Sturgeon Lake, CO Problem

[--Adam--]

Went fishing at Sturgeon Lake for my first time on Father's Day Weekend. Started out as a good trip, pulled into the bighorn campsite late friday night at young's point. Right after we got the camper backed into place, we drove to the registration box and paid for our 2 night (little did we know there was a box even closer to us, but it was dark so we paid at the one down a few stalls). The next morning, we set out in the boat to catch me my first walleye, with only 1 bite that morning i never ended up catching one (shouldve been on the water earlier). So in the afternoon i decided i would like to try again. It was pretty windy and raining during this time, so my buddy decided he wouldnt fish, he will just steer the boat since we will be doing some moving around in the wind. As we come to the boat launch with me still not catching my first walleye, an officer approaches us after we pulled the boat out of the water, he asks for our fishing licences, i showed him mine, while my buddy didnt have his on him since at camp he decided he wasnt going to fish this time, so he tells the officer he wasnt fishing but he does have a fishing licence at camp, that he would take with him when he does plan on fishing this evening. The officer let us go but ran the plates on the truck due to my buddy not providing a fishing licence?..Later that evening we set out again, and the fishing was great!, caught a couple nice walleye and a bunch of smaller ones that were released back, and even a small pike. At camp later that night, around midnight, the battery went dead on the camper while we were having a late night meal, so i went to start the generator for 10min just to switch out a battery (i know, no generators past 11pm, ill take the blame for that, even though its just 10 mins.) Anyways, i just started the generator and walked into the camper to put on a coat (literally 2 mins of generator being running), and walk out to see 2 officers standing there, warning me about the generator, so i turned it off, no problem and changed out the battery quickly in the dark....now the officers ask for my buddys fishing licence again!, my buddy refused to show them since it is 12am and he is not fishing, and wasnt fishing in the first place when he wanted to see it. The more experienced officer told the other officer that my buddy was correct and he shouldnt have asked for it, now the officer asked for registration/insurance for my buddys truck and his ID, then left for about 30mins which we waited for him to come back, there were some minor complications with the paperwork (not my deal, since its my buddys truck, so im not complaining there). So they finally leave, and we went to bed. The next day we packed up camp and started to head home, barely getting out to the highway when the same officer calls my buddys cellphone!, and asks where we are..which he replied with "leaving the campsite". The officer said we need to pay before we leave and we will be charged now. My buddy told him we paid for both nights and told him where the money was.(the officer checked the closest box to us but not both boxes in the small campsite). So, the officers reply was "oh..you shouldnt have paid in that box." (Where is the line in the campsite saying who pays at which box???its all one campsite!!). He then continues to say "if your lying to me, i will charge both of you.", In return my buddy told him "before calling us criminals, check the box, the money is there..". He also told the officer that we didnt appreciate the way we were treated at this campsite, and that we felt as if we were being watched more because of our age and looks (mid 20's). We did not break 1 law regarding fishing or camping the entire weekend(besides the generator thing, my bad) and were still hounded and considered criminals. I had the same voicemail on my house phone when i got home, saying we should have paid and that we will be charged. I phoned back and ensured the money was put in and that i wasnt being charged, and i also said i didnt appreciate the experience i had with that particular officer.

All said and done, i did get to catch my first walleye!, but as for my first experience at sturgeon lake, not impressed with the experience we had with that officer.

What are your thoughts on this?

[BeeGuy]

Track down the SOB's superior.

Sounds like harassment.

[saskyangler]

was he a younger CO? maybe new to the game on a bit of a power trip

[saskyangler]

oh ya, good job on your first walleye as well

[Teamprotz]

Did your buddy have his boat operators card with him in the boat ? Could have cost him $280 if he didn't. It all boils down to your word against the COs word. Can't believe they were out and about near midnight.

[Redfrog]

When I am unhappy with the service, I complain to management. you\ll feel better.

[keeks]

When I am unhappy with the service, I complain to management. you\ll feel better.

X2. There may be a bit of a power trip going on there. Maybe a concerned "customer" complaint is in order. Can't hurt.

k

[pipco]

Glad you caught a few walleye.
As far as your incident, no comment. There are always two sides to the story, your side and their side. The truth usually falls between the two.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Were you guys the only campers there?? These fellas seemed awful bored to be hounding you all weekend.

One thing though. Your buddy could have offered when asked the first time for the license for them to swing by the camp to have a look at it....it is a "peace offering" that could have helped set the tone....

LC

[SnoochyBoochy]

I have had nothing but great experiences with F&W, even while getting a minor ticket! For the most part F&W are really nice guys/gals.
This sounds like a real douche bag officer and will probably eventually be fired or demoted to paperwork for being a knucklehead. At the end of the day you get to go home and be a walleye catching sun of a gun and he will go home and be an abuser douche bag with a small wiener.

cheers
Snooch :acigar:

[dragon]

Glad you caught a few walleye.
As far as your incident, no comment. There are always two sides to the story, your side and their side. The truth usually falls between the two.

There are three sides... your side, their side and the truth

[nekred]

There are three sides... your side, their side and the truth

Yup.... If I was the CO probably would have done a very similar thing... not on a power trip but being inco-operative and then being waht could be construed as evasive... (Oh i was not fishing but I have a license it is in my truck)... then later refusing to get it out of truck after already saying that could be looked at as suspicious... Then capping it off by firing up a genny after 11:00 which is not just aginst the rules but would be a nuisance to other campers... I would probably have let you borrow a 1/2 cup of sugar right into the genny's gas tank....

