ways that people shoot off of and well within 150 feet of all day long all season long. Ive never heard of anyone getting jammed up for it. They stock pheasants right off of them usually right off of the road. The dirt road is assumed part of the hunt area, as birds freely fly and walk across it.
Paved asphalt or Macadam road has always been and met the 150 foot definition in my area of Central MA. NEVER a dirt road, especially in a WMA.
A dirt TOWN road outside of a WMA maybe, if you are near a house or something.
... several EPOs that have come through the Club on HE duties, some have been further than others from Officer Friendly on the huggability spectrum. But, out in the woods, the EPOs are like Judge Dredd (They are the law), and you might run into the Richards. This is why it's important to do the stuff that can get you jammed up, correctly.