F&G Dollars At Work...

Long winded but bare with me.

I got a buddy into bird hunting 4 years ago. He had just graduated college out of state and returned to Idaho. Buys a non-resident license his first year back and a resident license thereafter. 6 months ago a fish cop basically bangs down his parents door at 7pm on a Saturday looking for him.

His dad says,"He hasn't lived here for 8 years, here's his cell."

Fish cops calls my buddy at 8pm at work, is a complete ##### and says he has important issues to discuss. My buddy says "If it's that important come by my work." Fish cop shows up at his office at 10:00pm on a Saturday.

Charges him with 1 misdemeanor for buying a resident hunting license despite still having a valid out of state driver's license. Understandable, as I'm sure people try to pull that card often.

My buddy was more than cool and offered to present mail and tax information to him at the door for proof he was a resident. He had not renewed his Idaho driver's license yet. At the pre-trial, the prosecutor increases it to 3 separate charges. A maximum punishment of $420 in restitution, a $1200 fine, 30 days in jail and 100 hours of community service. He gets a lawyer.

2 court dates and 6 months later, where the fish cop was required to show up with the fish and game's attorney both times, the judge dismissed all 3 charges. I actually showed up to watch this play out. My buddy provided his taxes/mail and had them call his boss to verify residency.

Quote from the judge, "He's obviously a resident and your fish and game representative vendor, Sportsman's Warehouse, did not catch the mistake. These charges seem excessive and the charges are dismissed."

In conclusion, I felt a tiny bit responsible but the punishment seemed absurd. I'm all for people following the regulations to the T, 100% of the time. I just felt that the fish cop's effort/time and his attorney's effort/time were a complete waste of labor hours.

Yet we can't get a fu***** fish cop out in unit 32 for one day to write some ATV tickets. Rant over...

We Can't get anybody to do anything about Illegal Wheelers here in TARDville!











[font color="blue"]She put a Big F.U. in My Future,Ya She's got a
way with Words[/font]

6 month waiting period is a scam. You move to a state you lose your ability to be a "resident" for 6 months! You can't buy a "resident " hunt/fish license but you are require to register your vehicle change your drivers license and pay state income tax if you're working. SCAMMERS!

That's a rough deal on many levels.

As far as enforcing the illegal OHV use, I have had good experiences with Idaho F&G. In southeast Idaho the blatant illegal OHV use is damn frustrating. Ironically per elkassasinin's comment, most of the violators are non-residents from Utah. After cooling down from a blown hunt, typically I contact F&G with locations, times and pics of their tag #'s next to my GPS. This year after contacting them, they were in there as requested a few days later (I got checked on the way in with my ATV). Of course when I came out a couple days later, an Idahoan and Utahn had bombed in for a day hunt! They commented about how few people were in there. Figures.

Of all of the F&G departments that I deal with, Idaho's abuse their power more than anyone else. It has reached the point that I no longer have any respect for any of those guys.

I used to stand behind them and support them, but ive had a couple that have really rubbed me the wrong way in the past few years as well as some of my friends and now i cant stand the sight of them. I know there are good ones, but it only takes a couple bad seeds.

Travis
www.SkullHanger.com

I Have had really good experiences with the fish cops I have dealt with in Idaho, I have had to turn a few people in for the four-wheelers and have dealt with them a few times on bears, and fishing. they don't have a lot of man power to keep up on everything.

this is a problem in Idaho with people claiming residency in Idaho and living in another state. but I can see that if he had proof they should have dropped it.

one thing I have found if you treat them with respect they treat you with respect, but that just goes with any body that works in law enforcement. and of coarse there is always a bad apple or two. they are guys just trying to do there job. almost all the ones I have dealt with are really nice.

Don't know what to think about the incident. Seems like if the officer had been a little more understanding the entire incident could have been avoided. There are good and bad people in all professions. The problem with bad people with authority is they can make your life miserable and there is little we can do about it, most of the time. I hate saying this, but I give NO information to a Fish and Game officer, EVER, except for what they explicitly ask for! They are always trying to get people to self incriminate themselves, because that is how they're trained. Keep your mouth shut, is always the best policy.

Fish cops deal with an incredible amount of rednecks and white trash in these rural areas, probably even more so than a patrol officer in Caldwell. So I understand when they come in a little hot and expect the worst type of people when entering situations.

What's frustrating is that most of them I've encountered are d*uche bags before, during and after you show them your 100% following the rules.

Old Bear hit the nail on the head!!!!

That is Idaho F&G at its finest they cant catch 99% of the poachers & IF they do catch one . They get off with a hand slap , but take an innocent deal like this & man they want to throw the Damn book at ya !! Don't ever give these Jack Azzes anymore info than your name & license .

I had a run in with a lady from F&G last season near Salmon, I wouldn't mind if if I ran into her every time I went hunting. Very professional and easy on the eyes .

I too have had nothing but great experiences with ID fish and game. Of course I am used the KALI fish and game. You boys should try them a time or two...

Bill

People who work for a living are quickly being
overwhelmed by people who vote for a living.

LAST EDITED ON Dec-08-16 AT 11:59PM (MST)[p]I'd sue for harassment.

Huntindad4 I was thinking the same thing but I live in Oregon. In Oregon every guy they bump into is guilty, and that is period. I hunted Idaho this year and had a rancher get side ways with us. The fish cop was more then willing to help. I haven't had a bad experience yet but I heard a similar story over dinner this week. Sounds like they are hot after the Life time guys. Glad we got ours 15 years ago.

DZ