Then checking the closest box which would be most likely for people to put money into and not seeing your fee could easily be understood too. After all maybe you put the fee in after the officers did their duty.

Lots of this story left out. I am glad these officers are doing their job. The fact that you have actually come on here and posted how these guys were "harassing" you and you had done nothing wrong other than.....breaking rules of campground...

Where was your buddy and his license on your first trip out of the morning...

Seriously, I think you need to get a new buddy...

Your buddy's and your actions are not really the actions of a fine upstanding citizen.

[Yéil]

Hmm...when the COs don't show up, don't get after annoying campers, don't nail poachers, don't check for licences, don't have a presence in any of our streams, rivers, lakes and parks then the boards are full of complaints about them about how they are doing a lousy job. When they do show up, do get after annoying campers, check for licences and park fees then the boards get the usual "the big, bad COs harassed me.. wah, wah, wah".

[SnoochyBoochy]

Yup.... If I was the CO probably would have done a very similar thing... not on a power trip but being inco-operative and then being waht could be construed as evasive... (Oh i was not fishing but I have a license it is in my truck)... then later refusing to get it out of truck after already saying that could be looked at as suspicious... Then capping it off by firing up a genny after 11:00 which is not just aginst the rules but would be a nuisance to other campers... I would probably have let you borrow a 1/2 cup of sugar right into the genny's gas tank....

Then checking the closest box which would be most likely for people to put money into and not seeing your fee could easily be understood too. After all maybe you put the fee in after the officers did their duty.

Lots of this story left out. I am glad these officers are doing their job. The fact that you have actually come on here and posted how these guys were "harassing" you and you had done nothing wrong other than.....breaking rules of campground...

Where was your buddy and his license on your first trip out of the morning...

Seriously, I think you need to get a new buddy...

Your buddy's and your actions are not really the actions of a fine upstanding citizen.

Granted the argument is all hinged on whether or not this is the whole truth and nothing but. For the sake of my comment I will assume that Adam is being truthful.

Coming to a campsite at midnight requesting fishing papers from someone who was not fishing is well outside of the Law and the God given right for a Man to be Free to be on water and in a campsite without fear of reprisal.
I am a huge Fan and supporter of our F&W officers, but the LAW and regulations are for them to follow all the same if not more. I applaud Adam's friend for not giving the papers because that is a stand for Freedom and For Liberty. Notice how he didn't get a ticket...there was no Law broken which means that the F&W officer crossed the line. From my point of view he probably should have become a police officer if he wanted to flex his authority and not a F&W officer.
What next? a knock at the door in a week asking to see your barbs because they heard you were fishing last week?
C'mon

Snooch :acigar:

[Jamie Black R/T]

when i was your age i was often the youngest guy in the campground and know exactly how you feel.

people look at you and assume "great...party campers"

when you feel like they are being hard on you just remember how many guys in your age group DO act like idiots out there....they have a reason to question you a little harder...just give them courtesy and comply and they will realize quickely you arent part of the stereotype....and in ten years you get to be the guy who judges a book by its cover...its kinda fun LOL

And if you enjoy fishing and the outdoors....be happy you saw them enforcing anything! i havent been checked or seen a CO in almost a year...and im out every weekend.

Congrats on your first walleye:sHa_shakeshout:

[Penner]

There are three sides... your side, their side and the truth

Yup X2 on that!

[ogre]

I'm going to take Adam's word and express sympathy for the lousy way which he and his friend were treated. However, I am reluctant to start wagging fingers at the CO for trying to do their job. Like others have mentioned, it could be profiling on their part to do a better job, glad Adam and his friend didn't lose their cool and get a fined for disrespecting the law.

First impression usually is very important, so the CO must have decided there is something fishy (pun not intended) about the pair, and so decided to follow on the gut instinct. Maybe we should cut them some slack, but without having to sacrifice personal rights and freedom. Good on Adam to express his discontent, as conversation is critical in defending one's legal boundary. Do follow up with a complain/vent to the superior, so they have a means to improve on their service.

On the lighter side, congrats to OP for having success at fishing.

[ReconWilly]

I would take it as an educational experience and move on.

I have no doubt your both good dudes just trying to enjoy life at its best and are not out to cause any trouble, however what really happened here was that you ran it to a good officer doing his job, all your hitches were caused by YOU and your BUDDY, intentional or not i think you need to SACK UP a bit and take a little ownership in the cause of the grief you cost yourself.

Get your paperwork in order, carry your licence(Your required to by law( he wasn't fishing but poor choice)). And running a generator at midnight in a busy campground is more than asking for it.period.

You never received any tickets or worse, trust me if an officer is trying to make an example out of you there is hell to pay, you got off with a best case scenario in light of a few poor choices on your own part, enjoy it!!

