I spent 30 years in law enforcement and worked with many game wardens. I have also had personnel experience with game wardens in private life (never on the wrong side of the law) and I know that game wardens have their limitations. Virtually all game wardens would like to assist you with problems described in this thread, but even when it is the game warden's desire to help you, there are many factors working against that desire. Go back and ask the people you have spoken to about the legal and logistical problems impeding their goals of helping every hunter in every situation. Those conversations will be very enlightening.
Public Land Hunting Behavior
- Thread starter Daves762
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Speaking from a law enforcement point of view (I spent 30 and a half years in law enforcement) there are many violations that are unavoidably impossible for an LEO to do for the true victim what that victim needs and deserves. You can sit around a campfire and discuss the great things a game warden has accomplished in his/her career, but for some lively conversation, ask about the things that warden was unable to accomplish and why. Be sure to have plenty of extra firewood on hand.
Biggergun
Well-Known Member
It has happened to me hunting in nd, sd, wyo and ut
Old Hickory 45
Well-Known Member
I had a big buck stolen in MO. 
That was years ago but it still burns.
That was years ago but it still burns.
Daves762
Well-Known Member
Couple years back My neighbor leased a 500 acre section from an out of state owner who didn't do anything with the land. The deal was If I rebuild the fence around the place, I would have access for hunting and shooting. Years prior a grassfire had taken out most the fence posts and the fence was just wire on the ground. Many hours were spent learning how to string fence by myself. But lets just say I put in some time, getting the land ready for cows and horses. And did I mention that after it got cold the elk were off the mountain and down on this land?
I started to notice truck tracks out on the place when I would go out to fix fence. Turns out it wasn't my neighbor. He stated that no one else had land access to the place and anyone caught there was to be confronted. This section had gone un-used for so many years, that a few of the local dirt bags thought it was their own private little poaching spot.
One day, during hunting season, I was headed up to my neighbors house for unrelated reasons. I followed behind a truck that wasn't local. This truck turned onto the land and drove out. Upon arrival at my neighbors I asked who he was letting hunt out there, since I had fixed the fence and was yet to hunt there. The look on his face was the answer. We piled three guys in two trucks and followed the truck tracks out there. He had to pull up in front of the truck and stop to get the trespasser to stop. Two people in the vehicle that I could see.
I positioned my truck so that I could use it for cover, and I could see the passenger door. My neighbor went to the driver door. Lets just say I was "ready" for whatever got out of the passenger side.........
The driver was arrogant, argumentative, disrespectful and said he had permission to be there. Phone calls were made on the spot and confirmation was made. No one had even heard of this guy let alone gave him permission. Driver was in sweatpants, with running shoes on. No orange in the truck. Driver had FIVE felony convictions and wasn't even allowed to be NEAR a firearm. He had lost his hunting rights and drivers license. The female in the passenger seat never said a word, and from the look on her face was not a threat.
Game warden was busy and unable to respond. My neighbor didn't want to detain them long enough for him to arrive. He also didn't want to call the sheriff and make a big deal about it. At the time we were not aware of his criminal history. To this day I am still angry we let him go.
We collected his info, plate number and of course I had video rolling just in case. After the incident one of the LEO guys gave us the info on the guy I mentioned above. I'm confident that If it had been one on one the outcome may have been different. The only reason the driver left was because he saw where I had positioned my truck, were i was standing, and that he was surrounded by three. Even three against one, this guy was as arrogant and argumentative as could be.
I know this is slightly off topic here, but my point is this. Just because they are "hunting" doesn't mean we are all on the same team.
I started to notice truck tracks out on the place when I would go out to fix fence. Turns out it wasn't my neighbor. He stated that no one else had land access to the place and anyone caught there was to be confronted. This section had gone un-used for so many years, that a few of the local dirt bags thought it was their own private little poaching spot.
One day, during hunting season, I was headed up to my neighbors house for unrelated reasons. I followed behind a truck that wasn't local. This truck turned onto the land and drove out. Upon arrival at my neighbors I asked who he was letting hunt out there, since I had fixed the fence and was yet to hunt there. The look on his face was the answer. We piled three guys in two trucks and followed the truck tracks out there. He had to pull up in front of the truck and stop to get the trespasser to stop. Two people in the vehicle that I could see.
