Late in the season I went into an area to hunt but since I saw no other cars there I decided to scout as much as I could before the weekend crowd came in. I parked on a road that ran north to south and I walked big loop around this public land and came out at a gate that was about a 1/4 south of where I originally parked. I planned on just walking the dirt road straight up to my car when I was done. When I made it to the gate I noticed there was a couple bags of corn in pile right at the gate. Now I’ve seen corn piles out in the woods before but this was first for me. I can’t say I usually report stuff like this but I thought maybe the local game warden would at least like to know it’s out there. I was somewhat curious if the game warden would be receptive to legal hunters looking out or if they would be a bunch jerks.

I called a number I found online and told the operator, “look there is a bunch of corn at the gate, doesn’t really look like it could even be used as a bait pile but just wanted to let y’all know it out there.” She asked for me to leave my number in case the game warden had any questions so I abliged.

On my way home I get a call from a game warden, he said his name pretty fast so I didn’t catch his title, name or county very well. He introduced himself and asked if I found a bait pile. I told him I found a pile of corn by a gate and thought it was odd so I just wanted to let him know. He asked if I could tell him where it was. He asked a bunch of obscure questions that made it seem like he wasn’t a game warden from the area as he was clueless to the area and such. I told him if he got out a map I could call out the roads and directions so that he’d know exactly where it was.

This particular area is closed for a part of the year and just opened the same day I was out there. He asked me what I was doing out there and since the question seemed harmless I told him well I planned on climbing a tree and hunting but I ended up doing more walking around than anything. His tone got aggressive and he said, “well we’re you hunting or were you scouting.” I told him I was hunting. He followed this up with another aggressive tones question. He said, “did you have your permit on you.” I let out a slight chuckle, he didn’t like that. I told him yessir I had all my paperwork legal, I told him I didn’t mean to chuckle but why would I call and report something that may or may not be illegal if I didn’t have all my ducks in a row. He then asked if I was hunting behind the gate. Why was I behind the gate? Again it seemed like he didn’t know the area so I explained that I didn’t go in at the gate and the area just opened up today yada yada yada. It started to tick me off that he was questioning me like I was the one that did it, when I was just trying to look out for other legal hunting that may park there to walk in in the morning while it’s still dark so they don’t get hassled for something they didn’t do.

So after I explain where I was hunting and have him pull up the permit and explain to him and show him the area and that I was all legal he changed his tone again.

Out of no where he says In a jackass tone , “my name is so and so from so and so County fish and game, this is my area and I actually found that corn Tuesday and told someone to clean it up but they hadn’t yet. He said there ain’t a single warden in the state of Alabama that would think that’s any kind of baiting nor would they be writing a ticket or fine to anyone tonight. At that point I was shocked at how rude the dude was so I just told him I just reported it so y’all would know about it and didn’t figure they would be writing and ticket because they don’t have anyone and hung up. I couldn’t believe it, I thought they would like to know about this stuff but they couldNT care less

Maybe he didn’t want To deal with it or maybe he was just having a bad day. In my mind they are there to protect the fish and game that legal hunters and fisherman get to enjoy. I realize he didn’t view it as baiting and I didn’t really either I was just letting him know it was there; however, he could have told me that at the beginning and saved us both 15 minutes of our time instead of acting like he didn’t know anything to try and “catch” me or whatever he was doing. Guess I won’t be reporting any of the real outlaws from here on out. Waste of time and they don’t care. Well at least this one dude doesn’t.

Also there was two used condoms and a pilll bottle by the gate on the other side so who knows what kind of fun someone was having out there.

Maybe it was his used rubbers and pill bottle

As soon as he started to question me with an attitude, I would have told him this conversation is over and hung up on him.

I reported some in chilton this year and the one I talked with was very nice and helpful.

Post his number so we can all call him to report stuff

This is the way.

It takes long enough to get them on the phone, it's a shame your interaction went like that. The one Ive dealt with was attentive and helpful and not a jerk at all. I was very nervous that my interaction was going to go about like how yours did before I called.

No way it was a bait pile!!!! You should have known that, come on man. I guess threre is no way somebody's bag of corn ripped becore they got to the bait/planned bait spot. Sounds like he knew who it was and didnt care or just generally didnt care who it was. Maybe the crows dropped it.

Some friends of mine were hunting on some public land and witnessed some guys get out of a boat, walk off of public land onto private land, set up shop on a small private land beaver pond and start blasting ducks on the roost 2 hours before daylight. They reported this to a warden and the warden straight up told them "Well they would probably be gone by the time I got there". I would have thought that would've warranted some serious action, because ducks are federal.

Oh well. I guess there's folks in all professions who don't give a rip about their job.

Sounds like it was the GWs corn and he had dropped the bags off to go bait his spot in the public woods and the bags broke. He didn't think anyone would see it as it had been a closed gate in a closed area.
And he was mad you found it and called it in.

Was this on wheeler by chance? I saw a corn pile by the gate on wheeler yesterday

I’ll ask this. Was it a bait pile or where a grain buggy spilled unloading onto a truck? If At certain gates on wheeler it could be a spill over pile. Farming operations go on on most gates. Just curious

You have more patience than I do.

This was a while back but yea all I can say is don’t waste your time reporting it.

Not at this gate I don’t think so there aren’t any corn fields around this particular area. Also, whether it’s a bait pile or not idk I think it depends on how the person perceives it. I was just like, “hey there’s a bunch of corn over here In case you want to know.” I mainly didn’t want someone else to get busted by not seeing it the morning because guys do park at that gate and go in there.

I’m no expert but it looked more like clean bag corn then fresh corn that had been loaded recently. Aren’t there more twigs and leaves in it when they first harvest it or is that not true?

Regardless, the game warden was a jerk and I didn’t appreciate it. It was a simple thing to report. Part of me did It in a attempt to see how they would respond For future calls like this. I guess I got my answer.

The conversation shoulda gone like this.
Me: hey I found a pile of corn over by this gate. I just wanted to let you know.
GW: yea I found that the other day, it wouldn’t be considered baiting to me but we appreciate you letting us know. I have someone coming to clean it up. Thanks.

Or....
GW: yea that’s pretty normal for this time of year with the farmers harvesting corn or whatever, but good looking out...
Me: I completely understand. thank you.

If combine is set right it’ll be pretty damn clean. And there is some areas of refuge and management areas that are a delayed harvest for wildlife use

I didn’t even think about that 257