Regs test

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

See your painting them in a negative light. We all whine that they are not doing enough to catch poachers yet when the investigate something we are all to ready to jump on them for being thorough. They were just making sure everything was legit. They weren't trying to make you slip up that can only happen if you weren't forthright right?

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I wouldn't say that I was painting them in a negative light. As I said in the post above, I could understand his position and they have to find a way to do their job. But... until you've been grilled at the side of the road for 10 minutes, basically asked the same question a dozen different ways, you might not understand how uncomfortable it is. You also have to understand that they're just a person doing a job, not some back-woods vigilante bringing poachers to justice. Well, some people just aren't nice people and some people don't like their jobs very much. That's reality.

I went through school in the mid 90's with the intention of becoming a CO but eventually my career path led a different way. Believe me, some of the folks that went through the program were not people you would want to run into if they eventually became one. Some were borderline anti's with visions of saving the world's animals. A few were just jerks on a power trip and couldn't wait to get out there and ruin someone's day. Most of them were good people though. One of my best friends and my old college roommate is a CO today. I keep in touch with him regularly and often ask his advice on certain situations. The biggest thing I've learned from him is that you just never know when or where they will be watching.

I don't think negatively of them at all really, I'd just rather not run into them personally while in the field. Anyone that says they enjoy it hasn't ran into too many or they've dealt with the same one every time.

Been there done that. Have been checked over the years more times than I can count from while trolling for salmon on Lake O to back lake duck hunting. Even been cited for not immediately picking up a duck. All and all part of being out there. I for one love seeing them out there and don't mind being checked. I appreciated seeing them out there. I can only imagine how hard their job is considering that even people in the clear don't want to see them.

Personally , I have know 9 C.O.'s out of those there was only one that seemed to have the attitude that if you are out with a gun of any sort you must be doing something wrong and he would try to trip you up constantly and he sure didn't like it when you proved him wrong even with something simple as to what road or whose property he was on.
If he caught you out fishing , he would always ask "where are the other fish " , he was a regular pain in the ---.
All the others were/are great guys to deal with, there was only the one who has fortunately retired and made many honest hunters and fishermen/women happy.

Being a very tenacious investigator is one thing,but,being a peckerhead never got anyone extra pay. I know from personal experience because I've seen some dillies. Skilled investigators know how to ask questions and make leading conversation which get subjects to make statements they can use either for immediate action or to file for future reference while gathering intel. Most can accomplish this and the subject doesn't even realize what they said. These are the people that have brilliant carreers in law enforcement with a high degree of personal integrity,prestige and self reward.
Then,there's the type like several posters have described,complete village idiots with the personalities of the south end of a northbound horse. When confronted by people like that,I always give terse yes or no answers,offer zero information and cut them off when it becomes evident that they're merely on fishing expeditions. They can do their jobs,but,I'll be damned if I'll hand it to them on a silver platter.

Never had a bad experience myself and hope it stays that way. I have a lot of respect for the COs I have encountered and they have always shown me the same.

My biggest complaint about MNR enforcement training was that they never taught officers how to do a proper field interview. It was on the job training. Some of the least respected officers were those that didn't hunt, fish or take part in any outdoor activities.

Don't think I've encountered a CO in the field in over a decade. I suppose it makes a big difference what you're hunting/fishing for, when, and where.

A while ago my buddy and I were fishing below the Belwood dam for brown trout just after the trout opener. Buddy was using a worm and a float and I was using a #2 bronze mepps ( seems reasonable ). I managed to hook and land 4 pike that were quickly released without even being removed from the river using my pliers .
After the 4th was released there was a voice from the hill above ( if u know the dam u know where I am talking about.) It was a game warden with a beautiful husky calling my buddy and I up. He informed me he believed I was fishing pike out of season and he was going to write me a ticket. He was the nicest guy in the world but I couldnt convice him I was really after trout and the pike were just getting in the way.lol.
He saw that the fish were carefully released without me ever touching them but I still got the ticket for 79. $ if I remember correctly. So I opted to fight the ticket in court. D day came and the CO took the stand first and presented his side of the events ( they were all true) and then it was my turn. I was representing myself and I came prepared with lures I would use if I was targeting pike, 5 in rapalas, #5 mepps ect. I also brought pictures from previous fishing trips for trout and pike with the various lures I was using at those times.

Well , the JP found my side of the story credible and dismissed the charges and as we were leaving the courtroom the CO came over shook my hand and said " well done " and admitted he wasn't much of a fisherman and proceeded to apologize.
His name is Denny Novak , a true gentleman just doing his job an I never had any hard feelings toward him whatsoever. This took place 28 years ago when I was 17.

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Originally Posted by welsh

Don't think I've encountered a CO in the field in over a decade. I suppose it makes a big difference what you're hunting/fishing for, when, and where.

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You never ran into them at Hullet? Don't know if its an area legend but heard of a guy that got nipped for crossing one of those gravel dead end roads with a loaded gun was following his dog that was trailing a pheasant.

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Originally Posted by Hunter John

A while ago my buddy and I were fishing below the Belwood dam for brown trout just after the trout opener. Buddy was using a worm and a float and I was using a #2 bronze mepps ( seems reasonable ). I managed to hook and land 4 pike that were quickly released without even being removed from the river using my pliers .
After the 4th was released there was a voice from the hill above ( if u know the dam u know where I am talking about.) It was a game warden with a beautiful husky calling my buddy and I up. He informed me he believed I was fishing pike out of season and he was going to write me a ticket. He was the nicest guy in the world but I couldnt convice him I was really after trout and the pike were just getting in the way.lol.
He saw that the fish were carefully released without me ever touching them but I still got the ticket for 79. $ if I remember correctly. So I opted to fight the ticket in court. D day came and the CO took the stand first and presented his side of the events ( they were all true) and then it was my turn. I was representing myself and I came prepared with lures I would use if I was targeting pike, 5 in rapalas, #5 mepps ect. I also brought pictures from previous fishing trips for trout and pike with the various lures I was using at those times.

Well , the JP found my side of the story credible and dismissed the charges and as we were leaving the courtroom the CO came over shook my hand and said " well done " and admitted he wasn't much of a fisherman and proceeded to apologize.
His name is Denny Novak , a true gentleman just doing his job an I never had any hard feelings toward him whatsoever. This took place 28 years ago when I was 17.

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Great post HJ...