I am in Eastern PA right now visiting with my wife's family.

About every hour or so, a pickup drives along the road and scans the front acreage with a highpower spot. The property is clearly marked and posted. I asked my wife's grandmother if this happens a lot and she said "Every night."
I was wondering, how well would it go over with you if you caught someone spotlighting your property.
I'd go fuggin' balistic.

And yes, it's illegal here, too.

Back in VT we called it jackin' deer.
It would be fun to hit the unsuspecting jackers with a high octane laser pointer.

How's the weather ?

license plate#? cell phone cam take pix __take care of Ma

it is not aginast the law to spot light in washington just do not have a weapon in the rig unless the law has changed

That is correct.

And if a officer wanted to get really picky they could even write you a spotlighting ticket for just posessing the spotlight while also posessing the big game weapon. It is illegal to just posess a spotlight and a weapon for big game hunting. However actually using the light makes it a easier battle in court.

So hunting Yotes at night is not legal? I'm thinking you might get a ticket if it was during a big game season but would it stick if you were parked in a clear cut calling predators. They might try but I believe it's legal.

Something don't sound right.

Althought the story at hand sounds like they are looking for deer and even if they don't have a gun it can be looked at as harasment of game animals.

Kris

Straight from the Big Game regs:

Bobcat, raccoon, and coyote may be hunted at night during established bobcat and raccoon seasons, EXCEPT that it is unlawful to hunt any wildlife at night
or wild animals with dogs (hounds) during the months of September, October, or November in any area open to a centerfire rifle deer or elk season. (coyote is open year round)

So if the regs are the same there it could be legal to spotlight right now, but if that many guys are spotlighting you can bet some have guns and are ready to use them. You should put some of those fake deer out in the yard with some sort of camera along the road that could pickup the plate numbers.

Wouldn't it be fitting to have a half dozen friends/relatives with those million candlepower rechargeable spotlights hiding in that lower field when the perp drives by and turns on his light? Think how much fun it would be to light up that pickup cab with everybody's spotlight trained on it all at once...can you say, "SURPRISE!!!" The mess on truck's upholstery would probably discourage Mr. Deer Jacker from shining that particular field again. Of course, there's always the chance the driver would be temporarily blinded, drive off the road, hit a tree and be permanently disabled or killed. In that case you're pretty much screwed, but you could try a self defense plea; after all, the other guy did "draw" first.

My grandparents have a farm in northern VA and have tons of problems with guys road hunting and spot lighting. My grandpa has ended up with many dead deer in his fields that people shoot from their trucks and then leave when he chases them off. The neighbors have a brass deer statue that they put down in the woods. the damn thing has so many dents in it now that it hardly looks like a deer.
just seems to be a common thing out there. I dont know why the guys insist on shooting the deer, they could just drive around and pick up a fresh one on the side of the road.

I cant remember which state it is, either w virginia or virginia, but one of those states allows you to have a loaded firearm in your vehicle. to me that basically promotes spotlighting

Nothin wrong with using the light. Camera crews filming wildlife at night do it all the time. Flash lights, porch light, head lights, spotlight. Its just an illuminary device. If you decide to poach at night and you use a light to aid your poaching then you are a poacher. Its the act of poaching that is wrong not shining a light.

Well Friday and Saturday night they have chased down spotlighters in the Methow. Caught one I know of with a .30-30. Just hope they nail them hard. They where turned in for shooting at deer, so no excuse for saying its coyotes or bobcats.

In WA it's illegal to have a loaded long gun in a vehicle, period. It's also illegal to shoot from or down any right-of-way. Same as PA.
Yesterday we walked up the property line and found some Trespasser's tree stand installed ON the tree with the No Hunting sign posted on it. His Scent strips were nailed to the trees facing the house.
I've heard stories about "Pennsatucky Meat Farmers" and how they make our snaggers look like a decent lot, but the level of disrespect here is unbelievable.

If and when spotlights are illegal only deer will have spotlights