Perception is everything , go get back at it and catch some monsters!! And the next time you meet an officer sworn to protect the resources that you love...THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE and ask how you can help.:)

[topgun2269]

Went fishing at Sturgeon Lake for my first time on Father's Day Weekend. Started out as a good trip, pulled into the bighorn campsite late friday night at young's point. Right after we got the camper backed into place, we drove to the registration box and paid for our 2 night (little did we know there was a box even closer to us, but it was dark so we paid at the one down a few stalls). The next morning, we set out in the boat to catch me my first walleye, with only 1 bite that morning i never ended up catching one (shouldve been on the water earlier). So in the afternoon i decided i would like to try again. It was pretty windy and raining during this time, so my buddy decided he wouldnt fish, he will just steer the boat since we will be doing some moving around in the wind. As we come to the boat launch with me still not catching my first walleye, an officer approaches us after we pulled the boat out of the water, he asks for our fishing licences, i showed him mine, while my buddy didnt have his on him since at camp he decided he wasnt going to fish this time, so he tells the officer he wasnt fishing but he does have a fishing licence at camp, that he would take with him when he does plan on fishing this evening. The officer let us go but ran the plates on the truck due to my buddy not providing a fishing licence?..Later that evening we set out again, and the fishing was great!, caught a couple nice walleye and a bunch of smaller ones that were released back, and even a small pike. At camp later that night, around midnight, the battery went dead on the camper while we were having a late night meal, so i went to start the generator for 10min just to switch out a battery (i know, no generators past 11pm, ill take the blame for that, even though its just 10 mins.) Anyways, i just started the generator and walked into the camper to put on a coat (literally 2 mins of generator being running), and walk out to see 2 officers standing there, warning me about the generator, so i turned it off, no problem and changed out the battery quickly in the dark....now the officers ask for my buddys fishing licence again!, my buddy refused to show them since it is 12am and he is not fishing, and wasnt fishing in the first place when he wanted to see it. The more experienced officer told the other officer that my buddy was correct and he shouldnt have asked for it, now the officer asked for registration/insurance for my buddys truck and his ID, then left for about 30mins which we waited for him to come back, there were some minor complications with the paperwork (not my deal, since its my buddys truck, so im not complaining there). So they finally leave, and we went to bed. The next day we packed up camp and started to head home, barely getting out to the highway when the same officer calls my buddys cellphone!, and asks where we are..which he replied with "leaving the campsite". The officer said we need to pay before we leave and we will be charged now. My buddy told him we paid for both nights and told him where the money was.(the officer checked the closest box to us but not both boxes in the small campsite). So, the officers reply was "oh..you shouldnt have paid in that box." (Where is the line in the campsite saying who pays at which box???its all one campsite!!). He then continues to say "if your lying to me, i will charge both of you.", In return my buddy told him "before calling us criminals, check the box, the money is there..". He also told the officer that we didnt appreciate the way we were treated at this campsite, and that we felt as if we were being watched more because of our age and looks (mid 20's). We did not break 1 law regarding fishing or camping the entire weekend(besides the generator thing, my bad) and were still hounded and considered criminals. I had the same voicemail on my house phone when i got home, saying we should have paid and that we will be charged. I phoned back and ensured the money was put in and that i wasnt being charged, and i also said i didnt appreciate the experience i had with that particular officer.

All said and done, i did get to catch my first walleye!, but as for my first experience at sturgeon lake, not impressed with the experience we had with that officer.

What are your thoughts on this? sometimes these guys have ego's a mile long. Next time take notes and let the officer know you will be filing a complaint against him or her.

[Guitarplayingfish]

I have a few things to say about this.

From what I can gather you were both in the wrong
1. Buddy not having his license when out (should always carry it on your body as I have found out the hard way)
2. Starting the generator too late

The COs were not completely right either
1. treating you guys like criminals right from the start (the way you tell it)
2. Asking for your fishing license at 12 midnight when your clearly not fishing (unless you were earlier and said you would show him later, in which case it would be a good reflection on the CO for doing that for you instead of just ticketing you for not carrying)

Just like in any industry in the world there are good and bad people... People who will be nice and welcoming... and people who will be miserable and treat you like criminals right off the bat.

I have ran into some really brutal CO in the past that made me questionable about our Enforcement officers.

This being said, the last year I have run into many really good guys who are COs and doing their job to the best of their ability.. this has brought back my confidence in our system. There are good people out there who want to protect our fisheries as much as us environmentalists.. I think Officer experience has something to do with it too.. The jerks I have met have been freshly out of school CO's who are power hungry. The nice ones are typically (but not always) guys who have been on the job for a few years and understand how things work.

It's like anything... There will be good and bad. Just follow regulation and treat them with the respect they deserve and you shouldn't have a problem..

[canadiantdi]

sometimes these guys have ego's a mile long. Next time take notes and let the officer know you will be filing a complaint against him or her.

I wouldn't ever tell them you are going to file a complaint. He will definitely take notes and make sure he remembers every little detail, and he'll prep his supervisor for your call..

[DoUCWhatIC]

This incident occurred within a Provincial Park. Concervations Officer's (COs)patrol Parks. This has absolutely nothing to do with Fish & Wildlife! There was no Game Warden involvement at all. Common misconception and understandable!

[Guitarplayingfish]

Hmm.

This being the case, you really shouldn't have ran your generator... That probably caused the biggest problem. Quiet hours after 10.. Hence why I never camp at campgrounds (not that I'm a partyer, but it's nice to have the option to play music and whatnot)

[JohninAB]

This incident occurred within a Provincial Park. Concervations Officer's (COs)patrol Parks. This has absolutely nothing to do with Fish & Wildlife! There was no Game Warden involvement at all. Common misconception and understandable!