I positioned my truck so that I could use it for cover, and I could see the passenger door. My neighbor went to the driver door. Lets just say I was "ready" for whatever got out of the passenger side.........
The driver was arrogant, argumentative, disrespectful and said he had permission to be there. Phone calls were made on the spot and confirmation was made. No one had even heard of this guy let alone gave him permission. Driver was in sweatpants, with running shoes on. No orange in the truck. Driver had FIVE felony convictions and wasn't even allowed to be NEAR a firearm. He had lost his hunting rights and drivers license. The female in the passenger seat never said a word, and from the look on her face was not a threat.
Game warden was busy and unable to respond. My neighbor didn't want to detain them long enough for him to arrive. He also didn't want to call the sheriff and make a big deal about it. At the time we were not aware of his criminal history. To this day I am still angry we let him go.
We collected his info, plate number and of course I had video rolling just in case. After the incident one of the LEO guys gave us the info on the guy I mentioned above. I'm confident that If it had been one on one the outcome may have been different. The only reason the driver left was because he saw where I had positioned my truck, were i was standing, and that he was surrounded by three. Even three against one, this guy was as arrogant and argumentative as could be.
I know this is slightly off topic here, but my point is this. Just because they are "hunting" doesn't mean we are all on the same team.
Daves762
Well-Known Member
Old Hickory 45
Well-Known Member
That group sounds like three professional poachers we busted and sent to prison. They were working for a taxidermist in Iowa City, Iowa. He also went to prison.
Since we busted the poachers on federal land, they were in real hot water and faced federal gun charges also. The poachers were on a US Army installation where I work.
The poachers used rifles with night vision scopes and pistols. FYI, even archery equipment used illegally on the installation is considered a firearm, according to our Provost Marshall.
Since we busted the poachers on federal land, they were in real hot water and faced federal gun charges also. The poachers were on a US Army installation where I work.
The poachers used rifles with night vision scopes and pistols. FYI, even archery equipment used illegally on the installation is considered a firearm, according to our Provost Marshall.
I don't think New York has a deer that I want that bad!
Daves762
Well-Known Member
I had that happen to me in SOCAL when I was stationed there. I was bow hunting with my wife. We had a large group walk past us in single file. The lead guy had an AK 47, then a couple dozen with burlap "backpacks" and a gallon jug of water in each hand, then the last guy had a MAC10. We were in ghillie suits as we were bow hunting. They never saw us. All we had were pistols. We waited an hour, and made our way back to the car and tried to leave. Soon as I pulled out onto the dirt two track road a couple sheriffs lit us up with red blue and white lights. I informed them we were still armed. We had a long talk about how if they were doing their job we would not have to be armed in our vehicle. But I was not going to get jumped at the car by coyotes or illegals because I was the only one out here without a gun. The sheriffs were real tuff guys, with all kinds of threats and giggles until I showed them my credentials and they got real nice and polite all of a sudden. We left, and downloaded before we hit the paved highway.
One of a million reasons I never finished my career in SOCAL.
Rude, disrespectful hunters are bad enough but illegals with automatic weapons are not what I'm interested in encountering when I'm hunting.
COhntr
Well-Known Member
If you want to see rude a*****e's come to SW colorado during the hunting seasons, any of them, it doesn't matter. Any out of stater that purchased a high $$$ tag thinks that they own it all, don't get me wrong, some of the locals are just as bad. Onyx, basemap, and all the other hunting apps have made it even worse, and the huge influx of people from other states that are moving here.
aaronmcoleman
Active Member
Your not wrong. Total garbage. That's what gives public land a bad name. Yes it is public land and yes they have the right to be there too. But this isn't about rights it's about respect. That's the way it goes public land hunting. It just sucks. Most people are cool but it only takes a few.
Ingwe
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Especially if you are from Texas
Ingwe
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I wonder what would happen to you if you stuck the guy carrying the AK with an arrow?
