Legal Q... Deer shooting at night.

Robotack

I know obviously that it's illegal to lamp deer. I'm wondering though if someone can quote me the law because I was out for a shot this morning. Went out in the dark before 6am to be in position for dawn.
There was snow on the ground and a very bright moon along with a very bright scope, so I could well make out the deer against the snow. I didn't take a shot but I'm curious as to the legality if I had as an artificial light source was not being used.

steyrman2

Deer may be hunted (subject to the necessary licence) from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset each day during the Open Season. However hunters on Coillte forest property are normally confined to the hours between dawn and 11 a.m.
SUNRISE WAS 7.21 THIS MORNING

TriggerPL

Robotack wrote: »

I know obviously that it's illegal to lamp deer. I'm wondering though if someone can quote me the law because I was out for a shot this morning. Went out in the dark before 6am to be in position for dawn.
There was snow on the ground and a very bright moon along with a very bright scope, so I could well make out the deer against the snow. I didn't take a shot but I'm curious as to the legality if I had as an artificial light source was not being used.

So come on did ya shoot the deer ! Anyone of us would have taught of taking that shot !

wexfordman

TriggerPL wrote: »

So come on did ya shoot the deer ! Anyone of us would have taught of taking that shot !

He did...at 6:22 :-)

Robotack

That Google sunrise thing is totally misleading. I thinks that's when the sun is fully visible in the sky. It's bright enough to shoot at least an hour before Google's sunrise time.

clivej

This is what I use for the dawn/dusk timings

http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/dublin.html

Sparks

Robotack wrote: »

That Google sunrise thing is totally misleading. I thinks that's when the sun is fully visible in the sky. It's bright enough to shoot at least an hour before Google's sunrise time.

Which definition of dawn is specified in the law?
There's at least three that I know of (common, nautical and astronomical) and they're all different times and they're seperated by more than a few minutes.


edit: there's technically a fourth - religious - but it's so close to common that it's just splitting hairs.

fathersymes

Seemingly the law specifies one hour before sunrise, which would be Nautical/Civil Twilight. I always use Nautical Twilight to be in position.

Civil means you can see everything unaided, Nautical you can make out vague shapes.

One shot on kill

Good question infairness so what did you do

Fallow01

Robotack wrote: »

I know obviously that it's illegal to lamp deer. I'm wondering though if someone can quote me the law because I was out for a shot this morning. Went out in the dark before 6am to be in position for dawn.
There was snow on the ground and a very bright moon along with a very bright scope, so I could well make out the deer against the snow. I didn't take a shot but I'm curious as to the legality if I had as an artificial light source was not being used.

The Wildlife Acts say....

"(b) any other protected wild bird, other than a wild duck or a wild goose, or any protected wild animal at any time during any period beginning one hour after sunset and ending one hour before sunrise.

(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence.

Use of lamps, mirrors etc. in hunting prohibited. 38.—Any person who uses any lamp, light, torch, mirror or other artificial light-reflecting or dazzling device or appliance in hunting any protected wild bird or protected wild animal"

Maximum prison sentence under the Wildlife Acts is 3 years....

Is it safe or ethical to shoot in near darkness?!