Dont look now but here comes the DNR!

[rock]

Wow never thought I would see them out in the area I hunt at. There is nothing out there but fields and a few homes scattered. But they were there...stopped and talked to me. I hadnt been finding nothing but broken pieces but they looked anyway. Took all of my info I had as for permission and my name. He was nice but you know good and well if I hadnt been out there legal Id be in jail rite now. There was 2 of them in the truck. Im guessing they were looking for hunters seeing it is hunting season. This is what I had in my pocket that I showed him. Im sure he didnt want it, lol. HH and be careful rock.

 

[Jon Stewart]

After reading some posts on here I guess I shouldn't have put the job I retired from down.

 

[GaRebel1861]

Rock,

You should have taken off running across the field when you saw them coming!

That's bad advice and I am just kidding of course. I really have no problem with D.N.R. checking. They might just catch someone in a field that does not have permission to be in and that I do. Trespassers give us a bad name. JMO

 

[Tnmountains]

After reading some posts on here I guess I shouldn't have put the job I retired from down.

Nahh I am good with them and TVA, just know you do have rights, and what you can and cannot do according to the laws and all is good.

 

[rock]

In the state of Ms. they can come in your house and look for game items if they think and I say think you have done anything. They can arrest anyone in the state, just like a Fed., They also set up stings on people digging graves and artifacts on public or private lands. I know a lot of folks are anti Government, but when the MAN has you in his crosshairs, the best thing is to be legal and say yes sir and no sir.JMO

This is true in the state of GA. They have allot of power and can basicly do whatever they feel is needed. They could of searched my truck if they wanted to. I didnt have any guns in my truck so it was all good. I believe they might of been looking for hunters trespassing on private land. I was walking rite near the road when they pulled up next to me even though I was in the field. I was totally honest with them and did everything they asked. It could of went another direction if they felt like I was trying to hide something. I had met the one over the summer when kayaking and I didnt have a proper life jacket in my boat. He told me to get the rite one and I did. I refreshed his memory on it and told him I got a new one like he told me to. He didnt give me a ticket that day so I am thinking he was just doing his job again. The main reason for this post is just be careful when you guys and gals are out you just never know when the man is going to show up. HH, rock

 

[rock]

I would like to find the "rules" on what a DNR officer can and can't do. I have heard so many stories about their power, but these are just stories.

You can google the DNR in your state and read all the rules and regulations. I do know state parks are out completely for any kind of hunting unless otherwise stated. I called last yr on using my MD in a park where it use to be legal to use but this yr they told me I could still use it but couldnt dig at all and if you find anything worth more than $25 you had to turn it in or leave it. My response to that was well I guess its out then. How can you swing the MD and not dig?

 

[wetfly]

Did you ask to see their permission to be on private land? I completely see the need for law enforcement and the protection of wildlife and artifacts but there should always be a warrant issued for any search without cause and for entering private property without exegent circumstances, otherwise you are inviting every officer to become Wyatt Earp and think they are the law! Glad the outcome went well for you this time but I would ask the land owner if he was asked permission from them to enter, after all , had you not asked , you'd be trespassing too!

 

[joshuaream]

Rock, I think you handled it well. I know there is a principle behind illegal search and seizure, but I've always been strait forward with any law enforcement officer, and have never had a bad experience.

The YouTube videos of people not answering or being rude to police when being stopped for speeding are funny, and legally protected examples of citizens exercising their rights, but I'll take the easy way out and assume there is a specific reason they are looking for someone or something. Maybe I'm eroding my children's rights over time.