Hunting in vehicle on private property?

[walleye29us]

Is it legal? HEAR ME OUT..Lets say im hunting on a friends property..I park my truck up tight to the tree line so i can watch for deer coming across the field..Im sitting in my truck but my rifle is outside of my vehicle and no shots would ever be fired from inside the vehicle..Am i breaking the law? If i saw a deer i would be firing from outside the vehicle..What you guys think?

[TruthWalleyes]

Legal. Just be completely outside the vehicle . If you so much as rest your elbow on the vehicle while shooting at big game you will lose your truck minimum...

[walleye29us]

Wow no kidding?..So if i layed across the hood of my truck to get a steady shot i would be breaking the law? Lose my truck? OUCH!

[nofishfisherman]

I didn't realize you couldn't even lean on the truck. I should let one of my cousins know. He has a bi-pod on his rifle and I've seen him set it up on the hood of his truck (while on his property) and wait for deer to come out of the woods. He's never come close to taking a deer with this method but he still tries it at least once every season.

[SrBrits]

Legal,

you can go a step beyond that also, it is legal to sit in our vehicle, gun uncased, loaded(if you care to have it loaded) on the seat or dash with the vehicle running and heater on and watch for deer, iff'n you see one you must open the door and have both feet on the ground, and you can use the open window in the door as a steady rest if you choose. the gun can be in the vehicle as long as you are not MOVING. now transporting a firearm uncased and loaded is not legal, this came right from a county sheriff and deputy sheriff at a coffee break, it is a gray area but still legal, a CO may try and ticket you and say that it is illegal, but you can just remind him that this is legal and came right from a law enforcement person, and he is bordering on harassment, by trying to ticket you. our county has been fighting with the DNR for several years and there is no love lost up here, so our law enforcement tells us what we can do if you want to.

and i am not trying to stir the pot.

food for thought iff'n you want.

[walleye29us]

Thank you guys for the info..Very conflicting answers to my question for sure..I hope i will be ok.

[nofishfisherman]

Legal. Just be completely outside the vehicle . If you so much as rest your elbow on the vehicle while shooting at big game you will lose your truck minimum...

Just read the regs and it just states you can not shoot from the vehicle. No mention of using the truck as a gun rest or leaning against the truck. Seems as long as you aren't actually IN the vehicle you are perfectly legal.

[RBuker]

Nofish said it right. There is no law against resting against a vehicle for a shot. You have to be careful what someone might consider to be "in" the vehicle. Certainly in the back of the truck but I've also heard of people being ticketed for having the gun resting "on" the vehicle. I'd rather not push my luck and have to fight a battle of technicalities. I'd put the rifle down on bi-pods next to the truck. Ready for action at a moment's notice. No problem.

[TruthWalleyes]

Ive been told by co's... i sure as heck wouldn't sit in there with a loaded gun. You could get a dwi if you are sitting in a running vehicle why couldn't they nail you for loaded gun?very gray area. Id keep gun loaded outside and dont use the vehicle as a gun rest. Imo

[Cheetah]

Now if it was me, I'd do it like this. Set up a spot to sit a little ways away from the truck, 20-30 yards only. If a deer comes by, it will probably focus its attention on the truck, giving you more opportunity to get a shot off without spooking it by opening the door and getting out of the truck. Then if you get cold you can just walk the short distance to the truck and run it to warm up.

[B. Amish]

unless you're disabled, ditch the vehicle and get outside in the elements!

[leechlake]

what does "in the vehicle" mean. Very Clinton like but in the vehicle would be in the cab, in the bed, and once you include in the bed you may as well consider touching the truck as being "in the vehicle." If you shoot don't be touching the truck.

A friend of mine has a prosthetic leg and can shoot from a stationary vehicle per the Mn Laws

and once shot a deer leaning on the hood of the truck. The .300 win mag left a nice powder burn on the hood of his friends truck.

Do yourself and the deer a favor and set up near the truck with your gun ready rather than seeing a deer, opening the door, getting out, grabbing your gun, getting into position...

If you have trouble walking or just want to stay warm you don't have to far to move to hunt or get back in the truck OR have your day ruined by a CO writing you a ticket. If you get a deer you may have a shorter drag than many. Good luck!

[bogwalker]

These are the situations that keep lawyers driving new cars.

[Musky Buck]

I'd never take the chance of having to get out of the vehicle, find gun, aim, etc. If you really got the spot for that I'd Christian Ponder a stand there ?

[nofishfisherman]

Never heard Christian Ponder used as a verb? I can only imagine what it might mean.

[winterwalleye]

Better get in writing or e- mail . I believe the DNR has more say then the Deputy.

[bogwalker]

Better get in writing or e- mail . I believe the DNR has more say then the Deputy.

Absolutely.

[Musky Buck]

no fish just take out the Christian part and re-read it lol,

[walleye29us]

Hey guys,thanks for all of your input..I guess we will never know the answer for sure..I read the entire regs. book and that didn't clear anything up neither..lol..Oh well..Don't hurt to ask,,Right?

