http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_27095923/minnesota-hunter-stripped-elk-reality-tv-camera-rolled
Technically broke the law but I do feel bad for the guy.
Technically broke the law but I do feel bad for the guy.
Hunter stripped of his elk
- Thread starter NVBird'n'Big
- Start date
mnhoundman
Veteran member
Yeah, that's rediculous. 21 minutes! Takes that long to get to you're critter! Shouldn't you go find it first before you fill out your tag?
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Retterath
Veteran member
Rules are rules but I think the warden could have treated that a little different. Like that guy said he had no intent of leaving the scene and just getting to the animal. I feel for that guy.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I think this is pure BS. Just writing a citation for the sake of TV show. I know, I know they said the cameraman was just a fly on the wall. But are they saying the warden didn't know he was there!
RICMIC
Veteran member
You've got to be kidding me. There clearly was no intent do do anything else but tag that elk. What a crock. I spent 30 years as a cop, and I don't believe that I was ever that unfair with anyone. Wardens get lied to on a regular basis, but these guys were up front from the get-go. If other states out west have similar rules, then I have likely committed the same violation numerous times.
Musket Man
Veteran member
Another reason not to hunt in MT. The guy had his tag punched before the warden even got there. Its not like he didnt intend to tag the animal. Sounds like a show because there was a camera crew there to me. If you hit at an animal and its not DRT and you give it some time before you go to track it are you supposed to punch your tag before you go or even find blood? What if your not sure if you hit it or not and you decide to give it some time before you go look. Are you supposed to punch your tag right after you shoot? Suppose you punch your tag and then realize you missed clean, then what? It has probabaly taken me over 20 minutes to tag alot of animals I have killed due to giving them time, or them going DRT and going back to my truck or 4wheeler and unloading things I wouldnt need to pack them out before I actually went up to the animal, or just plain being so dang excited punching the tag wasnt the first thing that crossed my mind! I understand that there are laws and they should be followed but this it taking it to far. The guy paid nearly $1000 for a tag and traveled through several states to hunt and then gets his elk taken away because he punched his tag 20 minutes after his elk hit the ground. Its not right!
Elkhunter96
Active Member
That's what makes FWP look like bad guys. As stated, the intent to take care of the animal was there. He even had it tagged by the time the warden showed up. What a joke. Montana should be embarrassed.
mnhoundman
Veteran member
Iron Mike
Active Member
Topgun 30-06
Banned
I was also in a LE type job with the state of MI for over 30 years and I have never seen an injustice as bad as on that show. The guy should get a free elk tag of his choosing and the GW that issued that citation should have to pack the animal out for him!!! I've heard a guy on another website say he knows that GW well and he's sure it was done strictly for that show and never would have even been looked at if not for that fact.
bdan68
Active Member
That is just ridiculous. The Montana game warden is 100% in the wrong. No doubt about it. He DID tag the elk! So what if it doesn't fit the warden's definition of immediately? I'd say the state owes him at least a replacement tag for next year. What a bunch of BS!
Don K
Very Active Member
Why not write him a ticket for not tagging the animal and letting him pay a small fine? Taking the animal for something like that is crazy
stevevan
Active Member
Absolutely ridiculus. There was absolutely no intent by the hunter to save his tag for a second animal. There needs to be some common sense and officer discretion by the warden. Is this how the American Sportsman wants to be treated? Shame on you Warden and Montana. These type of actions are the reason why Wardens and LE get a bad reputation. In this case deservibly so!!!!!
Don K
Very Active Member
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
Yep, he got to keep the antlers. After spending $2,000.00 on the trip. Not to mention the trip back to Montana to go to court.
Now, everytime he looks at that mounted set of horns he'll think of the horrible time he had. And, if I read those 2 articles correctly, he says he'll never buy a license again.
What a shame. You can't tell me that having that camera on you doesn't make a warden feel like he has to write citations. I watched that show a time or two, and you can see how trivial some of these charges are. Way to go warden, you lost 2 non-resident hunter's dollars there...and probably everyone they know or talk to about this incident.
I had a Wyoming warden on horseback threaten to give me a "failure to tag" citation many years ago in western Wyoming. I had just shot a bull and it managed to fall in the middle of a river on a gravel bar. I was pulling on my waders to get to the bull when he aproached me. He asked if I had punched my tag, I said that I usually find out if the elk is dead before I do that. He got a little PO'd about that crack, but let me off with a verbal warning. That's what that Montana warden should have done, and probably would have done, had there not been a cameraman recording him.
Now, everytime he looks at that mounted set of horns he'll think of the horrible time he had. And, if I read those 2 articles correctly, he says he'll never buy a license again.
What a shame. You can't tell me that having that camera on you doesn't make a warden feel like he has to write citations. I watched that show a time or two, and you can see how trivial some of these charges are. Way to go warden, you lost 2 non-resident hunter's dollars there...and probably everyone they know or talk to about this incident.
I had a Wyoming warden on horseback threaten to give me a "failure to tag" citation many years ago in western Wyoming. I had just shot a bull and it managed to fall in the middle of a river on a gravel bar. I was pulling on my waders to get to the bull when he aproached me. He asked if I had punched my tag, I said that I usually find out if the elk is dead before I do that. He got a little PO'd about that crack, but let me off with a verbal warning. That's what that Montana warden should have done, and probably would have done, had there not been a cameraman recording him.
kiddwinner
Active Member
micropterus79
Active Member
I'm not even sure law enforcment reality shows should be allowed in general. We can witness the same crap on COPS (albeit there are actual, real dirt bags on COPS that get busted not law abiding elk hunters). At any rate, it breaches the boundary between what is entertainment, what is private, and what is doing the right thing versus the entertaining thing. Like others, I feel for these guys and I think the tag holder should be reimbursed for the cost of his tag at the very least.
Hilltop
Veteran member
I believe the intent of this law is good. None of us were there to see what actually took place but it sure sounds like the warden was just looking for any excuse to issue a citation on camera. The intent of the law is to protect wildlife so it is a good law. However, if the interpretation by the game warden strays from protecting wildlife to harassing well meaning hunters, then the law needs clarification. Wardens should understand the intent of a law before being able to enforce it. I think especially important in this case was that the hunter did tag the elk and he didn't show any intention to continue hunting. I would be very interested to see the video of this incident but I'm guessing we won't due it being controversial.