License to drive deer?

[Star1pup]

A waitress asked me a question today that I couldn't answer. It seems her son wanted to help drive deer for his buddies, but she thought he needed a license and deer permit to do so.

I really had no answer although I've heard of guys who had gotten their deer then leaving their guns at home and driving for friends. This youngster would carry no gun and would wear hunter orange.

Anyone know about this?

[Florida Buckeye]

I believe as long as he does not carry a firearm it would be ok.

[Matt D]

Had the same thing come up last week and the way I read it you had to have a license and a deer permit. I think I saw the example given that if a landowner had tagged out on his land, so he hadn't bought a license for that, but wanted to drive deer on a neighbors property he would need to buy a license and tag to do so. Don't have the rules right here beside me, maybe someone else does? I think the waitress was on the money.

[brian]

What I found was in the "What a hunter can do" section. It says that a hunter who has removed his temporary tag my assist his buddies(i'm paraphrasing) in hunting but can't carry a weapon. So I guess that means someone unlicensed can't drive deer because as soon as you do, you become a "hunter", and therefore, you would need a license. If you look under the definition of a hunter, it says something about giving assistance to another person or some such legal mumbo jumbo making you a "hunter". Unless your on your own land, then your cool.

[CStan]

Yes, even the drivers without a weapon need a license.

"HUNTING means pursuing, shooting, killing, following after or on the trail of, lying in wait for, shooting at, or wounding wild birds or wild quadrupeds while employing any device commonly used to kill or wound wild birds or wild quadrupeds whether such acts result in such killing or wounding or not. It includes every attempt to kill or wound and every act of assistance to any other person in killing or wounding or attempting to kill or wound wild birds or wild quadrupeds."

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Hunting/huntregs/legaldefinitions_p19.htm

[countyroad]

Very interesting. I do this about every year once my tag is filled. I go help with a group of buddies that do drives. I just like to go for the walk and to see big deer. It's always fun, and we're safe.

[Star1pup]

I'm going to check with the DOW. Right now this kid is not allowed to drive. Mother knows best! The difference, if there is any, between him and a hunter who has tagged out is that he never hunted of had a deer permit. I'm not even sure he has a license. In my opinion, it's best that he stays home.

[CARPN-JAKE]

Once before my wife took hunters safety course and started buying her license we got checked by a officer while coming out after goose hunting..He informed me that since my wife was unlicensed she couldn't participate at all in the hunt.( she was helping us carry a few decoys out) He wasn't a jerk about it and didn't make a big deal or cite us but he said he just wanted to make us aware of it.

[Cincybass]

Yes he needs to have or have filled a deer tag. I almost got cited for vidio taping a friend in Indiana a few years ago shooting a buck. They let me off with a warning and made a big deal about.

I checked into for Ohio and the rule is the same. Chase, Intent, Pursue

[brian]

I sure can't see any possible way video taping a hunt could be seen as "hunting". Sounds like harassment to me.

[Cincybass]

Brian,

As previously stated, I was pursueing deer with a camera during thier gun season. It was a check point on st rt 56 along the Ohio river. Any one that looked to have anything to do with deer hunting were flagged over.

I did check in OH as stated. Its something they could write you a ticket on if they wanted to.

Deer drives you're pursueing and chasing.

[Thunderflight]

Well ya learn something new every day.

Tf

[countyroad]

So someone that goes on a deer drive with a license, but with no weapon or tag is legal?

[M.Magis]

They must have a license and a tag. A filled tag is fine too, as long as they have one.

[countyroad]

What I"m getting at is if it is legal to fill all 3 tags and then assist others by being a driver?

[CritterGitter]

This rule seems very vague. I can see makin a guy buy a license, but I don't think a tag is justified unless he carries a weapon. If they want to enforce it to the letter then they should write it up VERY clearly.

I didn't look in the book though. Maybe it is very clear and I am just lazy right now! lol

CG

[Cincybass]

Originally posted by CStan
Yes, even the drivers without a weapon need a license.

"HUNTING means pursuing, shooting, killing, following after or on the trail of, lying in wait for, shooting at, or wounding wild birds or wild quadrupeds while employing any device commonly used to kill or wound wild birds or wild quadrupeds whether such acts result in such killing or wounding or not. It includes every attempt to kill or wound and every act of assistance to any other person in killing or wounding or attempting to kill or wound wild birds or wild quadrupeds."

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Hunting/huntregs/legaldefinitions_p19.htm

When in doubt call the DNR. The above quote says it all. If a DNR officer catches you pursueing, following, (participating on deer drives) they could site you. The question is will they which depends on the demeanor of the officer and the situation. If the group is doing something wrong then he might site you. If its just a leisure check then he might just warn you. The point is the law is their and they can enforce it.

The way I understood it explained to me: Is you must posess or have filled a deer tag in order to legally participate on deer drives. I would call the DNR officer in the area to find out what he wants you to do.

[M.Magis]

What I"m getting at is if it is legal to fill all 3 tags and then assist others by being a driver?
Yes, that's legal.