Artificial Lights and Electronic Calls
- It is unlawful to use artificial lights (including laser sights) and electronic or recorded calls in taking wild birds or animals except as follows:
- artificial lights may be used to retrieve harvested big game.
- artificial lights may be used for taking feral swine and coyotes at night where legal.
- artificial lights may be used for taking bullfrogs.
- electronic or recorded calls are legal for crows, coyotes and feral swine hunting. Other exceptions for migratory game birds may be found under individual season descriptions.
- when hunting with dogs during open seasons, raccoon and opossum may be taken at night with the use of artificial lights commonly used to aid in taking raccoon and opossum.
- In addition to the prohibition of taking wildlife with the use of artificial light, except for big game retrieval, many counties have local regulations that prohibit shining lights on deer or searching for deer with lights 30 minutes after sunset or after 11 p.m. A color-coded map showing county shining laws is on Deer Zone Maps.
- The flashing or display of any artificial light between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise in any area that is frequented or inhabited by wild deer by any person who has access to a firearm, crossbow or other bow and arrow constitutes prima facie evidence of taking deer with the aid of an artificial light.
We have a Game Warden that comes into the shop a lot, and he is also a good friend, as I was in Boy Scouts with him 30 years ago. We just had this discussion as he had a tip on a bobcat, and it was posted on FB. You can hunt them, just not with the aid of an electronic call or lights. I'm not trying to be a know it all, just don't want you to get in a pickle. Cause that's what we do on this forum.