Has anyone ever parked in one state and walked into another state because it was a closer walk to where you hunted in the other state? Do you need a hunting license in both states?
Haven't but have gotten involved a pretty iffy kill on a late season dedicated "sportsman" tag for a Washington hunter that took an Idaho elk. Of course he claimed it ran across border after he shot it. It was actually within a half mile of an Idaho Fish Game Officers house. Officer said he heard the shots (different sequence than the story we were told) and that it's pretty tough to prosecute anyone within a mile of any border.
I can't imagine you would need both licenses. I would have the best app for my phone and make 110% sure about the boundary and keep waypoints for evidence if needed just to be on the safe side. Probably wouldn't hurt to talk to local F&G beforehand and get their take.
I've done it a few times. It might take a few more hours of driving through the other state, but when all is said and done I'm usually a couple hours closer in walking distance to where I want to hunt. So I would rather use the gas then my legs when it comes to a couple of hours.
I have launched a boat in Oregon and waterfowl hunted a slough in Washington. By the letter of the law you only have to be licensed where you hunt but if the law doesn't believe your story he could require a judge to decide and even if you are not found guilty you still lost a day of your time. All that said I hunt in both states so I just have two licenses.
My initial reaction is "yea, no problem" but then after reading what OldMan wrote, it made me think twice. I have an area that I have hunted that's on the border and I've walked into the other state, then walked back into the state I've go the tag for.
I have considered starting in the other state for easier access so it is a little gray for that. I'd make a call to the wildlife division on the "other" state and double check, particularly when you commence the hunt in the "other" state for the purpose of simply walking into the state you have a tag for.
I suppose when you're carrying a weapon it's considered that you're hunting, despite your honor/ethics of not shooting until you're in the legal state. That may be hard to sell to a warden who doesn't know or may not trust you.
