Question for Lou

[woody1975]

Now this is a little tough to type, cause I always considered myself of a regulations guru, but for some reason this one escapes me. I am tagged out - I shot a buck with my bow in a lotttery and tagged two antlerless in a managed (No intensive harvest by me) My daughter had a rough slug season (Trespassers basically wrecked the hunt) At any rate, she wants to muzzleload. My plan was to go with her and sit by her side (she is only 13, so I think it would be the safest being her first year with a muzzleloader) My question is: Do I need a license to sit with her? I will not have a gun and will only be there to observe that she doesn't shoot off her big toe{:^)

Thank You

DL

[jerkbait]

I want to say the way I read it is yes you would need a Muzzleloader license to sit with her. I think it would be the same as doing deer drives, All in the party have to be licensed. I could be wrong though. Good Luck to your daughter.

[96trigger]

That one is worth a call to the DNR, or at least an email to Lou, he has answered my questions very promptly. He has been great as there has been some confusion down here in zone 3.

[Mr. Wizard]

I know of a great guy that would be willing to sit with her, although he hasn't shot a deer in a few years. All he'd ask in return is for a couple of those white and orange jigs to use on OT and maybe a couple turkey sandwiches. Has anyone planned a family Thanksgiving gathering yet? I vote for a deer and grouse hunting weekend.

[woody1975]

Hey Wizard - No plans yet! You know me - I am all for another hunting trip, but leaving the significant other with her in-laws waiting for the house to get done may cause a few waves, but then again, I think I could surf!!!!

DL

[vister]

are u sure you didnt overharvest on deer? anyways, u dont need a license to sit with her, u just cant actively participate in th hunt in any way, just sit there.

[woody1975]

Vister,

Limit in a lottery is 1 deer - Buck shot with the bow

Limit in a managed is 2 deer - 1 doe on my license and 1 doe on my bonus. Unless I missed something?

DL

[lawdog]

Woody I think Vister is right on the deer as that's an aggragate limit the way I understand it, but that's another issue...

At any rate, theoretically if you don't at all participate in helping her get a deer you PROBABLY would be ok without a license but good luck convincing anyone you aren't. However, realistically are you really going to sit there and not even point out a deer for her? If you assist someone in taking a deer in any fashion, you need a license.

[woody1975]

Good Point - I think I will just buy one to be safe!

Thanks for the info.

DL

[96trigger]

Woody, you did not shoot too many deer, The state bag limit is 5 deer, one legal buck. You can now mix and match season and methods but you can't go over the max of five. As long as you shot one in a lottery, and two in a managed you are fine. This has been discussed at length.

I don't know if Lou is in his office, he usually responds here pretty quickly, however, an email to the DNR takes 5 minutes, and you would then have a paper copy covering your but if any CO would ever question what you are doing. I think it would be well worth your time, however, don't call, then it would turn into he said she said, or he misinterpreted, etc....

[Musky Buck]

I thought if you filled your rifle tag you couldn't buy a muzzleloader tag ? If you can, no wonder no one is ever done hunting around my area and no wonder my dad quit altogether. He said 10 years and just can't have a peaceful deer hunt like years ago, I feel for our old timers a bit.

[96trigger]

You can buy every license for every season and shoot up to 5 deer. You just can't go over the amount of deer regulated for that area. 1 for lotto, 2 for managed, and 5 for I.H.

[big drift]

Now I am confused...

[96trigger]

The short of it and assuming you are properly liscensed:

You can shoot one deer in a lottery area using the method of choice depending on which seasons are open.

You can shoot 2 deer in a Managed area using the method of choice depending on Which seasons are open.

You can shoot up to 5 deer in Intensive harvest areas using the method of choice depending on Which seasons are open.

What you need to remember is, you can only shoot a max of 5 deer and only one can be a legal buck. This is how you can mix and match. I shot two deer during firearm and I am done in managed zones, however, I can still go to a lotto area and try and shoot another with my bow. I'd love to go muzzy but don't have access to any land in an Intensive Harvest, I already shot my buck so lottery is out, which means I am done with any firearm. I can still use the bow because that is still either sex in Lottery areas.