Spotlighting

The spotting and shooting often take place from the moving vehicle. Experienced drivers on familiar territory (such as farmers in their own paddocks) may turn off the vehicle headlights to minimize the distractions.

The most common vehicles used are light four-wheel drive trucks and utilities. A team may consist of three persons: the driver, the shooter, and the spotter. The shooter and spotter stand side by side behind the cab, holding onto a bar at the front of the tray or on top of the cab, which allows them a good 360 degree view. The spotter sweeps the surrounding countryside with a powerful hand-held lamp with a tightly focused beam.

Spotlighting can be conducted by two persons where the driver operates the spotlight or alone where the driver spotlights using a remote mounted spotlight or automotive lighting and shoots from the driver's seat of the vehicle.

Lightweight lamps, torches and hand-held spotlights enable hunters to spotlight by foot. With a slow walking pace, the hunter will move forward while scanning for eyeshine. If spotted out of range, the light is typically turned off and the approach is made in the dark. Once a target is found, the hunter will typically hold the mesmerised animal in the glare of the lamp and shoot for the area between its glowing eyes.{{Cite news |title=Spotlighting rabbits on foot – Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia (SSAA) |language=en-US |work=Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia (SSAA) |url=https://www.ssaa.org.au/?ss_news=spotlighting-rabbits-on-foot |access-date=9 February 2023}}

Various rules govern nocturnal hunting and hunting from motor vehicles, but typically the use of illumination devices is prohibited for deer hunting. Commercial hunters are normally exempt from such regulations where the emphasis is upon population control.{{cite web|title=Hunting regulations|url=http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hunting/regulations|publisher=NSW Department of Primary Industries|accessdate=18 September 2015}}

Spotlighting on New Zealand Department of Conservation land is prohibited by law.{{cite web|last=Van |first=Maike |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/2807532/Spotlight-on-illegal-hunting |title=Spotlight on illegal hunting |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |date=27 August 2009 |accessdate=21 November 2012}}

Spotlighting is illegal in many locations throughout the United States and Canada.

In Colorado, hunting any wildlife on public land with artificial light is unlawful.{{cite web |title=U.S. Federal and State Cases, Codes, and Articles |url=https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-33-parks-and-wildlife/co-rev-st-sect-33-6-127/ |website=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters |access-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514100825/http://codes.findlaw.com:80/co/title-33-parks-and-wildlife/co-rev-st-sect-33-6-127.html |archive-date=14 May 2017 |quote=it is unlawful for any person to utilize any artificial light as an aid in hunting or taking any wildlife. |url-status=live}}

In Manitoba and British Columbia, spotlighting is illegal except for status Indians.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/wildlife/hunting/firstnations.html |title=Hunting {{!}} Sustainable Development {{!}} Province of Manitoba |website=www.gov.mb.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213072059/http://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/wildlife/hunting/firstnations.html |archive-date=13 December 2016}}{{Cite web | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/b-c-first-nation-can-hunt-at-night-supreme-court-1.618478 | title=B.C. First Nation can hunt at night: Supreme Court | CBC News}} In Saskatchewan, spotlighting is illegal without exception.{{Cite web|url=https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/1998/february/10/province-announces-new-night-hunting-regulations|title=Province Announces New Night Hunting Regulations | News and Media|website=Government of Saskatchewan|accessdate=2 October 2019}}

Lamping is a similar practice in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland of hunting at night using powerful lamps and either guns, birds of prey or dogs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.huntinginquiry.gov.uk/mainsections/huntingframe.htm|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080726235540/http://www.huntinginquiry.gov.uk/mainsections/huntingframe.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 July 2008|title=Hunting Inquiry WebSite|website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk|accessdate=2 October 2019}} It does not always involve vehicles. Animals associated with this form of hunting include foxes, rabbits, and hares.

In England, Scotland, and Wales, most forms of hunting with dogs have been made illegal by the Hunting Act 2004 but rabbits and rats were specifically included on a list of exemptions, therefore lamping these animals with dogs is still legal. Hunting fox, rabbit and hare with dogs is legal in Northern Ireland. In Britain lamping foxes with dogs has been rendered illegal, however lamping in order to shoot them remains legal.

In Northern Ireland, lamping is also practiced against foxes and rabbits.{{Cite web|url=https://basc.org.uk/codes-of-practice/night-shooting/|title=Night Shooting Code of Practice}}{{Cite journal|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/25536471|title=A Review of Fox Control in North-East Ireland|author=Looney, Declan J. P.|year=2003|journal=The Irish Naturalists' Journal|volume=27|issue=6|pages=223–228|jstor=2553647}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.league.org.uk/news-and-resources/news/northern-ireland-the-same-or-different/|title=Northern Ireland - the same or different?|website=www.league.org.uk}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.belfastlive.co.uk/incoming/anti-hunt-versus-pro-hunt-ni-enthusiasts-8810332|title=Anti-hunt versus pro-hunt: NI enthusiasts argue their point and fight for support at Stormont|first=Jilly|last=Beattie|date=10 March 2015|website=BelfastLive}}

In the Republic of Ireland, it is legal to hunt foxes and rabbits with lamps, with a license and landowner's permission,{{Cite web|url=https://clarechampion.ie/illegal-deer-lamping-a-dangerous-practice/|title=Illegal deer lamping a dangerous practice|date=10 November 2011}} but it is illegal to use a "mechanically propelled vehicle" or to hunt hares or deer with lights.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kildarenow.com/news/local-news/398279/kildare-men-convicted-of-illegal-lamping-in-donegal.html|title=Kildare men convicted of illegal 'lamping' in Donegal|first=Senan|last=Hogan|website=www.kildarenow.com|date=4 July 2017 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/rural-life/gardai-clamping-down-on-lamping-saying-it-allows-opportunistic-activity-35411667.html|title=Gardai clamping down on 'lamping' saying it allows 'opportunistic activity'|website=independent|date=February 2017 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.npws.ie/licencesandconsents/education-and-science/hunt-using-mechanically-propelled-vehicle|title=To Hunt Using a Mechanically Propelled Vehicle for Educational, Scientific or Other Purposes | National Parks & Wildlife Service|website=www.npws.ie}} It is illegal to lamp from a vehicle on or near a public road.{{Cite web|url=https://huntsabsireland.com/lamping|title=Lamping|website=Hunt Saboteurs Ireland}} An attempt to forbid hunting with guns between midnight and 6 a.m. failed in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.farmersjournal.ie/no-change-to-lamping-legislation-department-284007|title=No change to lamping legislation – Department|website=www.farmersjournal.ie}}

Once an animal has been located in the beam of light, it is either shot or the dog(s) released. The dogs used are typically lurchers (cross between a sighthound and any other breed of dog), or longdogs (cross between two sighthounds, typically a greyhound and a whippet), but may be a cross of many breeds.

Although white light is often used for lamping, using a red or orange filter is preferred, as this has a lesser effect on the night vision of the hunter (human or dog), and is less likely to frighten any potential prey.

• Fishing light attractor

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120222154613/http://www.badgers.org.uk/badgerpages/eurasian-badger-18.html#unseen Unfavourable view of lamping] from a badger website
• [http://basc.org.uk/cop/lamping/ Lamping Code of Practice] from the British Association for Shooting and Conservation

{{Hunting topics}}

Category:Hunting methods