WKP - Todd
New Member
Just curious to know what the restrictions (if any) are on shining here in Iowa? Dates, times, etc... Would appreciate any information...
Shining Question
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Liv4Rut
Active Member
From Dusk to Dawn
Just make sure you don't have any weapons of any kind or shells.. etc laying around your truck and you will be fine. Just be prepared for random car chases or people blocking the road on yah to ream your A$$ for shining. The Dnr or cops might pull you over and search your truck once in awhile, but other than that it's a Blast, I go about every night
dbltree
Super Moderator
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Just curious to know what the restrictions (if any) are on shining here in Iowa? Dates, times, etc... Would appreciate any information...
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Personally I gave up shining a long time ago. While it may be legal, everyone in these parts figures if "your shining...your shootin" and I don't want to be in that category of people considered poachers.
I feel it's hard enough for our DNR officers to find the bad guys...without having to sort thru those just out for fun.
I've been down the road of being chased down and threatened, shot at, cursed at...you name it...it's just not worth it.
When I was young and dumb (now I'm just dumb
) I found out shining while sipping a cold one is a bad idea
Fortunately the officer said "beer!! I thought you had something good in here"
Thankfully he recommneded we not include any "12 oz nutrition" next time and let us go.
DNR Regs
Just curious to know what the restrictions (if any) are on shining here in Iowa? Dates, times, etc... Would appreciate any information...
[/ QUOTE ]
Personally I gave up shining a long time ago. While it may be legal, everyone in these parts figures if "your shining...your shootin" and I don't want to be in that category of people considered poachers.
I feel it's hard enough for our DNR officers to find the bad guys...without having to sort thru those just out for fun.
I've been down the road of being chased down and threatened, shot at, cursed at...you name it...it's just not worth it.
When I was young and dumb (now I'm just dumb
Fortunately the officer said "beer!! I thought you had something good in here"
DNR Regs
I went on a few shineing trips to Iowa before and during my hunting trips there. And I found the locals down right freindly next to how they act in Wisconsin.
Anyway, it seems to me that there is a general misconception that shiners are poachers and thats just wrong. From the amount of times I have been pulled over, searched, and watched. I would have to say that any body who poachs while shining will get caught. Maybe not the 1st time, maybe not the second, but they will get what they got coming. I could not imagine a guy blasting a rifle out the window into darkness and then going on this land and dragging or loading a buck... I think it is a rare occasion and most get caught, and we all know that looseing a truck, your hunting rights, getting a huge fine, and your name plastered all over the news papers, mags, and internet is not worth any buck.
The reasons I shine is to see whats available out there. If there is a world class buck on one of the propertys where I hunt, I wanna know about it before a 140 class is standing underneith me tempting me. I also want to get a good grasp on the buck to doe ratio's. And, its good family fun... At least till your family see how some people act when they see you shineing.
The reasons I shine is to see whats available out there. If there is a world class buck on one of the propertys where I hunt, I wanna know about it before a 140 class is standing underneith me tempting me. I also want to get a good grasp on the buck to doe ratio's. And, its good family fun... At least till your family see how some people act when they see you shineing.
dbltree
Super Moderator
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I could not imagine a guy blasting a rifle out the window into darkness and then going on this land and dragging or loading a buck... I think it is a rare occasion and most get caught, and we all know that looseing a truck, your hunting rights, getting a huge fine, and your name plastered all over the news papers, mags, and internet is not worth any buck.
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Happens all the time and unfortunately huge numbers of people are getting away with it. Over 100 deer were poached in my area that no one was ever caught.
I agree...one would think that it is not worth the risk, but it's almost epidemic. I really don't think most are taken via shining, however why force our officers to waste time checking legal shiners when they could be focusing on poachers using other means?
I know many of you really have no idea how bad this problem is but IMO it's one of the biggest problems we face. Legal shining only exacerbates the problem. As they say...if your not part of the solution...your part of the problem
I could not imagine a guy blasting a rifle out the window into darkness and then going on this land and dragging or loading a buck... I think it is a rare occasion and most get caught, and we all know that looseing a truck, your hunting rights, getting a huge fine, and your name plastered all over the news papers, mags, and internet is not worth any buck.
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Happens all the time and unfortunately huge numbers of people are getting away with it. Over 100 deer were poached in my area that no one was ever caught.
I agree...one would think that it is not worth the risk, but it's almost epidemic. I really don't think most are taken via shining, however why force our officers to waste time checking legal shiners when they could be focusing on poachers using other means?
