Non-hunter Going Along on Hunt

[BigMike]

My wife has decided that she wants to come along on a couple of hunts this year. She will not be shooting or carry a gun at all. She will mostly just tag along a couple of times and maybe take some pictures. This will be on WMA land most likely. Will she need full licenses and stamps, or just the WMA permit? Thanks!

[missed mallards]

Just wma permit.

She can’t do anything to help on the hunt.

[BigMike]

Thanks!

[JaMak84]

Whenever this subject comes up, I always suggest to err on the side of caution and get everything legally required as a hunter. License, stamps, permit, etc...for 2 reasons.
1.) There is a lot of gray area in the definition of participation. If she does anything to assist, it could be considered "participating" in the hunt. She can't help put out decoys, grass the blind, carry supplies, help find a downed bird, handle the dog, etc... All of these things are left up to the discretion of the officer. Personally, I'd rather have my butt covered than to leave it up to the discretion of the officer to determine if he/she thinks your wife is "participating" in the hunt.
2.) Acquiring her hunter education, license, stamps, etc...is a valuable learning experience and the funds help support the sport.

[DoublePslayer]

[Wildfowler]

[DuckBoat]

I have never had an issue with just having just the Wma permit for the few times a year my wife goes (she is content with staying at camp ). May can start there and if she starts getting more interested in it and wants to participate get the license.

[JaMak84]

[Wildfowler]

[deltadukman]

[Seymore]

My wife goes fishing with me in the Summer. She just sits in the back of the boat reading but it's nearly impossible for not to touch any of the fishing gear be it opening the live well for me, handing me a net, or moving a tackle box to get a drink from the cooler. All of which could be construed as her participating so I buy her a license every year as it's just very cheap insurance. She went hunting with me once in college. I meet her at her dorm at o dark thirty and she comes down like she has been up all night long doing her hair, makeup, ironing the camo clothes we bought her, and wearing perfume that no self respecting deer would be within a mile of. I knew she had no further interest when I broke out the deer pee and gave her boots a good dose. So she is content now with just riding in the boat.

[Wingman]

Man I have several “non-hunter/angler” stories.

[hillhunter]

[ufgators68]

[teul2]

At the very least get her the Apprentice Sportsman License to save possible legal hassles.