Doing the Wiser's clap here.

[ReconWilly]

This incident occurred within a Provincial Park. Concervations Officer's (COs)patrol Parks. This has absolutely nothing to do with Fish & Wildlife! There was no Game Warden involvement at all. Common misconception and understandable!

Are you saying COs have nothing to do with fish and wildlife?

What the hell is a game warden?

Are you the other guilty party who provoked the incident because you know your rights?

[Guitarplayingfish]

Last time I was at a provincial park (fishing and staying 1 night) The CO was the one who looked after the campsite... Got money, sold firewood, etc... problem was he was rarely around. Too busy patrolling I guess.

[DoUCWhatIC]

Are you saying COs have nothing to do with fish and wildlife?

What the hell is a game warden?

Are you the other guilty party who provoked the incident because you know your rights?

That is exactly what I am saying. Up until very recently COs and F&W weren't even in the same government department. COs work in Parks, F&W work in the rest of the Province.

Sorry, Game Wardens are the common term for F&W. Probably shouldn't have used that term, likely added to the confusion.

Nope, I wasn't there. I think you missed my point. I made the comment because some were using COs and F&W to mean the same thing. They are not the same, thats all!

[Okotokian]

You're young guys who got bullied. They took three or four runs at you. I'd go up the chain of command.

[pikergolf]

You're young guys who got bullied. They took three or four runs at you. I'd go up the chain of command.

Meh, genny at midnight, probably got phoned in, plus managed to switch out battery in the dark, why not do that in the first place instead of waking people up? No money in box, I would have sorted that out before I left, had two opportunities, I'd be interested in the other side of this story.

[densa44]

It is ...."getting the other guy to agree with you".

Not to win arguments, cast suspicion on yourselves, annoy other campers, I'm sure you get the idea.

I'll bet you can think of ways that this meeting could have gone better for all concerned, things that you both could have done and said.

Better luck next time with authority figures.

[crosbyfan123]

This is a prime example of why officers get a bad rep instead of being a dick about the situation your friend should have told him that there is no proof of him fishing thus rendering the officers request retoricle because no proof no answer simple as that. As long as you know everything your doing is legal feel free to treat them the way they treat you.

[Mariko's Rod]

You blew it when your buddie didnt produce his licence when asked. When a CO asks for your licence you give it to him! ur buddie putting his back up and refusing is a PUNK move and u deserved everything you got.

If I was a CO and u pulled that on me I would have tore you and your buddy apart and wrote you paperwork until you cried.

Smarten up and dont be a punk and you wont get treated like one!

[ReconWilly]

That is exactly what I am saying. Up until very recently COs and F&W weren't even in the same government department. COs work in Parks, F&W work in the rest of the Province.

Sorry, Game Wardens are the common term for F&W. Probably shouldn't have used that term, likely added to the confusion.

Nope, I wasn't there. I think you missed my point. I made the comment because some were using COs and F&W to mean the same thing. They are not the same, thats all!

OK cool and thanks for the clarification, i was confused as to what you were getting at.

[--Adam--]

I respect everybody's opinion in the matter, I'm not a person to argue over who was right, who was wrong. I clearly admitted that it was totally my fault with the generator, which like I said was not called in because of how quick they were there. For that, they did their job, as for asking for the Licence..the other officer clearly admitted they were in the wrong and could not ask for the Licence. The biggest p*ss off of the whole weekend was the phone calls accusing us of not paying for the campsite, I guess I should've clarified on that better. When we arrived that night, we paid for both nights. So why should we have our cellphone numbers looked up in the system and get told we are being charged when they didn't even check both boxes in the campsite? Where is the line showing certain campsites have to pay in certain boxes? It's a small campsite with 2 registration boxes...check both of them before accusing me of not paying..I seen 4 CO's that weekend, 3 out of 4 were great! Polite and respectful. Just a bad run in with 1 of them. I expect to be treated like anyone else. If I did something wrong, by all means I will take the wrap for it, but being accused of something without even checking..

[Mariko's Rod]

You are missing the point Adam. It wasnt about the camp boxes. When you guys decided to act like a couple of know it all punks and not produce your licence because you technically didnt have to the officers decided to nit pick at you for anything and everything they possibly could.

Like I said. you deserved it and next time respect athority and you wont get the a-hole treatment. Its all part of growing up.

[Guitarplayingfish]

You are missing the point Adam. It wasnt about the camp boxes. When you guys decided to act like a couple of know it all punks and not produce your licence because you technically didnt have to the officers decided to nit pick at you for anything and everything they possibly could.

Like I said. you deserved it and next time respect athority and you wont get the a-hole treatment. Its all part of growing up.

I somewhat disagree with this statement.

The first time the license was asked for the guy was driving the boat, not even fishing... thats fine (although had he planned on fishing, should have produced). The second time he was in his campsite... Why would you need to produce a license than?

Probably should have been as nice as you could have been to the officers though, but thats pretty ridiculous they didn't check both boxes before accusing you of not paying for the weekend. I think sometimes (even though you know your right) you have to humor them and make sure they know you are not a poacher/partyer/etc and you just planned on having a nice relaxing weekend.

