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  #1  
Old 06-25-2012, 12:03 AM
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Default Sturgeon Lake, CO Problem

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?
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  #2  
Old 06-25-2012, 12:08 AM
BeeGuy BeeGuy is offline
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Track down the SOB's superior.

Sounds like harassment.
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Old 06-25-2012, 07:04 AM
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was he a younger CO? maybe new to the game on a bit of a power trip
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Old 06-25-2012, 07:05 AM
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oh ya, good job on your first walleye as well
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  #5  
Old 06-25-2012, 07:29 AM
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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.
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Old 06-25-2012, 07:57 AM
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When I am unhappy with the service, I complain to management. you\ll feel better.
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Old 06-25-2012, 01:28 PM
ReconWilly ReconWilly is offline
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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.
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  #8  
Old 06-25-2012, 01:41 PM
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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..
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Old 06-25-2012, 02:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by topgun2269 View Post
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..
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  #10  
Old 06-25-2012, 02:55 PM
DoUCWhatIC DoUCWhatIC is offline
 
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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!
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  #11  
Old 06-25-2012, 02:57 PM
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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)
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  #12  
Old 06-25-2012, 03:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DoUCWhatIC View Post
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.
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  #13  
Old 06-25-2012, 03:38 PM
ReconWilly ReconWilly is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DoUCWhatIC View Post
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?
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  #14  
Old 06-25-2012, 01:38 PM
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Default find out the name of the officer first next time

Quote:
Originally Posted by --Adam-- View Post
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.
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  #15  
Old 06-26-2012, 10:23 AM
nekred nekred is offline
 
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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!...
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  #16  
Old 06-26-2012, 01:35 PM
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DiabeticKripple DiabeticKripple is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by --Adam-- View Post
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
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