Q: what time deer hunting ends?

[Nemo]

Is it sunset or 1/2 hour after? I'm confused. The DNR booklet seems to say it's 1/2 hr after, though our guide told us it's sunset sharp, and insisted on it. I also heard some other hunters said it's straight sunset. Anybody here knows the definite answer? Could it be different for different hunting zones, hunting methods, or else? Thank you!

[JJ]

In MN, it's `1/2 past legal sunset. Many people discourage taking shots later than 1/2 after, to avoid the chance of a poor; hit, or having to track after dark.

[ex-LT]

Actually, it depends on what you're hunting....

From the 2014 MN Hunting & Trapping Regulations:

Small Game (pp 43-44)
30 minutes before sunrise to sunset with the following exceptions:

Pheasant: 9 AM - Sunset
Trapping: 5 AM - 10 PM
Raccoon & Fox: day or night


Mourning Dove: (p 57)
30 minutes before sunrise to sunset

Big Game (p 61)
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset


Sunrise/Sunset tables can be found on page 124 of the regulation book
Regulation books can be found at any location authorized to sell hunting licenses, or you can download a copy here.

[JJ]

The OP asked about DEER hunting, per the title....

[20mm]

When you get a text that the DNR is in the area.

[Ghost]

When you get a text that the DNR is in the area.

When the batteries go out on your thermal scope...

[Nemo]

Actually, it depends on what you're hunting....

From the 2014 MN Hunting & Trapping Regulations:

Small Game (pp 43-44)
30 minutes before sunrise to sunset with the following exceptions:

Pheasant: 9 AM - Sunset
Trapping: 5 AM - 10 PM
Raccoon & Fox: day or night


Mourning Dove: (p 57)
30 minutes before sunrise to sunset

Big Game (p 61)
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset


Sunrise/Sunset tables can be found on page 124 of the regulation book
Regulation books can be found at any location authorized to sell hunting licenses, or you can download a copy here.

I know, and that's what I referred to originally. However, as usually, the bureaucratic regulations are self-contradictory, and their interpretation depends on where you stop reading them. Thus for example in the very beginning they say hunting hours are 1/2 before to 1/2 after. If you stop reading right there you'd never know that there are limitations like on pp 43-44, 57 etc. My question was if anyone knows about any "specific limitations" on deer hunt, perhaps in some particular areas, or by some particular method (rifle ?) that say you can only hunt until sunset there. My guide is quite knowledgeable man, fourth generation hunter, and I don't think he just came up with it. I rather suspect he gets his info from the DNR rep in the area. So it must be written somewhere.

[Nemo]

The OP asked about DEER hunting, per the title....

Thank you JJ

[JJ]

My question was if anyone knows about any "specific limitations" on deer hunt, perhaps in some particular areas, or by some particular method (rifle ?) that say you can only hunt until sunset there. My guide is quite knowledgeable man, fourth generation hunter, and I don't think he just came up with it. I rather suspect he gets his info from the DNR rep in the area. So it must be written somewhere.

Big Game (p 61)
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset

There are no area specific regulations on shooting time.

/thread

[smurfman]

As JJ stated, for big game hunting ends a half hour after sunset. Its been that way since the 1990s so either the guide has set that rule for his clients or he hasn't looked at the rule book since then. Best way to find out is to ask him why he stops hunting at one of the most productive times of the day.

[Holland&Holland]

Actually, it depends on what you're hunting....

From the 2014 MN Hunting & Trapping Regulations:

Small Game (pp 43-44)
30 minutes before sunrise to sunset with the following exceptions:

Pheasant: 9 AM - Sunset
Trapping: 5 AM - 10 PM
Raccoon & Fox: day or night


Mourning Dove: (p 57)
30 minutes before sunrise to sunset

Big Game (p 61)
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset


Sunrise/Sunset tables can be found on page 124 of the regulation book
Regulation books can be found at any location authorized to sell hunting licenses, or you can download a copy here.

I know, and that's what I referred to originally. However, as usually, the bureaucratic regulations are self-contradictory, and their interpretation depends on where you stop reading them. Thus for example in the very beginning they say hunting hours are 1/2 before to 1/2 after. If you stop reading right there you'd never know that there are limitations like on pp 43-44, 57 etc. My question was if anyone knows about any "specific limitations" on deer hunt, perhaps in some particular areas, or by some particular method (rifle ?) that say you can only hunt until sunset there. My guide is quite knowledgeable man, fourth generation hunter, and I don't think he just came up with it. I rather suspect he gets his info from the DNR rep in the area. So it must be written somewhere.

No he is not knowledgeable.

[ex-LT]

The OP asked about DEER hunting, per the title....

Oops, I missed that. My bad.

[benny]

If you ask a CO they will tell you that the extra half hour past sunset is suppose to allow the hunter time to exit the woods before total darkness. But you can legaly shoot a deer up to that half hour past sunset.

I think it is changed now but at one time you had to unload and case your firearm after legal shooting if you were still out in the woods. That was because your not allowed to be in the woods after legal shooting time with a caliber larger than .22 rim fire or a shotgun with bird shot.

I never heard of a CO actually tagging some one for it though.

Benny

[Nemo]

If you ask a CO they will tell you that the extra half hour past sunset is suppose to allow the hunter time to exit the woods before total darkness. But you can legaly shoot a deer up to that half hour past sunset.

I think it is changed now but at one time you had to unload and case your firearm after legal shooting if you were still out in the woods. That was because your not allowed to be in the woods after legal shooting time with a caliber larger than .22 rim fire or a shotgun with bird shot.

I never heard of a CO actually tagging some one for it though.

Benny

Thank you. I think you're right. The guide said that a CO threatened to ticket couple of the guide's clients when he caught them after sunset walking to their car with loaded rifles (to my understanding it was 15-20 min after sunset), and didn't do it only out of respect to the guide. So the guide insisted we unload at sunset, yet while in the woods, and move to the car right away.