[nekred]

By the demeanor of your posts you and your buddy come across as a whining snivelling little brat who needs a good working over with a baton and a phone book.

They asked for both of your licenses because you both were in a fishing boat. Your buddy said he was not fishing but that his license was in the truck and he would produce it. A promise made!

Then when you pulled you genny stunt because you felt "entitled" to annoy other campers, CO come obver and says oh yah this is the punk that promised to show me a license... then your buddy refused ....RENEGING ON HIS PROMISE....

How a man treats his promises is the measure of a man.... not how high up the wall he can pee....So time to find a new buddy... how dependable is he when he makes a promise to you!....

Then you complain about being harassed... never mind all the campers you harassed with your genny...

So leave it alone and stop being a punk and be a man....

20 years ago you and your buddy would have got a good working over and learned that you don't renege on promises made...

You keep flying with crows you will be shot with the crows....

[nekred]

How have I learned this...

Years ago.. I was acting like punk...(40 feet tall and bulletproof...AKA fuelled with Mezcal and Whiskey) authority figures asked me if I wanted to go to the brig the easy way or hard way.. as a punk I said the hard way... after a scuffle I wasl oaded into the wagon they handcuffed my hunds under my knees and rolled me in on my back and sat on my legs which left me with my knees tucked in beside my ears....After getting to the brig in the printing room I was worked over with a phonebook and a bat and then turned loose in the morning for my last day of leave...

Maybe you did not do anything particularly wrong... but certainly could have acted differently and ended up with a more positive outcome...

Next time you buddy comes with you in fishing boat.. make sure he has fishing license.... Another question... Did you make sure your buddy had his boating license with him!... probably in his truck too!...

[Teamprotz]

In Saskatchewan , if they feel so inclined , they will give you the opportunity to bring your license to their office to prove you have one. Better than a ticket on the spot. If Rcmp showed up and asked for a drivers license in your camp site , I am willing to bet even though you weren't driving , they would have seen it in short order. Give respect , get respect.

[Guitarplayingfish]

In Saskatchewan , if they feel so inclined , they will give you the opportunity to bring your license to their office to prove you have one. Better than a ticket on the spot. If Rcmp showed up and asked for a drivers license in your camp site , I am willing to bet even though you weren't driving , they would have seen it in short order. Give respect , get respect.

A friend of mine told me this last weekend..in Sask you have 30 days or something to produce your license in order to get a charge dropped or whatever.

[HunterDave]

So what was the CO's perspective? He did a routine check for fishing licenses and one fella didn't have one. Although he didn't see the fella fishing it was reasonable to think that he may have. That night while doing a patrol he hears a generator going during quiet hours and he's attracted to it like a bug to a light. While there he asks to see your buddy's fishing license that he was told earlier in the day was in his truck. Your buddy refuses to show it because he doesn't have to. That move was just dumb on your buddy's part. If you have nothing to hide then why not cooperate and show it? The generator going during quiet time and the refusal to show the license (uncooperative) would have been enough to make my mind up about you and in my mind not paying for your site would not have been out of the question for something that you'd do.

If it were me I would have taken the time to go back to the campsite, get my license and track the CO down to show him that I had one. I probably would have told him about putting the payment for my site in the wrong box in order to avoid what happened to you. If you want to be shown respect then you have to show respect and doing something like that could have saved you some perceived mistreatment later on.

Chalk it up to a lesson in life and let it go. The CO did what he's paid to do and the complaint won't go anywhere anyway. You'll catch more flies with honey than you will with vinegar........Live and learn.

[gwh2]

I have no time for those who go camping and bring and their junk with them.
Generators/Quads/motorhome/huge boat.
Isn't the idea of camping to get away from this crap.
You want to camp-camp/ You want to fish - fish/ You want all your crap with you - stay home.

[Jamie Black R/T]

I have no time for those who go camping and bring and their junk with them.
Generators/Quads/motorhome/huge boat.
Isn't the idea of camping to get away from this crap.
You want to camp-camp/ You want to fish - fish/ You want all your crap with you - stay home.

the issue is not the "things"....its people using them irresponsibly.

i take my generator with me all the time to top up boat batteries and i have never had a complaint....then again i dont crank it up in the middle of the night either..:scared0018:

[nekred]

So what was the CO's perspective? He did a routine check for fishing licenses and one fella didn't have one. Although he didn't see the fella fishing it was reasonable to think that he may have. That night while doing a patrol he hears a generator going during quiet hours and he's attracted to it like a bug to a light. While there he asks to see your buddy's fishing license that he was told earlier in the day was in his truck. Your buddy refuses to show it because he doesn't have to. That move was just dumb on your buddy's part. If you have nothing to hide then why not cooperate and show it? The generator going during quiet time and the refusal to show the license (uncooperative) would have been enough to make my mind up about you and in my mind not paying for your site would not have been out of the question for something that you'd do.

If it were me I would have taken the time to go back to the campsite, get my license and track the CO down to show him that I had one. I probably would have told him about putting the payment for my site in the wrong box in order to avoid what happened to you. If you want to be shown respect then you have to show respect and doing something like that could have saved you some perceived mistreatment later on.

Chalk it up to a lesson in life and let it go. The CO did what he's paid to do and the complaint won't go anywhere anyway. You'll catch more flies with honey than you will with vinegar........Live and learn.

More diplomatic than my post but same message!...

