Shining....Check Local Ordinances!!!

[wischunter08]

Well i've been doing alot of shining in the area I'm hunting this year here in Wisconsin.  Now I live in Langlade County, and I am hunting in Marathon County. 

Last night I went out to see how the deer activity was with it being as cold as it has been.  Now I had just turned down the road that I usually shine, and begin to shine a field.  There is another field on the other side of the road so I did a quick "spot" of it and noticed a truck parked on a dirt road near the woodline.  I thought nothing of it thinking it was a hunter up for the weekend and kept shining.  That was untill my buddy informed my of the flashing blue and red lights behind me.

I pulled over and was ticketed $208.40 for shining after hours. 

It is 100% my fault because I did not call about the other counties shining ordinances.  Just putting this out there so some one doesnt end up with 208 bucks less than they should have.

I do have one quick question for thought on your part.  Why is there a time limit on shining wildlife?  Example: No shining after 10 p.m.

[tmjhamann]

It's almost the end of the month and they need to make money someway.it could have been 4:00 and it would have still cost you  . Good Luck on your opener

[GRIZ]

Minnesota is a bunch different.

Simply put you are not allowed to shine a light to locate or with the intent to locate animals. Coonhunting and trapping have an exception.

[stevejedlenski]

Artificial Lights
A person may not cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial
light onto a highway or into a field, woodland, or forest to spot,
locate,
or take a wild animal while possessing, either individually or as
one of a group, a firearm, bow, or other implement that could be used to
kill big game. The exceptions to this regulation are:
a) A firearm that is unloaded, cased, and in the closed trunk* of a motor
vehicle (see definitions of “unloaded” and “cased,” page 23); or
b) A bow that is completely encased or unstrung and in the trunk* of
a motor vehicle.
c) A person hunting for coyote or fox from Jan. 1 to March 15 may
use an artificial handheld light under the following conditions:
• While on foot and not within a public right of way
• Using a shotgun
• Using a calling device
• Not within 200 feet of vehicle

With or without a firearm or bow, no person may cast the rays of
a spotlight, headlight,
or other artificial
light into a field, woodland,
or forest to spot, locate,
or take a wild animal between
the hours of
10 p.m. and 6 a.m. from September 1 to December 31.

With or without a firearm, between one-half hour after sunset
until sunrise, a person may not cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight
or other artificial light to spot, locate, or take a wild animal on fenced,
agricultural land containing livestock or poultry that is marked with
signs prohibiting the shining of lights. The signs must: 1) display
reflectorized letters that are at least 2 inches in height and state “no
shining” or similar terms; and 2) be placed at intervals of 1,000 feet or
less along the boundary of the area.

It is not a violation
of this law to shine lights while doing any
agricultural,
occupational,
or recreational activity, including snowmobiling,
not related to spotting, locating, or taking a wild animal.
* If the motor vehicle does not have a trunk, the firearm or bow must be in the
rearmost portion of the vehicle.
Note: This regulation does not apply to taking raccoons or tending traps according
to all other regulations in this booklet.
2008 Minnesota Hunting Regulations
32
With or without a firearm, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and
6:00 a.m., a person may not project a spotlight or hand-held light
onto residential property or building sites from a moving motor vehicle
being operated on land, except for the following purposes:
1) safety; 2) emergency response; 3) normal vehicle operations; or
4) performing an occupational duty.

Yes you can shine in MN there are restrictions but you can.

please read your regualtions thats why they are printed, and free...

[stevejedlenski]

i should add that that is the state law, there may be local ordinances like wischunter08 said, but i have never heard of one. and that would only apply to that city or county.