I come back & this thread is 4 pages on its way to 5. No way I am reading it all, it CAN'T be worth it.
Being young is no excuse for ignorance as I too am only currently 20 and I imagine I'm the same age as the kid on topic. I can't say that I've ever even thought about doing the things he's done. He knows the regulations, he knows the laws, and he knows the consequences. Just because he had a bad role model doesn't mean that he has to follow in their steps, because he knew damn well that what he was doing was wrong. Everyone has mad bad decisions in their lives that they never got caught or punished for, including myself. It still doesn't mean that I don't look back on it and know it was wrong and that I shouldn't do it again. This kid didn't make just one mistake in the process, he made many and would have probably continued blatantly breaking the laws until he got caught.
It isn't I just wasted my lunch time here at work reading it. I could've been reading a more productive thread. :d
The first hog I ever shot ran onto private property and I wanted it so bad but you know what? I knew it was illegal so nope never did it. Just this year I was hunting a property line when a shooter buck was standing 5 feet from the fence line. Would have been a chip shot and you know what, I let it walk because it was illegal. I have had many oppurtunities to shoot deer out of season and clean them in my shed with apsolutely no one ever finding out but you know what, I went with no venison for 4 years because that would have been illegal. 10 years ago my fishing honey hole got cut off by a gate. A guy own 400 yds of property between the gate and the government property. Within months everyone knew where the key was to get in but you have to tresspass to get by, man I sure miss that honey hole!!! (I was 19 at the time too, hMmm???) At anytime over the years I could have hunted the property beside me without anyone finding out. The guy lived over an hour away and never came down. I could have sneaked back to my place and never made an apperance. I caught him one day and now have access to hunt it. Why is it so inconcievable that someone just might abide by the law?? Yea, I speed on occasion and when I did get pulled over and the cop ask me if I knew why I made no excuses, "Going over the speed limit sir, trying to get home from work a little faster!" I got a "I understand that. Here is your ticket and have a nice day!" I broke the law, I made no excuses and I paid the fine.
People, especially young people are hugely influenced by their enviornments. His uncle and Father were brought up on charges as well, that says a lot to me. I doubt he had very much in the form of role models beyond those guys and while what he was doing was wrong he has probably been raised seeing that kind of behavior. Still not condoning it just trying to scratch below the surfac a little. You state that we have all done things we never got caught or punished for and I agree 100%. So is that the difference? We are better than this kid because we didn't get caught, punished, turned in, etc. I see no difference, I don't see myself as better than this young person at all, maybe luckier, but not better. He is 19 and obviously picked up some bad qualities from the men in his life that should have been teaching him and guiding him. Is he a lost cause? A moronic law breaking criminal? I think not. Being completely honest here if I could look back on my life and say the worst thing I ever did in my youth was poach a deer that would be an improvement from the facts for me and I'm sure many others as well, and I don't come from a family of poachers.
Don't give us your "I made the right decision highlight reel", tell us about when you didn't and it still worked out OK for you. If your worst mistake in life thus far (in 20 years) is speeding, then my friend you are ahead of the curve. I'm not saying that it's impossible but you are definitely in the minority.
Germ, not sure if I'm being called a nark or not, don't care looking at the source but I think many are missing the point about the father and uncle as well. If I remember correctly, (.. .......) came to me and said he's looking into it because at the time, in the zone or whatever, there was no rifle/gun season and the photos clearly showed not only lc but the others with gun kills as well. So, the informate (which we'll refer to him) took the direction he took as clearly there were at least 3 violating game laws. I respect his decision and say thank you for something I may or may not have done myself. I don't know Jeff, if I had enough proof of the illegal activity, I suppose I may call your local game guy to "look into it", on your neighbors. If he found illegal activity, so be it. If not, my conscience is clear either way. And Dan took my answer Jim, it's not worth the read. :d
Was it not you who simply said, feel free to hit the back button and stay out of the thread. Many asked in the past, what ever happened, I was given an update, I shared the update. I'm sorry it doesn't measure up to your expectations. I was referring to the direction it was hijacked and turned when huntingson made his post. Again, feel free to NOT chime in on my threads. I'll try to do likewise.
To someone who knows better it might not be worth it, but if someone sitting on the fence, reads it, and finds out that there are actually people out there that WILL turn you in, they hopefully will think twice, then its worth it!
I've been saying this for a long time. Discipline goes along way folks!! Your whole post was good babyburb but I really agreed with what I quoted above. For crying out loud people no one wants their kids to get Into trouble but you know what, at some point you gotta let them take responsibility for their actions. It doesn't mean you don't love your kids, It could mean you love your kids that much more!
I got to the top of page 3 and decided that to save me from reading the entire thread or getting into what seems to be ridiculous arguments I'll just post my thoughts and be done with it... I will turn in a poacher EVERY time... I don't care about age, color, gender, etc...As a matter of fact, I've turned in a good friend of mine for poaching... That's right, I take game laws seriously and I do what it takes to police our own ranks. I also call in what I belive are drunk drivers if need be... Theyre not only risking their own lives but also mine and my loved ones...
When I read your post it came off that you are trying to say that we are all criminals in someway or another and that we are just not getting caught. I just get tired of hearing the "cast the first stone commits" (not that you said that). If that was not what you meant it as, my apoligizes. As far as the higlight reel commit, I was just repling to gmmat's thread about slippery slopes and there are people out there that does follow the law, even as "kids" per se. I would have never listed the stuff like I am better than others. Again, my apoligizes if it came across like I was Holy than (insert name).
I won't say that I disagree with these thoughts because in theory I don't but I can guaran-damn-tee you if either of my sons were in trouble of this level and facing a felony I would do whatever I had to do to try and get it reduced or dismissed. Not because I think they were'nt wrong but because even though there are success stories life for a convicted felon will be much harder on many levels because of our system and not necesarily the crime committed. With that said after re-reading the Alberta thread I don't know what kind of charge it is or if their system is similiar to ours at all.