[jryley]

Yup.... If I was the CO probably would have done a very similar thing... not on a power trip but being inco-operative and then being waht could be construed as evasive... (Oh i was not fishing but I have a license it is in my truck)... then later refusing to get it out of truck after already saying that could be looked at as suspicious... Then capping it off by firing up a genny after 11:00 which is not just aginst the rules but would be a nuisance to other campers... I would probably have let you borrow a 1/2 cup of sugar right into the genny's gas tank....

Then checking the closest box which would be most likely for people to put money into and not seeing your fee could easily be understood too. After all maybe you put the fee in after the officers did their duty.

Lots of this story left out. I am glad these officers are doing their job. The fact that you have actually come on here and posted how these guys were "harassing" you and you had done nothing wrong other than.....breaking rules of campground...

Where was your buddy and his license on your first trip out of the morning...

Seriously, I think you need to get a new buddy...

Your buddy's and your actions are not really the actions of a fine upstanding citizen.

lol what are you smoking? Good grief man. How are either of these two fellas inthe wrong? If i was out with my wife and kid and the power went id turn the generator on too. Its 10 minutes! Get a grip. You have waaaaaaay to much time on your hands if you would get annoyed by two guys trying
To quickly fix a bonehead mistake on their part. Id be willing to bet youre the same guy that files a complaint about your neighbor having 3 dandelions on their lawn, complains about kids putting one foot onyour lawn, etc etc etc etc.

You need a hobby nekred.

[jryley]

So what was the CO's perspective? He did a routine check for fishing licenses and one fella didn't have one. Although he didn't see the fella fishing it was reasonable to think that he may have. That night while doing a patrol he hears a generator going during quiet hours and he's attracted to it like a bug to a light. While there he asks to see your buddy's fishing license that he was told earlier in the day was in his truck. Your buddy refuses to show it because he doesn't have to. That move was just dumb on your buddy's part. If you have nothing to hide then why not cooperate and show it? The generator going during quiet time and the refusal to show the license (uncooperative) would have been enough to make my mind up about you and in my mind not paying for your site would not have been out of the question for something that you'd do.

If it were me I would have taken the time to go back to the campsite, get my license and track the CO down to show him that I had one. I probably would have told him about putting the payment for my site in the wrong box in order to avoid what happened to you. If you want to be shown respect then you have to show respect and doing something like that could have saved you some perceived mistreatment later on.

Chalk it up to a lesson in life and let it go. The CO did what he's paid to do and the complaint won't go anywhere anyway. You'll catch more flies with honey than you will with vinegar........Live and learn.

Really? The CO was too much of a numbskull to see one rod? One tackle box? He didnt have enough common sense to not potentially **** sportsmen off at
Midnight? Regardless what u guys think, thats not in te job description. Life as a CO or police officer is not a 24/7 sting operation. Its
Quite the opposite. Human relations and proper social apptitude is a large part of training. Acting lile a d-bag is no where close to doing your job.

[jryley]

I have no time for those who go camping and bring and their junk with them.
Generators/Quads/motorhome/huge boat.
Isn't the idea of camping to get away from this crap.
You want to camp-camp/ You want to fish - fish/ You want all your crap with you - stay home.

Im guessing by your hatred of said items you frequent serviced campgrounds.....way to rough it.

Try rocking a two man pack tent and a pack stove while catering to a wife and a 17 month old. In some cases, city luxuries are needed.

[pikergolf]

lol what are you smoking? Good grief man. How are either of these two fellas inthe wrong? If i was out with my wife and kid and the power went id turn the generator on too. Its 10 minutes! Get a grip. You have waaaaaaay to much time on your hands if you would get annoyed by two guys trying
To quickly fix a bonehead mistake on their part. Id be willing to bet youre the same guy that files a complaint about your neighbor having 3 dandelions on their lawn, complains about kids putting one foot onyour lawn, etc etc etc etc.

You need a hobby nekred.

I keep forgetting how some guys are waaay more important than their neighbour's.:thinking-006:

[jryley]

Based on my statement you quoted....you dont have a kid. Any
Man that says their child isnt more important than the grumpy guy down the way is either a poor parent or lying. Yes buddy....my family outweighs your beauty sleep ten fold.

[pikergolf]

Based on my statement you quoted....you dont have a kid. Any
Man that says their child isnt more important than the grumpy guy down the way is either a poor parent or lying. Yes buddy....my family outweighs your beauty sleep ten fold.

Managed to raise two, never owned a generator. But back in those days we didn't have them, my oh my how did we manage.

[Chris84]

Wow, what a sour thread!!!!:party0052:

[jryley]

Pike im not saying it cant be done! I dont own a trailer, generator etc. But ido understand if people want to keep their kids comfy. I was solely replying to the "more important than my neighbor" post. If you have raised two, and still say those two kids wouldnt have taken priority over anyone in a 100km radius i call bs. But we are both off topic here, but i do see your point and agree to a certain extent.

I still am of the opinion the CO was acting as a dbag. Ive been in the same spot, and the CO that dealt with me simply told me "k, ill pop by
Your site when youre finished and we can roll out the paperwork. No harm no foul.