I know many of you really have no idea how bad this problem is but IMO it's one of the biggest problems we face. Legal shining only exacerbates the problem. As they say...if your not part of the solution...your part of the problem
Laws don't stop law breakers, they only stop law abiding folks like me from scouting and enjoying a fun past time. I am out shining all summer and fall and have never ever saw anybody poach a deer or attempt to with a spot light...I go out coyote hunting at night too... Never seen anybody poach a deer at night with a spotlight. How do you know so many people are poaching with spotlights? From your logic, we should also make hunting illeagle, because some people poach. And if you have nothing going on on your property after dark that you do not want anybody to see, what would you care if me and my kids look at the deer on your property?
jjohnson
Well-Known Member
Up here in NE Iowa shining and poaching is a pretty big problem if you ask me. I talk to a number of farmers each year that say they found 3-4 bucks with their heads cut off and some even more than that. I do go shining once in awhile but the only ammunition I carry is the video camera. I do agree with what dbltree is saying though. I wish there was more DNR available to set up decoys at night. They do that quit a bit around here and it's amazing how many people open fire.
jjohnson
Well-Known Member
Three yrs ago I was out shining with my brother and we were in an area we could hunt. Spotted a real nice ten pointer in a pasture and this was pretty late at night. Came back the next day to hang a stand in the area. We parked the truck on the gravel road and there was blood all over the place. Went looking around and found a buck with no head. That made me sick...
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I went on a few shineing trips to Iowa before and during my hunting trips there. And I found the locals down right freindly next to how they act in Wisconsin.
Anyway, it seems to me that there is a general misconception that shiners are poachers and thats just wrong. From the amount of times I have been pulled over, searched, and watched. I would have to say that any body who poachs while shining will get caught. Maybe not the 1st time, maybe not the second, but they will get what they got coming. I could not imagine a guy blasting a rifle out the window into darkness and then going on this land and dragging or loading a buck... I think it is a rare occasion and most get caught, and we all know that looseing a truck, your hunting rights, getting a huge fine, and your name plastered all over the news papers, mags, and internet is not worth any buck.
The reasons I shine is to see whats available out there. If there is a world class buck on one of the propertys where I hunt, I wanna know about it before a 140 class is standing underneith me tempting me. I also want to get a good grasp on the buck to doe ratio's. And, its good family fun... At least till your family see how some people act when they see you shineing.
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Right there is the anwser. In all my years of shining, I have never once seen someone try to poach after dark. As far as bothering C.O.s, its there job to be out there. They should pull over every guy they see doing it, but I highly doubt they get very many guys with guns in the car. Most poaching is occuring in the daylight, usually by a bunch of teenagers. There are a few exceptions, but most that I see dont even do it for the heads, they just do it for fun. It wouldnt bother me if they made it illegal, but laws dont stop law breakers is right.
I went on a few shineing trips to Iowa before and during my hunting trips there. And I found the locals down right freindly next to how they act in Wisconsin.
The reasons I shine is to see whats available out there. If there is a world class buck on one of the propertys where I hunt, I wanna know about it before a 140 class is standing underneith me tempting me. I also want to get a good grasp on the buck to doe ratio's. And, its good family fun... At least till your family see how some people act when they see you shineing.
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Right there is the anwser. In all my years of shining, I have never once seen someone try to poach after dark. As far as bothering C.O.s, its there job to be out there. They should pull over every guy they see doing it, but I highly doubt they get very many guys with guns in the car. Most poaching is occuring in the daylight, usually by a bunch of teenagers. There are a few exceptions, but most that I see dont even do it for the heads, they just do it for fun. It wouldnt bother me if they made it illegal, but laws dont stop law breakers is right.
POACHING IS ALREADY ILLEAGLE... WE DON'T NEED MORE LAWS TO STOP HONEST FOLKS FROM ENJOYING NATURE. IF LAWS AGAINST POACHING DON'T STOP A GUY, DO YOU THINK LAWS AGAINST SHINING WILL?
I get pulled over all the time, and its rarly a C/O. Its every cop that sees me. And I have no problem with that at all. They search the vehical, apoligize, ask you to report anything you see while shineing and go away. I agree, WAY more poaching go's on during daylight.
I get pulled over all the time, and its rarly a C/O. Its every cop that sees me. And I have no problem with that at all. They search the vehical, apoligize, ask you to report anything you see while shineing and go away. I agree, WAY more poaching go's on during daylight.
As far as finding headless or caped deer... How is it you know they were taken by poachers shining? Last time I was in iowa hunting, last November, a 130 class 10 point got hit by a car. A little while later two guys showed up and caped it. I would of too if it were back in Wisc. where I could of taken care of it... So there lays a headless deer near the road. So now every body wants to jump to conclusions that it was poached? I have also personally cut the heads off of road kills in Wisconsin, and deer that are found dead... Dosn't neccesarly mean they were poached or were poached by the exact means of spotlighting.
Fishbonker
Life Member
In this day and age I would think trail cams should replace spotlighting. If you already have permission to hunt the ground you are spotlighting on why not just invest in an inexpensive trail cam. Saves gas, saves getting pulled over, saves being chased. If you don't have permission to hunt on the land you are spotlighting why would you care whats on that piece of ground?
The 'Bonker
The 'Bonker
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If you don't have permission to hunt on the land you are spotlighting why would you care whats on that piece of ground?
