Hunter stripped of his elk

[Jim-MN-ELK]

WapitiBob- You have no idea the self control I mustered up on that day. What really gets me is... when I saw two guys approaching me, one yelled out "game warden". I waved (like come on over in a welcoming manner) back to them and said come on. I asked "Are you guys here to help me? (Warren had already walked off to get his tractor) One of them laughed. When they got to the 20 feet of open water that separated us the warden said "you know I'm going to be out here all day. It's early and it's cold. I really don't want to get wet right now... will you bring me your tag?" I was already wet to my belt so I said sure. Cut the tag from the frost covered left antler and waded over to him. It was then my wonderful hunt/week with my brother came to a screeching hault.

 

[Musket Man]

Welcome to the forum Jim!!!

 

[Alabama]

Hello everyone. I'm the new guy here, Jim Latvala the one who had his elk confiscated in MT. . I'll use this comment from Topgun 30-06 for my first post on this site. In about one week after the Billings Gazette ran our story about this, it spread like a wild fire in a hot wind. Other newspapers including Butte, Livingston, Missoula, Helena... Fargo, St Paul Pioneer Press, and the Duluth News Tribune all ran the story. Soon Outdoor News will run it as well. Possibly other papers have ran the story, I don't know. The overwhelming response to this incident has taken me by total surprise... and I can't say I like being the "poster boy" for this. I would have much better enjoyed my quite life here next to Lake Superior making hamburger and sausage from my bull.
I have followed all the remarks posted in the papers and on Face Book which are at least 90% in favor of changing the MT law, getting Reality TV out of Warden's pick-ups and defining in the Montana Hunting Regulations just what "Immediately" is. My brother Warren is a long time resident of MT and my early childhood was in Great Falls. In 2015 Warren will introduce a bill to the MT State Senate and then the House to accomplish the above goals. If anyone has any pertinent information to move this goal through the Senate and the House your input would be appreciated.

Welcome aboard Jim-MN-ELK, I feel that you got the short end of the stick because of the cameras. Most people involved in the outdoors have something that is in short supply in the rest of America: common sense. Unfortunately for you, they wanted good ratings for their show and you were the victim. The law needs to be written exactly because of this lack of common sense. I applaud you for taking this step so others don't have to go through this as well.

 

[mnhoundman]

Welcome Jim! I think you got the shaft on this deal. What a crock, what does immediately actually mean? Shoot the animal, chuck your weapon, fill out you tag? Shouldn't you find your animal first? Of course! I think he felt more powerful with the crew being there!

 

[Alabama]

Welcome aboard Jim. I'm sure you would rather be known for taking that nice bull elk than all the stuff that followed. Hopefully you'll be successful in getting a regulation change so that at least something positive can come from this.

I hope that not all wardens will be harshly judged by this. Most do a fine job and even the one that you dealt with may make good decisions most of the time and will learn from his mistakes. He should be held accountable for his decisions, both good and bad, as we all should be. I've watched the T.V show of the montana wardens and it looks like they have some very fine wardens there too.

I've had great experiences with multiple wardens over the years. Only one bad one. The bad one was an experience on a lake close to my home, where 3 friends and I were alligator hunting. They came over to check us when it was obvious that we were closing in on 1, needless to say we never saw him again. He then proceeded to check us again a couple hours later and then he approached us the 3rd time later that night. My friend was recording the 3rd time and asked the warden why he was harassing us by checking us for the 3rd time in 1 night. He denied ever checking us before that because he knew we were recording it. He didn't mess with us after that. I know this guy personally and he is just an a$$. He looks for any little thing just to harass hunters and fishermen. He has constant complaints but somehow still has a job. The rest of the wardens here enforce the laws but are good, genuine people that want people to enjoy themselves in the outdoors in a safe and ethical manner.

One of my best experiences was on my 2nd trip to Nebraska. I was hunting public land with a friend. When were headed back to the truck, a warden pulled up and asked to see our licenses. I handed him my license and he told me it was not valid. My heart sank, I thought I must have accidentally bought the wrong unit or something. To my relief he handed me the license and a pen and told me to sign it. It was an honest mistake and I could have been issued a citation and probably lost my license. But the officer had compassion for an oversite. I am truly grateful for his mercy.

 

[WapitiBob]

Wyoming wardens are top notch.

 

[Jim-MN-ELK]

Thanks Don K. I offered to pay the $135.00 fine. Answer- Nope! I have a job to do, I'm taking your bull.

 

[shootbrownelk]

Thanks Don K. I offered to pay the $135.00 fine. Answer- Nope! I have a job to do, I'm taking your bull.

Jim, The warden had a job to do, looking like a tough, by the book Game Warden for the Camera! My thoughts are that he's more of a minor celebrity/TV star than he is a Montana Game Warden with common sense. Glad to hear that you're in this for the long haul Jim. Good luck to you, and welcome to the forum.