About 3 months while leaving work some douche called in
My plates that i was impaired. I was swarmed at the gas pump by 3 squad
Cars. The first officer was about my age (29) and he nade chit chat and said "to be honest someone called you in ad impared". I was miffed, but didnt mouth anyone off and simply handed over my
License. The worst part was the embarrassment as a bunch of people stood around like i just got taken down for robbery. 3 minutes later officer came back, handed me my license.....and gave an honest "im really sorry for the inconvenience....some people are just clowns". At that point i laughed and told the guy no problem, just doing your
Job. The guy was professional and acknowledged the fact he just embarrassed a guy with a totally clean driving record with
No criminal record. Thats how an officer of any organization should act. I shook the guys hand an told him to be safe. It is innocent until proven guilty boys, not the reverse

[pikergolf]

Pike im not saying it cant be done! I dont own a trailer, generator etc. But ido understand if people want to keep their kids comfy. I was solely replying to the "more important than my neighbor" post. If you have raised two, and still say those two kids wouldnt have taken priority over anyone in a 100km radius i call bs. But we are both off topic here, but i do see your point and agree to a certain extent.

I still am of the opinion the CO was acting as a dbag. Ive been in the same spot, and the CO that dealt with me simply told me "k, ill pop by
Your site when youre finished and we can roll out the paperwork. No harm no foul.

About 3 months while leaving work some douche called in
My plates that i was impaired. I was swarmed at the gas pump by 3 squad
Cars. The first officer was about my age (29) and he nade chit chat and said "to be honest someone called you in ad impared". I was miffed, but didnt mouth anyone off and simply handed over my
License. The worst part was the embarrassment as a bunch of people stood around like i just got taken down for robbery. 3 minutes later officer came back, handed me my license.....and gave an honest "im really sorry for the inconvenience....some people are just clowns". At that point i laughed and told the guy no problem, just doing your
Job. The guy was professional and acknowledged the fact he just embarrassed a guy with a totally clean driving record with
No criminal record. Thats how an officer of any organization should act. I shook the guys hand an told him to be safe. It is innocent until proven guilty boys, not the reverse

First off nobody said there were kids, you brought that up. I've tried to think of a scenario where running a generator would keep a kid comfy, can't think of one, cold? cuddle with the parents. An emergency is one thing, running out of power at midnight is not an emergency, for my generation anyway. The OP himself admitted he did what needed to be done in the dark. If you don't like the rules the campground has in place go somewhere that's more to your style.

[Speckle55]

Adam .. its really no big deal .. you caught you first walleye :sHa_shakeshout: and on the fishing licence .. you know your buddy could of got it that evening.. he got his reg and ins.. fishing licence was right there.. proper etiquette would be get it then and smile:)..

on the Generator yep your bad .. but then they didn't ticket you which they could of.. so you win this time and you new that when they came over..i know people that had 4 hours to leave campground..

Also on the boat thing did you have more than one rod in boat? he could of asked for your boating licence and check you for every thing from anchor and life jackets,, to throwing boy,, bailing bucket,barb hook on rod used.etc and wasted a hour of your time.. he didn,t

on the money yep he made a mistake thinking that you would put it in the box closest to your campsite.. but hey he just let you off..soooo .. you can choose to get all work up in life over small things or you can say next time i will not run my generator after 11 and i will be quite after 11 ..you stressed him and your buddy did more .. give him a break ,he may be new and had a bad day... you ever had them bad days with mouthy people. not saying that you were mouthy but its a big campground ..he gave you a break twice (boat & generator)

and we will have our fishing licences on us at all times when fishing esp when there is more than one rod in boat..i have had to produce later in National Park(ticketed to produce in 60 days)and i was not fishing, trolling with three rods out for three people but had 4 rods in boat..

all in all you had a great camping trip and fishing was ok and you got your first Walleye.. and this incendent should be forgot ,its no big deal imo

David:)

[DiabeticKripple]

The officer let us go but ran the plates on the truck due to my buddy not providing a fishing licence?
thats probably routine. the CPS runs your plates while your in traffic just to make sure the vehicle isnt stolen. he was doing his job.

now the officers ask for my buddys fishing licence again!, my buddy refused to show them since it is 12am and he is not fishing, and wasnt fishing in the first place when he wanted to see it. The more experienced officer told the other officer that my buddy was correct and he shouldnt have asked for it, now the officer asked for registration/insurance for my buddys truck and his ID, then left for about 30mins which we waited for him to come back, there were some minor complications with the paperwork (not my deal, since its my buddys truck, so im not complaining there).
once again, the officer is checking for warrants on your friend and making sure the truck is okay to be on the road

So they finally leave, and we went to bed. The next day we packed up camp and started to head home, barely getting out to the highway when the same officer calls my buddys cellphone!, and asks where we are..which he replied with "leaving the campsite". The officer said we need to pay before we leave and we will be charged now. My buddy told him we paid for both nights and told him where the money was.(the officer checked the closest box to us but not both boxes in the small campsite). So, the officers reply was "oh..you shouldnt have paid in that box." (Where is the line in the campsite saying who pays at which box???its all one campsite!!). He then continues to say "if your lying to me, i will charge both of you.", In return my buddy told him "before calling us criminals, check the box, the money is there..". He also told the officer that we didnt appreciate the way we were treated at this campsite, and that we felt as if we were being watched more because of our age and looks (mid 20's).
so what? he made a mistake. were all human.

