Park in one state hike into another to hunt???

[Cdpp880]

Anyone ever park in one state and hike into (less than a mile) another for a hunt? Would it be legal? I found an area behind private land that is not accessible from the state it’s in without a very long hike. But from the neighboring state it wouldn’t be a crazy hike. Tried calling GW from each state but haven’t heard from them yet.

 

[scfreeman66]

I can't see how it would be illegal as long as your are actually hunting in the proper state. Just make sure where your feet are before you shoot and you're golden.

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[Indian Summer]

I’ve parked in Idaho and hunted Montana. Perfectly legal.

 

[trophyhill]

Be careful with that and make damn sure you are in the right state when you kill. A well known elk killer and call maker got into some hot water doing that several years back

 

[SPARKY418]

That’s a great question


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[One-shot]

Like the others have said, make damn sure you are in the state for which you are holding a legal tag. If you are so much as 1" across a state line that you're not holding a tag for you could lose your hunting privileges and face fines. Go ahead and hike in, and use OnX or similar map app to know EXACTLY where you are. If you harvest, be mindful of what's around you in the even you are questioned about where you got the animal.

 

[ChrisAU]

I would definitely have tracking enable on my GPS/OnX to show a warden if there was one waiting on me at the truck. Could be really hard to convince one that you shot your bull in the neighboring state and I think that would go a long way into proving your case.

 

[El Gavilan]

You can definitely do it but it will be a CYA type situation. The suggestions above regarding the use of a GPS are good and if you are rifle hunting make sure your rifle is unloaded and I would even remove the bolt and put it in my pack, that way there is no question. Make sure it is abundantly clear that you are not hunting. Good luck on your hunt.

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[JustHunt]

If you’re not going to shoot anything in the state you don’t have a tag for, then go for it. Don’t even think twice.

 

[Cdpp880]

I would definitely have tracking on and record gps coordinates of kill (if there is one). The season that I would hunt, the elk would pretty much be completely into the state I have a tag for. I’m really wanting to talk to both GW’s to let them know my plains and make a 100% I’m not missing something.

 

[porkchop76]

Probably depends on which GW checks you.
Young gun's don't know or trust anyone. Older "seasoned" GW can read through bs . Probably a really good idea to at least try to contact them. I don't see why it wouldn't be legal. Might be cheaper in the long run to buy a small game license for the state your crossing. Tell em your squirrel hunting your way to which ever state line. Then switching to whatever critters your chasing in the other. CYA in other words. The small game license would be way cheaper than the outa state hunting ticket? I'm just not sure how someone would react if I was a mile outside the state I'm licensed in. Carrying a rifle, bow, muzzle loader..
I'll climb some steep shit to take 2 miles off a hike..

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[debevemos]

If you’re not going to shoot anything in the state you don’t have a tag for, then go for it. Don’t even think twice.

Do it

 

[vermeire]

From a hunting standpoint you should be good. I'd just make sure it's legal to walk with an unloaded rifle in the non-hunted state. The charges/fine for that could be worse than illegal hunting...

 

[muddydogs]

Some of the stuff posted here just blows my mind, maybe some stuff is from easterners that have no freedom's in there states? I wouldn't and haven't thought twice about this subject in the past and I have spent 2 weeks hunting the AZ strip bouncing in and out of Utah to hunt in AZ or the time I spent a week hunting antelope in Utah bouncing across the WY state line, heck I even stopped at a WY check station during this hunt and they didn't even bat an eye. Know your firearm transport laws for both states and have at it, I only say this because in Utah a firearm is considered unloaded in a vehicle when there isn't a round in the chamber or firing position but the mag can be loaded and in the rifle while other states consider a firearm to be unloaded when both the chamber and mag are empty or mag is removed. I have to watch this as I am in the habit of clearing the chamber, pushing the chambered round back into the mag and closing the bolt over the loaded mag which is fine in Utah but could get me into trouble in another state.

 

[SniperHunter]

Been there, done that but it seem kinda tedious to me.

 

[Fitzwho]

Like said above, I would talk to the GW's and let them know your plans, watch gun transport laws, etc.

The other thing you need to watch is CWD restrictions as far as game transport between each state. Just carrying a head with brain matter intact across the state line could get you into some deep trouble. even if it was only a half mile walk for the animal to do so.

 

[Bisley45]

Probably depends on which GW checks you.
Young gun's don't know or trust anyone. Older "seasoned" GW can read through bs . Probably a really good idea to at least try to contact them. I don't see why it wouldn't be legal. Might be cheaper in the long run to buy a small game license for the state your crossing. Tell em your squirrel hunting your way to which ever state line. Then switching to whatever critters your chasing in the other. CYA in other words. The small game license would be way cheaper than the outa state hunting ticket? I'm just not sure how someone would react if I was a mile outside the state I'm licensed in. Carrying a rifle, bow, muzzle loader..
I'll climb some steep shit to take 2 miles off a hike..

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I dont know about that. Consider this, "So you're telling me you need 180 interbonds from a 30-06 to kill a cat squirrel?" Often times state have a maximum caliber for small game.

 

[Mike7]

I don't give it a second thought, loaded weapon or not hiking into idaho, montana, and washington to hunt from the other state. I am not hunting though squirrels or otherwise where I don't have a license, rather I am hiking to the other state line on a trail with usually a loaded weapon of some type through grizzly bears and even potential drug runners when closer to the border. You can't protect yourself with an unloaded weapon, and there is no 911 response.

Law enforcement works for us to enforce the law. Who cares what some game warden's opinion is, if it is not 100% supported by the law...just don't break the law.

 

[elkstabber]

I've done it. No big deal. Make absolutely sure that you are right about the state line's location. It's no different than walking through one unit to hunt another.

Technically, it is a violation of the Lacy Act (federal offense) if you cross state lines with an illegal kill so make absolutely certain that you've tagged it properly if you kill something.

Be careful and go hunt.

 

[jmez]

I don't worry about it either. Have done is several times on WY/SD border. Just don't hunt or kill something in the wrong state.