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I shine the ground I have permission on and the ajoining land, and miles of public land and the propertys ajoining, that I like to hit a new pc every night. It would take thousands of cameras and even more man hours to post cameras across every public, and private pc of property I shine looking for deer. I can look at a whole feild at exactly 8:00 instead of exactly where the camera is, I can come back in twenty minutes and get a deers direction of travel, to determine where it came from or is going to.
ITS REALLY DISTURBING, when hunters, turn on other hunters who don't do the same type of scouting or hunting. Should I as a bowhunter hate rifle hunters cause they can shoot my buck from a distance and justify it by saying they could should across property lines with there rifles... Outlaw them!!!!!!! Or how about, we should outlaw bows cause they don't make noise? Could be them dang bowhunters are shooting at night.
If you don't have permission to hunt on the land you are spotlighting why would you care whats on that piece of ground?
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I shine the ground I have permission on and the ajoining land, and miles of public land and the propertys ajoining, that I like to hit a new pc every night. It would take thousands of cameras and even more man hours to post cameras across every public, and private pc of property I shine looking for deer. I can look at a whole feild at exactly 8:00 instead of exactly where the camera is, I can come back in twenty minutes and get a deers direction of travel, to determine where it came from or is going to.
ITS REALLY DISTURBING, when hunters, turn on other hunters who don't do the same type of scouting or hunting. Should I as a bowhunter hate rifle hunters cause they can shoot my buck from a distance and justify it by saying they could should across property lines with there rifles... Outlaw them!!!!!!! Or how about, we should outlaw bows cause they don't make noise? Could be them dang bowhunters are shooting at night.
JNRBRONC
Well-Known Member
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As far as finding headless or caped deer... How is it you know they were taken by poachers shining? Last time I was in iowa hunting, last November, a 130 class 10 point got hit by a car. A little while later two guys showed up and caped it. I would of too if it were back in Wisc. where I could of taken care of it... So there lays a headless deer near the road. So now every body wants to jump to conclusions that it was poached? I have also personally cut the heads off of road kills in Wisconsin, and deer that are found dead... Dosn't neccesarly mean they were poached or were poached by the exact means of spotlighting.
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It is not legal to take just the head/cape off of a road kill deer in Iowa. You need to have a valid hunting license to tag it or be issued a salvage permit. The salvage permit requires that the meat be edible and if you don't take the whole carcass, you can be charged with wanton waste (though some here have found more lenient CO's than I). Just taking the head and leaving a headless body sends the wrong message to everyone who sees that deer on the side of the road, IMO.
As far as finding headless or caped deer... How is it you know they were taken by poachers shining? Last time I was in iowa hunting, last November, a 130 class 10 point got hit by a car. A little while later two guys showed up and caped it. I would of too if it were back in Wisc. where I could of taken care of it... So there lays a headless deer near the road. So now every body wants to jump to conclusions that it was poached? I have also personally cut the heads off of road kills in Wisconsin, and deer that are found dead... Dosn't neccesarly mean they were poached or were poached by the exact means of spotlighting.
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It is not legal to take just the head/cape off of a road kill deer in Iowa. You need to have a valid hunting license to tag it or be issued a salvage permit. The salvage permit requires that the meat be edible and if you don't take the whole carcass, you can be charged with wanton waste (though some here have found more lenient CO's than I). Just taking the head and leaving a headless body sends the wrong message to everyone who sees that deer on the side of the road, IMO.
Fishbonker
Life Member
It is unfortunate that you feel as if I am turning on you, a fellow hunter. Quite the opposite. If you want to continue to shine on property you don’t have the right to shine on, what does that say to your fellow hunters? You are your own worst enemy in that particular situation. Shine all you want on public ground and the ground you have permission to shine on, it is not illegal, and damn what other hunters thinks of you. Sometimes there is a bigger picture. If you hunted land adjacent to mine and shined on my land, I would hope, out of respect for a fellow hunter, that you would refrain from doing so knowing that I don’t want you engaging in this activity on, or better put, across, my land. For someone to spotlight on private land that they do not have permission to shine on, to me, is akin to standing on a box peering through my curtains for a voyeuristic thrill. I feel you, a fellow hunter, are turning on me, out of disrespect for my right to privacy.
At this point I think it is safe to say I’ll never change your mind about spotlighting on private ground that you don’t have permission to hunt or shine on and you can bet you’ll never change mine. So I’m, respectfully, outa this discussion.
The ‘Bonker
At this point I think it is safe to say I’ll never change your mind about spotlighting on private ground that you don’t have permission to hunt or shine on and you can bet you’ll never change mine. So I’m, respectfully, outa this discussion.
The ‘Bonker
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If you want to continue to shine on property you don’t have the right to shine on, what does that say to your fellow hunters?
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1st of all... I have a legal right to shine there... Second of all if some one has a problem with it, and they own the ajacent property that I shine, I stop, even though I don't have to.
If you want to continue to shine on property you don’t have the right to shine on, what does that say to your fellow hunters?
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1st of all... I have a legal right to shine there... Second of all if some one has a problem with it, and they own the ajacent property that I shine, I stop, even though I don't have to.