I created an account just to respond to this post. If one is to post in a public forum to stir up a public response, I feel it is beneficial to include all the facts before assumptions are made. For example, a bit of information which was left out of this post includes: a doe dumped at the gate on the land owner’s property which had corn spilling out of the guts. Also, the hunter’s “ area” was not disturbed as he was checked in a shooting house close to his truck and had just arrived at the stand, nor was his son checked that afternoon as I did not wish to disturb the hunt any further on the last day. I gave the benefit of the doubt and probably shouldn’t have and went ahead and checked the entire area. I always attempt to be professional and courteous. Also, I am a hunter and put people’s hunt into consideration before checking them, but the reality is, game wardens can’t always work back at the truck.
Thanks for taking time to post; good to hear the story from your perspective.
The GWs in my county have always been courteous and respectful. What I have seen them do if they got a report of an area being baited was to examine the area when no hunters were around. If they found bait, they would give a ticket to anyone who later showed up to hunt. I have found bait in the woods before and reported it, and this is the way it was handled. Is there a SOP similar to this when bait is reported or suspected in an area?
We've seen several posts here this season of GWs walking in on hunters on a stand and asking them if they had out bait. I've never experienced that myself. Has department policy changed, or are all of these cases where we just don't know the whole story and there is strong suspicion something illegal is going on?