[nwhunter]

I posed this question to a visiting CO in the Duluth area yesterday (he said he was from Central MN.) He said a ticket would not be written if both feet were on the ground. Door open using the window as a rest "OK." Resting on the hood "OK." Resting on the tailgate "OK." Standing in the back of the pickup, "Not OK." He didn't mention anything about loosing a truck over it, but certainly a ticket.

My buddy grabbed his card, so I'll see if I can get an email response from him.

[Storm]

Hey guys,thanks for all of your input..I guess we will never know the answer for sure..I read the entire regs. book and that didn't clear anything up neither..lol..Oh well..Don't hurt to ask,,Right?

There is an easy way to get the answer for this question but it does not start with posting the question on the forum. All you have to do is email the dnr so you have it in hard form just in case someone starts giving you a hard time or else just call you local CO, all phone numbers can be found online.

[walleye29us]

Thank you nwhunter..

[MinDak Hunter]

SrBrits said, "a CO may try and ticket you and say that it is illegal, but you can just remind him that this is legal and came right from a law enforcement person, and he is bordering on harassment, by trying to ticket you."

Or they'll just enforce the law like it's written (in my experience anyway) unlike some podunk Sheriff's Depts. in the NW part of the state...

97B.055 DISCHARGING FIREARMS AND BOWS AND ARROWS.

Subdivision 1.Restrictions related to highways.

(a) A person may not discharge a firearm or an arrow from a bow on, over, or across an improved public highway at a big game animal. A person may not discharge a firearm or bow and arrow within the right-of-way of an improved public highway at a big game animal. The commissioner may by rule extend the application of this subdivision to the taking of migratory waterfowl in designated locations.

( A person may not discharge a firearm or an arrow from a bow on, over, across, or within the right-of-way of an improved public highway at a decoy of a big game animal that has been set out by a licensed peace officer.

Subd. 2.Restrictions related to motor vehicles.

A person may not take a wild animal with a firearm or by archery from a motor vehicle except as permitted in this section. Notwithstanding section 97B.091, a person may transport a bow uncased while in an electric motor-powered boat and may take rough fish while in the boat.

Subd. 3.Hunting from vehicle by disabled hunters.

(a) The commissioner may issue a special permit, without a fee, to discharge a firearm or bow and arrow from a stationary motor vehicle to a person who obtains the required licenses and who has a permanent physical disability that is more substantial than discomfort from walking. The permit recipient must be:

(1) unable to step from a vehicle without aid of a wheelchair, crutches, braces, or other mechanical support or prosthetic device; or

(2) unable to walk any distance because of a permanent lung, heart, or other internal disease that requires the person to use supplemental oxygen to assist breathing.

( The permanent physical disability must be established by medical evidence verified in writing by a licensed physician, chiropractor, or certified nurse practitioner or certified physician assistant acting under the direction of a licensed physician. The commissioner may request additional information from the physician or chiropractor if needed to verify the applicant's eligibility for the permit. Notwithstanding section 97A.418, the commissioner may, in consultation with appropriate advocacy groups, establish reasonable minimum standards for permits to be issued under this section. In addition to providing the medical evidence of a permanent disability, the applicant must possess a valid disability parking certificate authorized by section 169.345 or license plates issued under section 168.021.

© A person issued a special permit under this subdivision and hunting deer may take a deer of either sex, except in those antlerless permit areas and seasons where no antlerless permits are offered. This subdivision does not authorize another member of a party to take an antlerless deer under section 97B.301, subdivision 3.

(d) A permit issued under this subdivision is valid for five years.

(e) The commissioner may deny, modify, suspend, or revoke a permit issued under this section for cause, including a violation of the game and fish laws or rules.

(f) A person who knowingly makes a false application or assists another in making a false application for a permit under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. A physician, certified nurse practitioner, certified physician assistant, or chiropractor who fraudulently certifies to the commissioner that a person is permanently disabled as described in this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(g) Notwithstanding paragraph (d), the commissioner may issue a permit valid for the entire life of the applicant if the commissioner determines that there is no chance that an applicant will become ineligible for a permit under this section and the applicant requests a lifetime permit.

Subd. 4.Taking bounty animals from airplanes and snowmobiles.

The commissioner may issue a special permit, without fee, to take animals that the state pays a bounty for, from an airplane or a snowmobile.

[walleye29us]

Well im still not clear on whats legal and whats not legal using the example given..........

[nofishfisherman]

I just reread your initial post. Where would your gun be while you are in the truck? Sounds like you'd have it outside the truck but where?

What I would do is I'd set the rifle several feet away from the truck, on a bench, table, leaned on a fence, etc.

If you see a deer you want to shoot quietly get out of the truck, close the door, walk over to the rifle, pick it up and shoot. Park the truck so you are getting in and out on the side away from the deer so they don't see your movement as much.

There is no law that says you can't shoot a rifle while standing near a truck.

I think if you do that you'll be safe from any sort of legal issue.