I expected a no as well. And you better believe I've got printed copies of the confirmation email. We just simply have to be ready and willing to turn over any photos at a moment notice. Our DNR officers are stretched pretty thin to say the least the last few years with one guy covering numerous counties and I bet they saw this as a way to monitor without spending taxpayer money.
I could see it opening up a can of worms for them, that's why it surprises me. I could even see it making it difficult prosecuting your buddy's friend. Which, I can see opening up a can of worms for you as well, depending on how good of friends you two are.
Nice thing is I don't know or have met ever the person in the picture just his friend whom I'm friends with. I have thought about this and am kinda wondering the same thing...only time will tell, but I think at the very least this will send the message they are being watched and hopefully curb some of the issues we've had with them. It sucks having neighbors that are like this, I would kill to have neighbors who just do everything legally...and who knows maybe this will be the start of mending a frayed relationship, one can pray.
Um....funny you mention that, this group is connected to a guy who has shot a electronic deer in the past up in Michigan....it was quite the story when it happened (over 5 years ago).
Maybe you misunderstood my statement or I misread your response, I was referring to it damaging your relationship with your mutual friend. No offense, but I'd be leery of a friend that patrols land that isn't theirs looking to catch people. Maybe at one time I would have done the same as you, but over the last few years I've grown to realize that they're just deer and it's just deer hunting. Again, that's just my opinion.
You watch your mouth! LOL Well Ty, I think you did the right thing. If anything, you've earned the trust of the DNR and the land owner. It may ruin a friendship but you'll make even more within the DNR.
Oh I completely understand, and it may have, but in all honesty if it bugs him that I am doing everything legal to catch suspected illegal activity than he isn't the man I thought he was. Trust me Dan, I wish we didn't feel it necessary to run the cameras on the ground and on our hunting grounds overwatching the border....far too many issues and occurrences have made the landowner we know desire us to do everything we can to catch them as the DNR simply can't be there 24/7. If the DNR had said no we wouldn't have done it, if the DNR says now they desire us to stop we will. I wish this wasn't necessary, and I truly wish I hadn't had to get my mutual friend involved because I can understand he felt stuck and hate that I basically was the reason. Believe me Dan, I do from time to time struggle with the "deer thing" but while the thought has crossed my mind that yes they could have shot RD, I've honestly cared more about the injustice and in many ways am at peace already if they have killed RD. He was never mine, or my father's or anyone's. He gave me an awesome journey that I am grateful for...and if it was a different deer same thing. The issue is that I've come to realize the hunting community is allowing the "infection" within us to grow by turning a blind eye to things like this. This sport is only as clean as we help to make it and sadly at times when discussions or reasoning can't be done this type of steps are taken. I don't enjoy this stuff, it rubs me so wrongly and to the point that this property while our best property in potential is making me question whether it is worth the headaches we have each year....but I remember it is all in the end just life and hitting the tree is still as big of a blessing as before.
This isn't gonna happen I hope. The dude is a good close friend whom I spend a lot of the summer playing tournament ball with and traveling to tournies with. His buddy is claiming he was just walking around....problem is he had an arrow strung and is caught walking in and then walking out after dark hours later....on two different days. The suckiest part of it all is my buddy is probably gonna end up with both friendships not being what they were for awhile because I stuck him regrettably in the middle of something and his other bud isn't the guy he thought. Just a bitter sweet time for sure.
I find it very hard to believe that if someone was poaching deer on property right next door to yours, and possibly taking all of the best bucks, that you wouldn't care.
Sorry to hear about your situation Ty. Glad to hear you have located the culprit of at least trespassing.
I'd like to think that most of us would turn in a poacher we caught dragging a deer out of a sanctuary...and I'd bet 99% of us on here would do so if land you hunted happened to border said sanctuary. And the only difference between a trespasser and a poacher is a blood trail. Given the area's history; Ty's just being proactive about it - and he has not only that right but as a sportsman really a responsibility to do so if he has the time and means.
Who said I wouldn't care? Maybe you'll understand my POV a little better when you read my response to dnoodles.
I never said I wouldn't turn said person in, its the method and being allowed to do it that bothers me. Do you really believe that Ty has the right to set up a sting operation on State owned land? Personally, it bothers me immensely that any government entity would allow John Q. Public to set up such a sting operation for the sole reason of catching a criminal. There's a problem with people running the stop sign at the 4 way stop just down the road from me. Should the local Sheriff's Department allow me to set up video surveillance on the intersection and turn people in?
So, you believe I also have the right to set up surveillance on the intersection down the road from me, if the Sheriff's Department gives permission?
If you want to and legally have a place to do so yup. Dan I get your concern I do but to continue turning blind eye to what you know is happening is far worse in my opinion. Not to mention it got old knowing what was happening but couldn't prove it to dnr.
That's the problem, I don't believe it would be legal for me to set up surveillance on said corner, no matter if the Sheriff gave me permission or not. (which he wouldn't) If you were doing the same thing on private property, I have no problem with it. But, you're essentially running a sting operation on state owned land and IMO that's a huge problem. I get it, its easier for people to give up personal freedoms when its something that "benefits" them.
What's the difference in a business providing video footage of a robber who holds them up to steal the money from the cash register, a home owner who provides footage of people illegally driving through an intersection, and a hunter catching a poacher with a field camera? Whether the footage/pictures are used (or if they even can be used) to prosecute the offender or whether they want to investigate further and take further action is up to the law enforcing body. Why does it matter if a citizen was involved in catching the bad guy? Just because law enforcement doesn't catch them doesn't mean they didn't break the law.
