I got arrested........

[Aragorn243]

At one time, I wanted to be a Game Warden. Sometimes I still think about it, not regretfully but becoming a deputy or something. But I've talked with quite a few of the younger ones coming in these days and frankly, they are a bunch of jerks. It's a real shame. I have a lot of respect for our state Game Commission. They manage a million hunters every year and still the state has one of the top three deer kills each year. I think only Texas and Michigan top us. Quality of racks has been low but they started a new policy about ten years ago that really seems to be helping.

They just stated doing stupid things. About 10 years ago, there was a story about a buck that wandered into town, got inside a store and got busted up pretty bad. So the police shot it. There was a fellow nearby that asked them what they were going to do with it and they were going to throw it away so he asked if he could have it. Newspaper picked up on it and ran a story about how this deer was going to provide food for this fellows family for a few months. He was so happy. He did not have a job at the time and food money was tight. Well, by now I'm sure you guessed it. Someone in the Game Commission read the newspaper and landing on this guy like a ton of bricks. Took the butchered deer away from him, fined him $500, yada, yada. Of course the **** hit the fan then, big media blitz and they backed off the fine but the meat was gone. Shortly after that, a big flock of turkeys was in the news. This family had been watching this flock of 40 turkeys for months. Game Commission came out, determined they weren't "native" and trapped and killed the entire flock. That was pretty bizarre. A year or so ago, there was an albino deer that was semi-tame and visiting an older woman and she was feeding it which she shouldn't have been, made the newspaper and you guessed it. The Game Commission put out a kill warrant on it because it was now a hazard. There was a bird that's next was destroyed and a couple nursed the baby to adulthood and left it fly around the house. Made the newspaper and BOOM, Game Commission and Police with a Warrant on her porch the next day. Took the bird to a shelter.

I guess the lesson here is don't ever tell the newspaper about a happy tale with our surrounding wildlife. You'll probably get arrested for it.

[arado]

If I was in the same position I would make a profit. The GW was on private property. he had no jurisdiction. he was trespassing.

[Aragorn243]

Game Wardens have jurisdiction over the entire state. They are allowed on private property.

[WarPig1976]

I just can't get over the man was arrested and roughed up on his OWN property!! So what if he just wanted to check his land for poachers and brought his AR and 1911 with him? Does that give the GW probable cause? Maybe because he admitted to checking feeders the GW was able in his Power tripped mind to connect the firearms to hunting? Common sense is what's lacking these days..

[vintage hunter]

I've been trying to post an update since yesterday morning but my goofy 'puter won't let me so here goes one more time.
Everything worked out ok, no charges were filed. I wasn't arrested for having the pistol on the seat on private land but rather on the suspicion it was there while I was on a public road. The GW claims he'd followed me at a distance for a couple miles from one tract to the next but lost sight of me around a curve when I turn off the state road onto my land, and since I was away from the jeep when he arrived he automatically assumed the pistol was in the seat the whole time. What the GW didn't see was me take the pistol out of the glove box when I got where I was going with the intention of carrying it with me to check a feeder but realized it was getting close to the end of legal shooting time so I thought it wise to leave it behind and left it on the seat till I got back. I tried to explain this several times but was told to shut up or I'd also be charged with disorderly conduct. All's well that ends well I guess.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I suppose but your story confirms my concerns that you/we are guilty until proven innocent even though as you said you left it in the truck to avoid the apperance of evil. Very glad it worked out for you.
I hope someone has a talk with the zelot.

[enfield303t]

Here in Canada we are also noticing people who carry a badge having a "we know everything and you know nothing attitude", the problem is it can cost a person a bucket of money to prove they are innocent.

Gone are the days of hiring people with common sense as todays hirees have been nurtured in a enviroment of left wing politics and the belief they are always right and never do anything wrong.

Your story is so typical and I am glad to hear all ended well...problem is the "game warden" won't get his butt bored and he should.

[Aragorn243]

I'm glad it worked out for you. That is just plain bizarre. Why is it illegal to have the pistol beside you? And what jurisdiction would he have on that? That sounds like a police matter, not a conservation matter.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

George Orwell, the new Nostradomis.

[WarPig1976]

Good, at least now your time and money won't be wasted. It's still a disgrace...