The vast majority of very large plantations here in CA. are run by illegal mexicans working for some drug cartel. I can not figure out why they continue to try and grow many thousands of plants, as they are easier to spot from the air.
I have been involved in over 25 busts involving marijuana plantations, and have seen a few things going on with them.
One, most of the big ones are in fact guarded by armed suspects, who will shoot you if given the chance. Does not matter you are a innocent hunter, as far as they are concerned you are there to rip their plants off.
two, they do not like deer eating their plants, will kill deer that does, especially if the plants are young small transplants and deer will destroy the intire plant.
The C.A.M.P. team in CA. has gone as far as putting in ground teams to observe large grows. The teams are National Guard trained Ranger teams and their mission is catch the growers in the act of tending to their plants.
If it keeps up, I can see the federal goverment putting signs out to stay out of national forest land due to danger of encountering armed growers.
RELH