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07-02-2020, 11:23 AM
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 1,879
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I reported a poacher and I have mixed feelings.
As I was fishing Wabamun Shore from a distance I could see people catching fish instead of putting the fish back in the water I could see them running to the cooler. So I called it in and the officer was about 45 minutes away. I collected licence plate details and a description of the family. I supposed it was very difficult for me since the family seemed very nice and the kids would walk past me to say Hi.
I don't think they were intentionally hiding fish since they left the cooler right next to the walking path. So clearly they didn't read the regulations.What started out as smiles and happiness became glum faces on Canada Day. I did not confront the family when I could have, but I didn't feel like it was my job to. When I called it in they had at least 4 walleye.
When the officer arrived he confiscated the cooler and collected a total of 6 Walleyes. He took photos of the fish and documented everything on the back of the tailgate.
Question is should I have confronted the family so they wouldn't have caught and retained more? They could have caught 5 or 6 more by the time the officer came.
I have this on Camera from my chest cam. They also know it was me since I was the only other fisherman.
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07-02-2020, 11:44 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: WMU 402
Posts: 515
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You did the right thing. Don't feel guilt. Props to you man!
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07-02-2020, 11:47 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,047
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Definitely did the right thing. It takes a few minutes to read the regs for any body of water.
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07-02-2020, 11:48 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 580
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Agreed, we all have the same regulations- just follow them.
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07-02-2020, 11:50 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: At the end of the Thirsty Beaver Trail, Pinsky lake, Alberta.
Posts: 24,557
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you did the right thing...lessens learnt for the family. even if you did nicely approach the family things could have gotten out of hand...not worth the headache etc.
__________________
Be careful when you follow the masses, sometimes the "M" is silent...
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07-02-2020, 11:59 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: McBride/Prince George
Posts: 14,555
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Don’t forget your reward $$$.
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07-02-2020, 12:01 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,444
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You did the right thing. I understand why you are feeling the way you are. I probably would too. But good job anyways.
There is lots of things that can be said about walleye and Wab limits but that would go nowhere on this thread.
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07-02-2020, 12:17 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: calgary ab
Posts: 2,703
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The only ones that will jump on you for what you did could very well be poachers themselves. Good job you No need to feel bad at all. They need to know the rules
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07-02-2020, 12:25 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 11,858
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Ignorance is no excuse for not complying with the law. Every fisherman, trapper or hunter has a personal obligation to read, understand and comply with the law and take personal responsibility - as these laws are designed to protect the resource.
So in that regard, they were either ignorant to the law, or decided to break the law and they got what they deserved.
It's also not your job to mitigate or police people who break the law.
On the other hand, yeah, I get it, you felt bad and feel like maybe you could have intervened or changed that - but, at the end of the day, you did the right thing. Don't beat yourself up about it.
I know it's Wabamun where a few walleye taken out of there won't hurt anything, but that's irrelevant, maybe the next time this family goes out somewhere different and does the same thing the lake (and the impact) could be far different - as I'm sure the location plays a little bit into your feelings.
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07-02-2020, 12:31 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 243
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I have decided to stop trying to educate and start reporting. You did the right thing. Recently I saw someone using minnows at a stocked pond and informed them it was not allowed. The said they didn't know and thought it was a confussion over difference between bait, bait fish, spinners being minnows. Nope they had no clue about any if the regs and now doubt they had licenses.
They proceeded to cook up there catch and then move away from me and catch some more. Leaving a mess behind. Next I call it in if there is cell coverage
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07-02-2020, 12:45 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 12,770
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their responsibility to know the regulations, yours to call it in. I hope you can buy a couple new rods for your niece and nephew with the reward money. Thank you for sticking up for our fishery
__________________
Dinos
681
Shove your masks and your vaccines
Non Compliance!!!!!!
"According to Trudeau, Im an extremist who needs to be dealt with"
#Trudeau must go
Wheres The Funds
The vaccine was not brought in for COVID. COVID was brought in for the vaccine. Once you realize that, everything else makes sense.” ~ Dr. Reiner Fuellmich
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07-02-2020, 12:55 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: A bit North o' Center...
Posts: 11,149
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I understand how you feel. You did the right thing; the officer can show discretion if it's warranted.
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07-02-2020, 01:08 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Communist state
Posts: 13,245
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo
I understand how you feel. You did the right thing; the officer can show discretion if it's warranted.
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X2, good job!
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07-02-2020, 01:10 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Near Edmonton
Posts: 15,043
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I know it was no license weekend so they already got a heck of deal on free fishing, being too lazy to even read the regs is both stupid and rude.You warning and helping them will have nowhere near the educational aspect of fines and the embarrassment of being written up. The kids will for sure remember this lesson and perhaps learn to be much better outdoor people because of it.
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07-02-2020, 01:37 PM
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 1,879
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I didn't even know I may get a reward. He told me to call a specific number with a reference number he gave me after 30 days.
He also said I would only get a reward if my RAP call and case was eligible.
This was very unexpected.
