So, after getting skunked at Spot #2 I’m standing by my truck unloading my Benelli, thinking of heading back over to Spot #1….when a County Sherriff starts to roll up, then speeds up and barks his siren and hit’s his lights. I got the last shell out at about this time and he comes out of the vehicle telling me to drop the gun. Right, my new Ultra Light, in the dirt? Not a chance. I gently put it on top of the case in the cab and he starts to come over with hand on gun and the thumb brake open. I put up my hands and take a step away from my truck and freeze.
He asks “what are YOU doing HERE.

I’m wearing an orange vest, hat and upland pants. I felt like saying “dirt surfing” or something smart but told him I was quail hunting. He told me this is not allowed. We are miles from anywhere, no fences or postings and on public land. I ask him for a map showing property lines and boundaries. He has none. I told him this is public land and I’m pretty darn sure hunting is allowed here, like it has been since the opener. He asks where I’m coming from and tell him south of here, ‘bout 100 miles. He says it isn’t open to hunt and “you need to go south”.

Hmmm…ok, Spot #1 is south…so I head on over there. I’m taking a break and waiting for my little grey friends to come home for an afternoon drink and to roost. I hear a couple of calls and start to get ready. We cross paths again and he tells me there is no hunting ANYWHERE around here. We are talking 100 sq, miles. I’ve never seen him before and this spot’s been hunted for decades. So, with spending the weekend in jail and, losing my new firearm as a distinct possibility I pack up and head home, bird less, after getting his number and all that jazz.

I make some calls when I get in and at the station they were not too sure what all the drama is about. Then they tell me there’s another number I can call for updated info and maps regarding public lands and so on. I also let them know I don’t appreciate getting told where I can’t hunt when they can’t tell me “why” or where I can. A general “leave or else” is pretty poor public relations at the very least. The gal at the station was super nice and we chatted it up and I kept things light. I’m going to follow up on this with their supervisor come Monday. Bigtime.

So, in order to find some comfort in an otherwise pretty crummy turkey day I did what any other disheveled hunter would do.

I went shopping for and, ordered up some goodies for my 20ga. Trap gun at Brownell’s. Joy! I love Brownell's..

Anything like this ever happen to you?

Maybe the guy is planning to hunt the same spot the next few days and dont want you to scare all the game away.

Or maybe you looked too hungry and have high chance of doing no good..


But seriously abuses of power happening everywhere, especially away from witnesses.

I once pulled over on the side of a country road to take a picture of a stream there and some "auxiliary deputy" stopped and gave me a bunch of grief about "trespassing". I pointed out that I was on the right of way of a public road but left. I realized long ago that a badge doesn't necessarily mean they know diddly about the laws. I've wondered if I had stopped too close to a still or pot field that time.

I hate it when that happens.

My brother is a retired federal agent with thirty years service and can tell lots of stories about law enforcement folks that do not know the law. Unfortunately, some of them watched too many Rambo movies. Take care...
Joe

Tread lightly Stovey...right or wrong, an officious a**hole can cause you a lot of grief if he wants.

From your post, I get the impression he didn't ask for you ID...that could be a bonus...he won't know who you are or where you live. From my experience, lawmen will very quickly close ranks and support one another, especially if they feel one of their own has been reported. They don't get mad mate...they get even.

Cheers, Vince

I would have some fun with it as long as it turns out he was in the wrong !!!

Vince is right though......I wouldn't go back there hunting unless I was riding with someone else.

Morning Bushy !!!

Good morning Bushy, Hope you and yours had a nice Thanksgiving day.
Mrs. 221

Yup...been busted again....she keeps sneaking in and looking over my shoulder !!!

Good point, Vince. That's why I tucked tail.
He did not get my ID but, wrote down my plate number. The lad could not have been more than 21. Rambo Jr. maybe? Most cops don't see me the "threat" type...when he thumbed the brake I was like "oh sh...." Then my brain said to my hand "dood, yer not carrying and we're in the middle of boonyville...." Kinda glad I wasnt for a couple reasons.

And, the reason I asked him for a map was most of this land in not in his county and it aint posted nor maintained. I did some checking and Spot #1 aint in his county.

Monday that county sherrif is getting a call.We'll get to the bottom of it and I'll be wearing my "hi-road hat" for sure, esp. since they have my plate #. More flies with honey and all that, plus, I was hunting and I also don't want to cast the rest of us in a "fly off the handle cuz you violated my rights!" sort of light. Esp. if there are some changes that came down that I don't know about.

Meanwhile it's a big desert so....there's other spots. Know of two south of there and me and two of my PD pals and going out Tuesday. But I really just got the feel for these other two spots and they produce! Grrrr!

Speakin' of grumpy... Morning Bushy, coffees ready!

Sounds like it's time to find some GPS coordinates, a good Game warden, and a couple elected officials that like to hunt for an outing. Don't forget to invite "Sparky" and give him a good spanking. Teach him some humility.

We had a Department of Natural Resources official that decided to lock the gates to a favorite local duck slough so his buddies could have it to themselves. They under estimated how many locals used the area.... big mistake. After countless pictures and video of State trucks escorting civilian vehicles with duck boats the problem was taken care of, and a DNR job was open.

DFG wardens? There's like 4 for the whole state. Arnie is cutting back on services so....
And DFG set's the rules but local authorities enforce PP issues. Posted or not. They's got the sidearm and aint afraid to use it! I'm darn good with a pistol but, doubt I'll beat that wrap if I outdraw one and say "just kidding!"

Just got off the phone with the senior Sherrif. He gave me the dope and it appears most of the valley where I was is PP, unposted and unfenced. Lot's of new out of town land owners just gobbled a bunch of it up and fail to post or fence the stuff! They were patroling and booting everyone as it was a long weekend. So now I don't feel that special anymore.
They're also working with a bordering county and both are cooperating and overlapping they're patrols as it's remote, unincorperated and sparsely covered in that regard. I told him I was not on his county land and he reiterated the overlap and coop thingy. He also has no PP maps or legal hunt area info. Nice.

I asked him about two other sorta specific'ish spots I like to hunt and he said no sweat, won't see him there so.... and to carry proof that the land I'm on is unincoperated. Jeez...
He was very nice and a bird hunter as well. And he wasn't giving up any of his honey holes dagnabbit!

So- I'm researching other area's and looks like I'm going to be finding other places to hunt next year. Got my eye on some other places I frequented a couple decades ago so all is not lost... and, am going out tomorrow to a state and QU managed area that I know has birds with my two cop bud's...it's about 90 min's farther down the road but I know the boundaries there and since these two only got one hunt this season and this is it I don't need to go to iffy spots with them in tow glassing stuff and learning new boundaries.... Jeez- the things we gotta go through in LaLa land to get some feathers!

But- there's birds. They're holding tight in the thorns and salt bush, but.... they're THERE......... chi_CA-go! + *BOOM* = Dinner!

Still sounds like Wyatt Earp needs some social skills training.

Yea....what up with that ??? Ya think Barney could have told ya all that !!!!

I keep maps of the area that list public areas, which can be had from county offices. Saves me grief when people say I cannot hunt.

However over all the Police here is supportive of hunting and firearm ownership, they will generally back up the hunters right to hunt (if not trespassing) when people make complaints.

Dimitri