We did not break 1 law regarding fishing or camping the entire weekend(besides the generator thing, my bad) and were still hounded and considered criminals.
when were you considered a criminal? he just said if you are lying ill arrest you. just trying to get the truth.

I had the same voicemail on my house phone when i got home, saying we should have paid and that we will be charged. I phoned back and ensured the money was put in and that i wasnt being charged, and i also said i didnt appreciate the experience i had with that particular officer.

All said and done, i did get to catch my first walleye!, but as for my first experience at sturgeon lake, not impressed with the experience we had with that officer.
congrats on your walleye

What are your thoughts on this?


to me it sounds like your making a big deal out of nothing. He could have been alot worse and checked the boat for all the proper equipment. he also could have ticketed you for the noise violation

[--Adam--]

Adam .. its really no big deal .. you caught you first walleye :sHa_shakeshout: and on the fishing licence .. you know your buddy could of got it that evening.. he got his reg and ins.. fishing licence was right there.. proper etiquette would be get it then and smile:)..

on the Generator yep your bad .. but then they didn't ticket you which they could of.. so you win this time and you new that when they came over..i know people that had 4 hours to leave campground..

Also on the boat thing did you have more than one rod in boat? he could of asked for your boating licence and check you for every thing from anchor and life jackets,, to throwing boy,, bailing bucket,barb hook on rod used.etc and wasted a hour of your time.. he didn,t

on the money yep he made a mistake thinking that you would put it in the box closest to your campsite.. but hey he just let you off..soooo .. you can choose to get all work up in life over small things or you can say next time i will not run my generator after 11 and i will be quite after 11 ..you stressed him and your buddy did more .. give him a break ,he may be new and had a bad day... you ever had them bad days with mouthy people. not saying that you were mouthy but its a big campground ..he gave you a break twice (boat & generator)

and we will have our fishing licences on us at all times when fishing esp when there is more than one rod in boat..i have had to produce later in National Park(ticketed to produce in 60 days)and i was not fishing, trolling with three rods out for three people but had 4 rods in boat..

all in all you had a great camping trip and fishing was ok and you got your first Walleye.. and this incendent should be forgot ,its no big deal imo

David:)

To answer a few questions:

-There was only one rod and tackle box in the boat, the other was at camp along with the licence.

-My boat has everything needed in it from life jackets, anchor, bail bucket, floating life line..etc..

-And yes, my buddy could have got the licence for him at camp that evening, but i dont control his actions and to be honest we were both a little fed up. The morning after just made it worse when we left and had to deal with the phone calls.

-All in all, thanks everyone for the comments, turned out to be a pretty touchy thread :party0052: and i take everyones opinions in account. More or else i just needed to get it outta my system and see both sides of it.

As someone posted earlier, what it all comes down to is i caught my first walleye (which happened to be the biggest :lol:) and no tickets were issued. Thanks everyone! Have a good week! :fishing:

[nekred]

Hey I cranked it up a bit... you see both sides of it and that is more than what I can see having not been there...

Good on your first walleye.. hope you got it all worked out and learned something...

[nekred]

lol what are you smoking? Good grief man. How are either of these two fellas inthe wrong? If i was out with my wife and kid and the power went id turn the generator on too. Its 10 minutes! Get a grip. You have waaaaaaay to much time on your hands if you would get annoyed by two guys trying
To quickly fix a bonehead mistake on their part. Id be willing to bet youre the same guy that files a complaint about your neighbor having 3 dandelions on their lawn, complains about kids putting one foot onyour lawn, etc etc etc etc.

You need a hobby nekred.

Nope I am the one who would go over and shut off your generator and wait for you to come out so we could have a discussion. If you want more than a discussion why I have a bat and a gun so you can up ante and I can call!...:bad_boys_20:


Oh and I do have a hobby...actually a few of them and love to share them here on the AO forum....

Sounds like I got under your skin a bit too much....:mad3: Hit too close to home I assume!...

Take a look there was option... fire up genny to solve problem which would annoy everyone.... or change batteries to solve problem and thus annoying no one....

Sunset chat shows twilight until 11:31pm on Saturday... so probaly much later that genny was fired up...

Anyways chill out dude!... guy admitted that he now sees both sides and all is cool!...

Are you cool now....

[DiabeticKripple]

lol what are you smoking? Good grief man. How are either of these two fellas inthe wrong? If i was out with my wife and kid and the power went id turn the generator on too. Its 10 minutes! Get a grip. You have waaaaaaay to much time on your hands if you would get annoyed by two guys trying
To quickly fix a bonehead mistake on their part. Id be willing to bet youre the same guy that files a complaint about your neighbor having 3 dandelions on their lawn, complains about kids putting one foot onyour lawn, etc etc etc etc.

You need a hobby nekred.

someone went off their rocker.

heres this. say you have 3 or 4 very young kids. oldest about 5 say, youngest under a year. your camping in a tent next to someone who at nearly midnight turns their generator on. would you be a happy camper if it was even on for 2 mins? no you probably wouldnt be with screaming kids.

[jryley]

Lol nekred its just the AO forum dude! We all get fired up from time to time. Chances are youd shut the genny off, and i come out venting.....and we'd end up half ****ed off rye and warm beer around a fire! Sa'll good dude!!!!

[nekred]

Cheers!...:oregonian_winesmile:grouphug: