On the land · 2 min read
Antlers in velvet or a spotted coat means stop
Treat this as a gate. Antlers in velvet or a spotted coat means stop. The subject is an animal you are not sure is legal.
At the truck
At the truck, lower the gun and look again. Say the plan out loud if someone is with you. A plan you cannot say is a plan you do not have.
The slip
Do not paper over a guess about age or sex at the moment of the shot. Fix it while the engine is still warm enough to leave.
Go only if you are sure of the animal the rules allow. Local season dates and the landowner's permission outrank a good forecast.
Nothing in this note asks you to rush a shot or to guess at a boundary. The "On the land" note is finished when the answer is yes or no.
A field note, not legal advice. Check the season, the species rules, and whether you have permission to be on the land.