I ask an older game warden what time he quit hunting and he said, "when I can't see". He then clarified to say you can't use full moon type light to hunt.

Why not said a SPECIFIC regulation for it? The dang gray areas are what get people in trouble. 30 mins prior thru 30 mins after is pretty cut and dry. Why is this not a reg?

With that said, has anyone reading this been ticketed, or know of anyone ticketed for hunting too early or too late? Not to be confused with hunting with the aid of a light.

So under the current guidelines I could legally hunt in a field while you would be illegal if in the woods at the same time? Makes perfect sense.

3FF, I agree. Clear as mud.

I hunt in woods and when I can't see well enough to feel comfortable w/ bow or gun, I leave. Walking out on the road to my truck, though, it's clear enough to hunt probably a good 10 minutes. If I were hunting the adjacent fields (which aren't ours, but if they were) then I could maybe have 15-20.

But I'd rather Joe Average Hunter use common sense to make that decision to leave than being mandated on a specific time. Have hunted in other states with specific times and it's clear enough to shoot at "ending time," and that sucks.

I will hunt as long as I can resolve objects thru my scope. I'm thankful to live in a state that allows me to make that decision myself

Damn right.

"He who has the biggest scope shall inherit the earth"

IDK why some of yall are bitching about this law. Use common sense and it works out a whole lot better for everyone. I've never heard of anyone getting a ticket unless they were obviously hunting at night....

540 in December and 540 now are two different things.

This section of the Alabama Code sure makes it sound like sunset, which is a defined time, is the cutoff for end of legal shooting time. Is this not true, even if not enforced?

Alabama Code - Section 9-11-235: TAKING, ETC., OF PROTECTED BIRDS OR ANIMALS AT NIGHT; TAKING, ETC., OF RACCOONS OR OPOSSUMS AT NIGHT; TAKING OF FOXES AT NIGHT
It shall be unlawful, except as to trapping as otherwise provided by law, for a person to take, capture, or kill, or attempt to take, capture, or kill any bird or animal protected by the laws of this state between sunset and daylight of the following day, except that the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources may by a duly promulgated regulation, allow the taking, catching, or killing of raccoons and opossums between sunset and daylight in any county or counties within the state. In any county where the taking, catching, or killing of raccoons and opossums is permitted during nighttime hours by regulations of the commissioner, the animals may only be legally taken with the use of a light and/or a shotgun using shot no larger than number eight, and the person or persons so hunting shall be accompanied by a dog or dogs and, if hunting on the lands of another, shall have the written permission of the landowner.

If I can't make an ethical shot it is time to go to the truck.

Bout 5:15 around December 20 it's dark in the woods, time to go to the truck.

we only do this thread bout five times a season.....

I thought , after the last discuss on this everyone new = ITs basicly Officers Discretion! What ever the GW decides on a case to case basis !

fred

to recieve a ticket for this, would a person just have to be sitting in the stand past the "time". or shoot past the 'time'. what is the criteria a gw would look for in order to write a ticket such as this.
( I know gw are diffrent and the descretion will vary some )
obvisouly shining a field with flashlight would probably do it, but what else

just sitting in the house past time would not of gotten a ticket from me. Add complaints of late shots from that area, loaded rifle, shining field, etc, might make a ticket.