Hunting regs - do i understand this correctly?

[mainbutter]

Quote:

Possession of Firearms Before, During, and After the

Firearms Deer Season

(Note: This section does not apply to the Muzzleloader Season, see

page 90, except that muzzleloaders legal for deer may be possessed only by

persons with a muzzleloader or firearms deer license during that season.)

No person may possess a firearm or ammunition outdoors during

the period beginning the fifth day before the open firearms season

and ending

the second day after the close of the season within an area

where deer may be legally taken by firearms (see page 29), except:

• A person who has a valid firearms big game license in possession

may hunt big game during the open season with a firearm and

ammunition

authorized

for big game.

• Possession is also legal under these conditions:

a) An unloaded firearm that is cased or in a closed trunk of a

motor vehicle.

A shotgun and shells containing No. 4 buckshot or smaller

diameter

lead shot or nontoxic shot.

c) A .22 caliber rimfire handgun or rifle with .22 caliber short,

long, or long rifle cartridges,

.22 magnum or .17 caliber.

d) Handguns possessed by a person with a carry permit.

e) On an authorized target range.

Does this mean that I cannot target shoot with large caliber rifles on my own private land (assuming it isn't an 'authorized' target range, are you able to get your own private land 'authorized' as a target range??) during firearms season?

[ANYFISH2]

You may target shoot any legal weapon on your property DURING the season. Just not the 5 days prior to the opening of the firearms season.

[mainbutter]

it sounded like the period started 5 days before and went all the way THROUGH the season and 2 days past.

and a follow up question, is this to make enforcement of season dates easier?

[FISHINGURU]

it starts 5 days before during and 2 days after....but you can shoot if you have a big games license during the season...you can't if you don't have a big game license.

its a good law i wish people would listen though...missed out on the biggest buck of my life the day before shotgun opener when some dude down the valley on his property starting unloading his shotgun at his target when i had a 180 class 30 yards and moving in.

people will shoot deer and get an early start before the season then just put their tag on for opening day...or if they don't get one during season they keep hunting a couple days past...thats what the law tries to stop.

[BobT]

The whole idea is that ONLY licensed hunters are allowed to use firearms afield during the hunting season. Think about it. If you have a rifle in hand during the firearms season, are you not hunting illegally? The law eliminates the need to prove whether you were hunting or not and makes it easier to convict unlicensed hunters. Otherwise the only way a conviction could happen is if you had a firearm and were dragging a deer at the same time.

The other part about 5 days before and 2 days after sets a precedent for law enforcement. If they hear a high powered firearm during those two periods, there's a good chance someone is poaching.