chrisw

You were told it had to be legal for BOTH species!!! Therefore both weapons need to be valid for BOTH species! That is what it says! Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

There is, because it's not a legal implement to take migratory birds with. Same as the crossbow right now for deer, and you're in possession of it. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

If the officer involved has probable cause to believe you were deer hunting while in possession of a shotgun then yes it would be illegal, dead deer or not. See, this is exactly what I was talking about, you've gotten several answers and you're dismissing them all. Someone who is so over the top ethical would now admit that it seems probable I was doing something illegal unintentionally. But you can't do that, can you? Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

I said earlier I don't care either way how this pans out as I have no stake in the game. I'm telling you it's ILLEGAL. Where did anyone say the crossbow is a firearm? I said exactly the opposite. You're trying to derail the subject at hand because you were wrong. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Same thing with waterfowl, I can walk into a swamp to shoot ducks with my steel shot and my shotgun, I can have a box of lead shot in my pack for squirrels/partridge for on the walk out of the swamp. Am I legal? No, because I was actively hunting ducks while in possession of an illegal implement for taking ducks, whether I shot a single lead load or not. Is there a law that states this exact scenario? No, why? Because it's covered in other regulations and it's your job to make sure you are legal. It's really mind boggling to me how some still cannot see the logic here. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Here's where your disconnect is, you're assuming if you agreed that what you were doing is ILLEGAL then you would also be labeled with poacher or something equivalent. That is not the case. I don't think you were attempting to cheat the law or poach anything. I'm simply telling you that you were doing something illegal unknowingly. You're letting your emotions and the interpretation you think it should be get in the way of what is actually the case and you're fighting it for no reason. You did something illegal on accident, we all learn from it and move on. Simple as that. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

So, even after approximately 4-5 DEC officials have all given the same answer, and we pretty much all agree now on this thread that it would be illegal in your situation, Grow still cannot admit maybe she was in the wrong. The DEC does not have to have one law that states: You can't carry your crossbow afield while deer hunting before the crossbow deer season is open. This could easily be gathered through regulations that currently exist. (You cannot be in possession of a weapon while actively pursuing a game animal that said game animal cannot legally be taken with.) You show me laws that so blatantly point out every instance they could be distorted by people's own interpretation. They handed you your answer in the text you posted yet you refuse to acknowledge it because it's not what you want to hear. Active DEC and LEO have handed you their answers, you refuse to acknowledge any validity to anyone but yourself. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Yes it was the question and it was a 30 min or so conversation, probably longer where I told them the EXACT reason I was asking that per the book and lack of anything contrary I had carried both..I stated that I am very proficient with the compound but a pie plate target on a deer is very very different than a base ball sized target on a turkey at 30 yards. I have both licenses both seasons are open both implements are legal but it was questioned and I did extensive searches and there is absolutely nothing stating in writing that it is not legal. Grow, what you're failing to see is they said you can take two different implements into the woods as long as both implements are legal to take both species with. Now let's look at this... You can take a deer and a turkey with your compound LEGALLY, you can take a turkey with your Crossbow legally but not a deer, therefore one of the weapons you are in possession of is not legal for both deer and turkey therefore making it illegal to have in your situation. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

I'm in aggreance. But what grow was doing is illegal. There seems to be shady areas to this but not in her specific case. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

"yes as long as the weapon is legal for BOTH species" which it's not. You can get the answer you want if you're wording it oddly enough as to not give you're full intent. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Obviously, again, they are not firearms, they use some of the same regulations for crossbow as muzzleloader, longer setback than standard archery equipment, the need for a muzzle loading tag to use a crossbow, crossbows are illegal to accompany you in the "deer" stand until crossbow deer opens (obviously the same as firearms/muzzleloader). Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Then enlighten us. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

It does not say "a crossbow is a firearm" it says it essentially treats them as a firearm, IE: same type rules/seasons apply. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Why don't you call? Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

So essentially you're saying your fine as long as they can't prove anything? So try to hide your true intentions and keep hunting? Is that what you're implying? You can try to weasel your way around any law/loophole you want, that's still not what we're talking about. If an officer catches you in your scenario then it's up to his or her discretion as to where it goes from there. The scenario is about is it legal to do it. In this situation, the hunter was in fact hunting deer while in possession of a Crossbow for turkeys by their own admission. So we're not concerned with how can they prove it, it was admitted that's what was happening.... Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Do you even understand the issue we're referencing? The issue was, Grow was deer hunting (with her compound) while in possession of a crossbow for turkey hunting. That is exactly what the email addresses. Does it not? Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

This is exactly what I've been saying and they keep skating around it. They keep acting like they can't fathom a way it wouldn't be legal... Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Here was my exact email. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

I'm not disagreeing with you on this, for the third time. A question came up, I got 2 answers from 2 officers that both ended the same way. It's not the answer you want to hear, honestly I don't care if it's legal or not as I'll never have a desire to do it. You might fight it in court and win? You might not? That's up to you if you want to go through that. I'm just telling you that more likely than not you WILL be getting a ticket. As someone stated above, EnCon laws are very thorough and long winded, a tiny fraction of them are published in the regulations guide, that doesn't mean that's all of them. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Apparently you are though. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

I'm talking? Seems you're just heading for name calling and childish behavior rather than the topic at hand so I'd assume you're done?? Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Yes you can, as far as I know, try it while also carrying a bow though and convince the officer you weren't also deer hunting. I have no idea on the 2 muzzleloader topic, you can call and ask if you are interested... Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

No problem, the whole idea here was to learn something or look further into a question. Not debate on why I should be able to keep doing what I've been doing. Law enforcement officers are people too, they aren't always correct, but I'd be willing to bet on average they know more 90% of the time than anyone on this site about wildlife laws and regulations. That's their job. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

If you really wanted to follow this twisted road of logic, can I walk around the woods all fall in camo with a bow or rifle in my hand without a hunting license? Do you think you could convince the officer that you aren't "actively pursuing" anything? I doubt it. Again, there is officer discretion here and whether he buys your story is up to him or her. I'm not disagreeing with you that the law should be better stated and visible, I'm only telling you you're chances of getting pinched for this, law or not, are extremely high. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Who accused anyone of being a poacher? I'm telling you what 2 officers now have told me. I never said you were a poacher if you do have both with you, I said both officers I've talked to have said it's not legal. Stop trying to kill the messenger. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk