The great debate. " Lake, stream or pond"

• Sep 16, 2017

• #1

BowanaLee

Senior Member

Georgia law as read in the hunting regs. "It is unlawful to take a deer by any means while it is in a lake, stream, or pond.


Can you shoot a deer as it WALKS across a knee deep creek ?

 

• Sep 16, 2017

• #2

chadf

Senior Member

I would !

 

• Sep 16, 2017

• #3

livetohunt

Senior Member

I have always been told it is illegal to shoot a deer in the creek..The main reason I heard was for bullet ricochet. Which doesn't apply to bow hunting, but there are no exceptions for bow hunting in the regs.

 

• Sep 16, 2017

• #4

ROLLTIDE 33

Senior Member

I seen your stand in the tree in the post where the buck was dead so I understand your question here. To me as long as the deer is not being hampered by the water and is walking along fine i see no reason why you wouldn't shoot. Fire at em

 

• Sep 16, 2017

• #5

alligood729

Senior Member

It would be determined by common sense, or individual interpretation by LEO. My interpretation? The deer would have to immersed and swimming which would make them helpless to any form of hunting, or predator for that matter. Walking across a 6" deep creek they are not helpless. I'd shoot.

 

Last edited: Sep 16, 2017

• Sep 16, 2017

• #6

livetohunt

Senior Member

Best solution is to call the game warden in your county and ask him.

 

• Sep 16, 2017

• #7

northgeorgiasportsman

Moderator

Staff member

livetohunt said:

Best solution is to call the game warden in your county and ask him.

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And the answer is going to vary from warden to warden. They are just as confused on the interpretation of this law as we are.

 

• Sep 16, 2017

• #8

The mtn man

Senior Member

I think I read once that water below the knees is legal, that might have been north carolina? By the way, your YouTube videos are awesome!!!!

 

• Sep 16, 2017

• #9

alligood729

Senior Member

I just had a conversation with the former director of WRD. Intent of the law is to protect swimming animals. Standing in water is fine. You are good.....

 

• Sep 16, 2017

• #10

2

2bbshot

Senior Member

I assumed this law was to keep someone from riding up on a swimming deer and shooting it? If I'm in my deer stand and a deer I want to shoot comes by I'm shooting it. His feet being wet in a creek won't save him from a Simmons from me.

 

• Sep 16, 2017

• #11

BowanaLee

Senior Member

livetohunt said:

Best solution is to call the game warden in your county and ask him.

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I did years ago. Its to protect swimming deer. Our government does come up with some crazy regulations so you really need to think about it sometimes.
What does it serve to make a law against shooting a deer standing in water. A mud puddle wouldn't be any different. Where would it end ?

ROLLTIDE 33 said:

I seen your stand in the tree in the post where the buck was dead so I understand your question here. To me as long as the deer is not being hampered by the water and is walking along fine i see no reason why you wouldn't shoot. Fire at em

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That creek is my shooting lane. I can cross it in my regular rubber boots almost anywhere. But, that deer was found dead, probably from EHD ?
I got a PM from a member saying I was breaking the law shooting a deer there. This thread is serving to educate.

 

• Sep 16, 2017

• #12

kmckinnie

BOT KILLER MODERATOR

Staff member

Bunch of outlaws.

 

• Sep 16, 2017

• #13

Spotlite

Resident Homesteader

northgeorgiasportsman said:

And the answer is going to vary from warden to warden. They are just as confused on the interpretation of this law as we are.

Click to expand...

just shoot it and tell him it fell in the water

alligood729 said:

I just had a conversation with the former director of WRD. Intent of the law is to protect swimming animals. Standing in water is fine. You are good.....

Click to expand...

This is what I have always been told. Cant shoot swimming animals.

 

• Sep 16, 2017

• #14

S

swampstalker24

Senior Member

livetohunt said:

Best solution is to call the game warden in your county and ask him.

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I asked a game warden about this one time as i was hunting in a carolina bay that periodically held about 6 inches of water... He said as long as it was not dinking from the water when i shot i was good

 

• Sep 17, 2017

• #15

spencer12

Senior Member

This is to protect swimming deer. How could one hunt a cypress swamp if it were illegal to shoot a deer standing in water? They cross through my swamp all the time and it's 2-3 feet deep or deeper at times (now). If I can't shoot them in water im out of luck.

 

• Sep 18, 2017

• #16

U

ucfireman

Senior Member

BowanaLee said:

Georgia law as read in the hunting regs. "It is unlawful to take a deer by any means while it is in a lake, stream, or pond.


Can you shoot a deer as it WALKS across a knee deep creek ?

Click to expand...

I have always wondered the same question. Maybe C. Killmaster will weigh in?

 

• Sep 22, 2017

• #17

rvick

Senior Member

Maybe that's why the old buck spends 90% of his life with his feet wet.

 

• Sep 22, 2017

• #18

BowanaLee

Senior Member

Mr Green jeans told me long ago that its to protect swimming deer. This post is more for spreading information.