Sunrise / Sunset Hunt Times

[AlbertaWhitetail]

So what is your guys takes on hunt times around sunrise / sunset times. That you can hunt 30 mins before sunrise time & 30 mins after sunset time? (with obvious different circumstances on each situation)

[Dick284]

Huh?
What are you asking?

The rules are as the rules are. Expanding upon the time limit is frowned upon through the possibility of being charged under the wildlife act.

Adjusting the times down due to specific things such as weather or location is solely incumbent upon the hunter to conduct themselves accordingly. If you can't see to be safe, why push it?

[Sooner]

The tables are fairly decent to judge your start/end time. I wouldn't mind a few more locations added. But in the end it's really up to what Dick said, if it's too dark to really see whats there and confirm it's legal, do you take the shot even if the watch says your good. I have passed on a few at last legal light due to it being pretty much dark yet the watch says go.

[trophybook]

Go off of gps sunrises sunset times for exact times

[petew]

Originally Posted by trophybook

Go off of gps sunrises sunset times for exact times

X2.

[Mhunter51]

Yup, on a dark day with overcast, cloudy sky you would be REALLY pushing it at the 30 min past sunset time frame. In the not too long ago past we ( in Saskatchewan ) could not even hunt big game after sunset time--no 30 minute grace period.

[elkhunter11]

My take is that I don't shoot outside of the legal hours. If the visibility is poor, I will start later or quit earlier, but self defense is about the only acceptable excuse for shooting outside of the legal hours.

[DisplacedCaper]

I've found the chart in the regs pretty helpful for planning my hunt IE: figuring out what time I have to start walking to get to my spot and settle in. I do check the GPS for legal times. But tend to call it a day earlier at last light as where I hunt the sun tends to fall behind the mountains and there's not enough light to make a sound judgement if an opportunity presented itself.


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[Pasc43]

Perspective from a new hunter. I was out last weekend, set up in my spot at 6:00 am waiting for legal light at 6:45am. When 6:45 hit I was somewhat shocked that this would be considered legal light, it was still pretty dark, their were two doe's 30 yards in front of me but I could not make out WT/Mule, or even if maybe they had spikes. Was a cloudy morning on a west facing slope so that may have added to the darkness.

[wildside2014]

Originally Posted by Pasc43

Perspective from a new hunter. I was out last weekend, set up in my spot at 6:00 am waiting for legal light at 6:45am. When 6:45 hit I was somewhat shocked that this would be considered legal light, it was still pretty dark, their were two doe's 30 yards in front of me but I could not make out WT/Mule, or even if maybe they had spikes. Was a cloudy morning on a west facing slope so that may have added to the darkness.

I give you full props for holding off on the shot as a new hunter man. Good job!

[Nyksta]

The weather stations are scattered everywhere and an online search can tell you exact legal time of sunrise/sunset. Its pretty neat to see the fiber optic pin sights on my bow are completely invisible and within a few minutes of legal light they start to make themselves bright. Doesnt work so great in a ground blind though

[Gbuss]

http://www.besttimestohunt.net I use this link. punch in the area code and it will tell you the sun rise and set for the closet town you are hunting.

[muzzy]

The tables give you authorized times as set by the law. However common sense and safty should be factored in as there are times when you have to wait a few minutes longer at sunrise to safely see to shoot and quit a few minutes earlier if its getting darker faster than anticipated. Really no different than a posted speed limit if it says 100Km/hr but its pouring freezing rain only a fool would push the maximum limit

[newguy]

Originally Posted by Pasc43

Perspective from a new hunter. I was out last weekend, set up in my spot at 6:00 am waiting for legal light at 6:45am. When 6:45 hit I was somewhat shocked that this would be considered legal light, it was still pretty dark, their were two doe's 30 yards in front of me but I could not make out WT/Mule, or even if maybe they had spikes. Was a cloudy morning on a west facing slope so that may have added to the darkness.

Good on you for not shooting. The excitement must have been awesome!

I find the times work good in most situations. If in doubt, I won't shoot.

[Okotokian]

I use the chart in the regs and select a location that is the same or perhaps a bit LATER than the true sunrise time might be where I am. By that I mean I'll sacrifice two minutes of potential hunting time to ensure that my actions are defendable using the chart that the government has published.