 

[Don K]

Wyoming wardens are top notch.

Was there last year and had a warden stop in camp and visit. He was very impressed I had took my son out of school to be with me Elk hunting he had me take maps out and show some locations to go. Spent about 30 minutes with me chatting and went on his way. Made a great impression on me and my son.

Jim,
This whole debacle does have some good things about it. First, it looks like your brother is trying to get the law changed to make it better to understand and work with a downed animal. The other thing is I bet everyone that has read this in all the publications is going to be really thinking when they get upon their animal. I bet lots of them tag it "immediately" even if they don't have to or the state they are hunting doesn't require it. Just trying to show there is "something" positive that will end up out of this

 

[JMBC]

Jim, sounds like a terrible experience. Sorry it went that way. I would of sure melted down.
Also will say wyoming wardens are the best. Haven't met one that doesn't seem to just want to help ya. Im from sw missouri and believe me these are some of the worst. Arrogant and will only look for anything you could've done wrong.
Btw ive been in your area where you live and its beautiful. I could do without the bugs tho.
Thanks for getting on here

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

My thinking, separate from the issue at hand, is that Fish & Game issues and TV productions just don't mix well and don't belong together. Case in point, look at the crappola that is shown on the reality show about the California department. They come off like the Nazi's of game departments. The publicity and tv exposure seems to give the wardens license to do some pretty absurd things!

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I'll also second the comments the guys have made about the Wyoming GWs. I've been out there most years since the late 90s and they are the best! The GWs here in MI need to take lessons from them!

 

[Musket Man]

The WY warden I met last year was a really decent guy too. I didnt know he was a game warden at first, there was somuch mud on his truck that I couldnt see anything on the door to identify him as a game warden and he wasnt wearing anything that said so either. I had a whole field dressed antelope over my shoulders that had been there for most of a mile and I just wanted to get the last 100 yards back to my truck with him. He offered to help drag him but I told him I made it this far and thought I could make it the rest of the way. At first I thought he was someone looking for a place to hunt and I wasnt giving out much info, finally when I got the antelope on my tailgate he said "Im the game warden" I told him "that explains alot of things about the questions your asking!" I had my tag notched out but I didnt have a pen with me and hadnt filled in the rest. I was a bit worried because my tag wasnt completely filled out but he never said anything about, signed my tag and told me congrats on my antelope! I would enjoy meeting him again on another hunt out there!

 

[Topgun 30-06]

The only time I ever had an even remote situation with a GW in Wyoming is quite a few years ago and I know that Warden quite well now. I had shot a cow elk and while I was skinning/dressing one side my friend was doing the other side. We came together at the hindquarters and we had both neglected to leave the udder attached for proof of sex. I had my empty ziplock bag from my sandwich and put the udder in it for transport back to the truck. The GW just happened by and right away pointed out that I had violated the law by not leaving evidence of sex on the carcass, but when I told him what happened and showed him the udder in the baggy he just chuckled and told me to follow the law from then on. It wasn't too many years after that when the G&F dropped that requirement and now what I did is legal.

 

[WapitiBob]

Had 3 of them at the check station this year. They didn't even want to look at our game or compare tags to animals.

 

[CrossCreeks]

Game Wardens have a tough job but they also have "discretion" and the warden should have used it in this case. This sucks and I really feel for the guy. I would be bitter also !

 

[CrossCreeks]

Also I have got to agree, The Wardens in Wyoming seem to be some of the best !. From all the dealings I have had with them ( all legal) they have always been respectful and helpful and seemed firm but fair ! Keep it up Wy. Wardens !

 

[HuskyMusky]

That's BS! plain and simple!

give him a fine, but take his elk?

I'd get a lawyer for sure! if anything claim you were in the process of tagging it...

Honestly people wonder why cops/game wardens are hated?

Treat each other with a little respect and this kind of BS wouldn't have to happen.


Bet that elk ends up in that game warden's garage/house...

don't get me started... lol.

 

[Winchester]

Yeah, I can't believe they took this guy’s elk. That doesn't pass the common sense test. Fortunately, as many have said here, not all game wardens are that way. I was checked by warden this year and she was very nice about it ... no problems at all.

 

[shootbrownelk]

That's BS! plain and simple!

give him a fine, but take his elk?

I'd get a lawyer for sure! if anything claim you were in the process of tagging it...

Honestly people wonder why cops/game wardens are hated?

Treat each other with a little respect and this kind of BS wouldn't have to happen.


Bet that elk ends up in that game warden's garage/house...

don't get me started... lol.

I don't think that elk ended up anywhere but the landfill, the hunter, Jim stated he saw the elk in the back of the wardens truck quite a few hours after he confiscated it. It was warm too. It was probably spoiled.