[Ande]

My wife and I purchased a cabin out of state .just about from day one I have been harrast by a game warden that lives near by .I shoot guns some on my property .when a gun cracks he runs up my drive like a maniac.this has happens probably 10 times .thing is I watch the road hunters on the dirt road from my cabin have seen countless deer shot out truck windows .watched side by sides road hunt all day long back and forth the differences is they are local I'm what they call a outsider .one of the main road hunters is ex dnr so free pass for him .this warden even basically accused me of murder when a local was shot while hunting public land . I have never intentionally broke any game laws but for some reason this guy thinks I'm the biggest poacher that ever lived .I fear if I go to his superior things may get worse .I have placed cameras all over my property and have thought of recording all future encounters.I did ask him why he believes has to run up on me when a gun cracks up my way .his response was to deny he does this and say he is just visiting and because he has gun and badge people think the worst .thing is he is not nor ever will be my friend and its not hi how are you it's did u hear a gun shot where was it what we're you shooting . How much befor you consider this harassment? And how would you handle it? O and one time when we first got the place I saw a man poach a deer .I called the warden in question left a message he showed up 3 days later and said try to get hold of me sooner next time after that I figure what's the point.

 

[Ande]

This same state I see hunters wanting to reduce the buck harvest and make point restrictions .I just have to laugh because any buck that sticks its head out along a road is dead .some the head is removed body left . I have never hunted anywhere the poaching is this bad .the locals if you ask about hunting season will most likely laugh and say what hunting season if I want a deer I go get one . So let's concentrate on the outsgtvider who shoots a few deer with a bow legal

 

[Ande]

Dang it I just read a guy's friend heard his R 26 at 400 yd when he shot a deer .I reckon when I trip the trigger on my R 26 I can expect company .maybe I should call him when I want to target shoot to make sure it's ok .

 

[Iron Duke]

I suggest … you start documenting each contact with the F&W department IN DETAIL. Each time you meet start the record app on your phone and when you're done go inside and write up a detailed record, day, time, weather conditions, everything that makes it clear you aren't making anything up. If it ever comes to going to court "he who has the most paperwork wins."

 

[Ande]

That's what I will start doing .my wife has been there for several of his visits .he did not know she was in the house .Do I have to tell him I'm recording ?

 

[TomOnTheRun]

Dang it I just read a guy's friend heard his R 26 at 400 yd when he shot a deer .I reckon when I trip the trigger on my R 26 I can expect company .maybe I should call him when I want to target shoot to make sure it's ok .

IF that is true that is horrible precedent.

 

[HunterB]

Dang it I just read a guy's friend heard his R 26 at 400 yd when he shot a deer .I reckon when I trip the trigger on my R 26 I can expect company .maybe I should call him when I want to target shoot to make sure it's ok .

I agree with duke. I also would record any poaching incident in detail. If its that bad I would also be careful that you are not the next local shot in a hunting accident on public land.

 

[JNG]

Contact your county Sheriff. Most folks don't understand that their local Sheriff is the lead LEO for the county. He can, and will if he chooses to, trump any other local, state, and fed officer/agency. He may agree that you are being harassed and he has the legal authority to stop it if he chooses to. Some Sheriffs don't like to step on other agencies toes though.

edit- I'm strictly speaking of your elected Sheriff, NOT a hired Sheriffs Deputy.

 

[Ande]

Hunter B I thought of that same thing and where this is that is a possibility.

 

[robertyb]

Contact your county Sheriff. Most folks don't understand that their local Sheriff is the lead LEO for the county. He can, and will if he chooses to, trump any other local, state, and fed officer/agency. He may agree that you are being harassed and he has the legal authority to stop it if he chooses to. Some Sheriffs don't like to step on other agencies toes though.

edit - I'm strictly speaking of your elected Sheriff, NOT a hired Sheriffs Deputy.

Most Wardens work for the State and not on a local level. They don't have to pay any attention at all to the Sheriff if they choose not to. The State will always trump a County Official. I have seen it almost come down to a fist fight a few times over my carrier as a State Revenue Agent and once thought guns might be pulled when I locked up a business owned by a Sheriff's deputy to make a point to the Sheriff that his was next if they did not fall into line with the law. The line goes pretty much Federal - State then Local.

 

[JNG]

The USSC ruled (actually reaffirmed) in 1994 that elected Sheriffs are the highest constitutional authority inside their respective county lines. An elected Sheriff can tell any state or fed LEO to pound sand if they choose to. Not all states have elected Sheriffs. Not all Sheriffs are willing to burn bridges with state or fed officials either.

 

[JOE PA]

Just a few thoughts. 1. As Duke said, document everything. 2. I have had good luck, and taught my sons as well, when an official, professor, etc. is being irrationally difficult, go over that person's head. 3. The person who is causing your problems is very likely a deputy warden. I'm sure more than a few guys become deputy wardens just so that they (and perhaps their buddies) can violate game laws with little chance of getting caught. That could very well be what's going on in your neighborhood. Intimidate the new guy while the local buddies run amok. Gotta take care of yourself and family. If your shooting range is well constructed and safe, I don't know why you would not be able to use it without harassment.

 

[cbay]

Be hard to undo all that kind of stuff. Had problems in the past and to be honest was no real relief until
we bought another place and eventually sold that ground. Hate to be the negative nancy but that was
reality for us.

 

[Ande]

Be hard to undo all that kind of stuff. Had problems in the past and to be honest was no real relief until
we bought another place and eventually sold that ground. Hate to be the negative nancy but that was
reality for us.

Yes I have been considering that.

 

[Ande]

Yea it's not Maine wardens or Texas law by any means .I reckon when the camera's are rolling everyone is on his or her best behavior .

 

[Ande]

Seams like with a warden or any law enforcement now days it's guilty until you prove otherwise.if I was doing something wrong that's one thing .I hate to tell the guy he is waisting his time actually I did tell him that .

 

[Renegade19]

I suggest … you start documenting each contact with the F&W department IN DETAIL. Each time you meet start the record app on your phone and when you're done go inside and write up a detailed record, day, time, weather conditions, everything that makes it clear you aren't making anything up. If it ever comes to going to court "he who has the most paperwork wins."

30 years in law enforcement here. IF you didn't write it down, it didn't happen. Simple as that. Document, document, document.

 

[Kevinbear]

Build a small range, invite some friends over, get a case of 22 ammunition and shoot every day, never at the same time, after dark if it's legal, dawn to dusk otherwise. Get someone to record each encounter on their phone, be nice and explain your practicing for something, anything. He'll get sick of not getting any sleep, micro managing your shooting and generally harassing you. I can't see it lasting more than a week, micro managers like doing things on their terms, the quest is power for them, they loose interest pretty quickly when they loose control.

 

[thomaskelley]

You have gotten some good council! Document everything and keep your nose clean!

 

[Kevinbear]

Like Thomas said, don't do anything illegal and be nice unless he insists you do his bidding then just explain that your within the law and he should leave your property which brings up another point, if your driveway can be blocked do it, use a vehicle if you don't have a gate and put up signs saying no trespassing for any reason, violators will be prosecuted. If he has to walk very far he'll tire of that pretty quickly as well, you hold all the cards, start acting like it.
Absolutely no drinking btw.