Rabbit hunting at night ???

[JimH]

Ask this last year and never got a definitive answer and kind of forgot about it. Anyway, I have a friend that says it's legal to hunt rabbits at night using a thermal imaging scope. He claims since it isn't a light source it's legal. I guess even if it is he would still need to wear orange...

 

[kcw12]

This is taken from the hunting guide.

There are no equipment or ammunition restrictions for rabbit hunting. A 12- or 20-gauge shotgun loaded with 6- to 7 1/2-size shot is recommended.

My take is anything goes for rabbits. 50 big with thermal is good to go

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[eldirector]

General Information - Indiana Hunting

Beginning the second day of the season, the possession limit is two times the daily bag limit for species other than migratory birds (including waterfowl), deer, and wild turkey. It is illegal to carry, transport, or ship outside Indiana, in open season, in one day, a wild animal that the…

www.eregulations.com

Small Game: No hunting hours, except for rabbits on designated DNR properties in February (Small Game).

Not sure about thermal or a light source.

 

[JimH]

This is taken from the hunting guide.

There are no equipment or ammunition restrictions for rabbit hunting. A 12- or 20-gauge shotgun loaded with 6- to 7 1/2-size shot is recommended.

My take is anything goes for rabbits. 50 big with thermal is good to go

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I know there are no hour restrictions,but you can't use an artificial light source except for furbearers. My question-is thermal considered an artificial light source?

 

[kcw12]

Thermal reads light, does not produce it. Thermal reads infrared

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[eldirector]

Yeah... IANAL, but strict reading of the code....

If your scope is simply a receiver, there are no restrictions. If it is "casting artificial light" (IR transmitter), it MIGHT be restricted.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I thought thermal read heat signatures, whereas "night vision" had the IR transmitter.

 

[natdscott]

I thought thermal read heat signatures, whereas "night vision" had the IR transmitter.

Correct.

 

[Leadeye]

As expensive as those thermals are I think I would let a court case make it's way through the system before using one and maybe losing it to a property room for an undetermined spell.

 

[natdscott]

As expensive as those thermals are I think I would let a court case make it's way through the system before using one and maybe losing it to a property room for an undetermined spell.

Solid logic. Even the pee-doos themselves have a hard time figuring out how long their favorite stuff will stay in property room jail.

 

[JimH]

As expensive as those thermals are I think I would let a court case make it's way through the system before using one and maybe losing it to a property room for an undetermined spell.

Right,I don't have one,and probably won't let loose of the $$$. I guess I always assumed rabbit hunting was a daytime thing only...

 

[yetti462]

Me and my coyote hunting buddy have discussed this many times and have looked through the guide and can find nothing. We asked a CO and stumped him and he didn't give an answer.