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07-02-2020, 01:42 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 9,670
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Don't feel bad for their poaching. A lot would not call it in, good job. Imagine if you didn't, how many more fish they would take over the summer? That is assuming they learn from this.
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07-02-2020, 01:47 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,050
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i call in people all the time, i used to talk to them and try to let them know what the regs were. many times I've been told to F-off, or they'll throw me in. I've decided it's not worth my time or security.
I think many of those that claim ignorance of the rules know exactly what the rules are but they have their lie ready to go.
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07-02-2020, 02:02 PM
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 1,879
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sooner
Don't feel bad for their poaching. A lot would not call it in, good job. Imagine if you didn't, how many more fish they would take over the summer? That is assuming they learn from this.
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This makes me wonder how many times they have been to this lake to take fish home already. Does this give an officer enough warrant to check home freezers?
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07-02-2020, 02:10 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 12,770
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dean2
I know it was no license weekend so they already got a heck of deal on free fishing, being too lazy to even read the regs is both stupid and rude.You warning and helping them will have nowhere near the educational aspect of fines and the embarrassment of being written up. The kids will for sure remember this lesson and perhaps learn to be much better outdoor people because of it.
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Albertans and visitors can celebrate Canada's National Fishing Week with family fishing weekend on Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5, 2020. No licence is required to fish in Alberta anywhere outside of National Parks, but sportfishing regulations still apply.
nope they still get a no license ticket. and deserve one
__________________
Dinos
681
Shove your masks and your vaccines
Non Compliance!!!!!!
"According to Trudeau, Im an extremist who needs to be dealt with"
#Trudeau must go
Wheres The Funds
The vaccine was not brought in for COVID. COVID was brought in for the vaccine. Once you realize that, everything else makes sense.” ~ Dr. Reiner Fuellmich
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07-02-2020, 02:19 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Near Edmonton
Posts: 15,043
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WayneChristie
Albertans and visitors can celebrate Canada's National Fishing Week with family fishing weekend on Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5, 2020. No licence is required to fish in Alberta anywhere outside of National Parks, but sportfishing regulations still apply.
nope they still get a no license ticket. and deserve one
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Cool, I thought is was free fishing to celebrate Canada Day, apparently it is the weekend after CD, not the one before.
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07-02-2020, 02:49 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,491
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Too many poachers out there and the only way it changes is to report them when you see it
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07-02-2020, 03:15 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,516
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I reported a poacher
Good job. You were right to make the call.
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07-02-2020, 03:24 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,666
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100% 👍
You did the right thing as they were in the wrong weather they did know the regulations or didn’t know the regulations. My guess is they probably have gotten away with it before and weren’t worried about getting caught.
Great job reporting it.
__________________
As long as there is lead in the air there is always hope.
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07-02-2020, 04:13 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 9,670
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayhad
i call in people all the time, i used to talk to them and try to let them know what the regs were. many times I've been told to F-off, or they'll throw me in. I've decided it's not worth my time or security.
I think many of those that claim ignorance of the rules know exactly what the rules are but they have their lie ready to go.
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Agree 100%
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07-02-2020, 04:15 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 9,670
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HuyFishin
This makes me wonder how many times they have been to this lake to take fish home already. Does this give an officer enough warrant to check home freezers?
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Jayhad has it right, the ones who flaunt the rules, I bet most do it intentionally. Better to ask forgiveness and play dumb.
And I bet they did a freezer check, same day hopefully.
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07-02-2020, 04:19 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 4,340
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sooner
Jayhad has it right, the ones who flaunt the rules, I bet most do it intentionally. Better to ask forgiveness and play dumb.
And I bet they did a freezer check, same day hopefully.
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X2...If I was FW, first thing is get a search warrant and check fridge and freezer.
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07-02-2020, 04:38 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,107
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trigger7mm
Good job. You were right to make the call.
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x10 you did the right thing.
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07-02-2020, 04:49 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 866
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You did the right thing. Even though they were fishing as what seemed to be a nice family who knows how many they would have kept. And how many times have they done this? This way they will definitely be more aware of regulations and what happens when they don’t follow them. We have enough problems with poachers that secretly defy the system. If more people phone F&W instead of informing people they are doing something illegal it would make tougher on poaching. Trouble is there are not enough officers to go around at certain areas.
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07-02-2020, 05:28 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 124
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You absolutely did the right thing. Every PERSON that fishes any body of water MUST Read and fully UNDERSTAND the regulations for that body of water. The Regulations are pretty simple to understand. Like others are saying too if you make a suggestion to them they may turn on You big time. Have a couple Beer Bud and feel comfortable with how you handled it. I am proud of the way You handled it.
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07-02-2020, 05:28 PM
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Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,593
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the only thing i would suggest to you is if you go back to the same lake or anywhere for that matter just watch your back just in case. one of my buddies friend did something similar at travers and the 3 or 4 guys he reported ran over and beat the snot out of him. it was reported to the police and was on the news but i am not sure what the outcome was in that case.
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