Federal Agents And Elk.....

[GloryDaze]

Soggy- I agree with most of what you said, however a few things maybe not so much-

Let's just say the agent made me feel like I was guilty until I could prove myself innocent. You wouldn't have written me a ticket because my fishing poles had not even left the car, so you would have did what he did check it out. And you would have then believed me that I had a license, but called it in on the way down and just simply forgot the 8 digit confirmation number they gave me.

Him not knowing me from Adam, I would maybe expect a decent encounter and maybe try building some rapport before treating me like I was doing something wrong.

All he encouraged me to do was not come back- now I know for some of you that is a good thing.... but for every one of me that doesn't come back- there is a good chance the person who replaces me will not treat the river and it's surroundings anywhere near as good as I do.

All I hope is they are catching people doing things illegally and can do it often enought to clean things up and make a difference.

[joeD]

That's what I'm SAYIN.' Can you imagine? The audacity, the unmitigated gall, of a law enforcement officer to question one of US, and, get this, to be IMPOLITE about it! THE HORROR! THE HORROR!

Don't worry GloryDaze, even though you two were parked illegally and had no fishing licenses on your persons, you did nothing wrong.

[GloryDaze]

Say it ain't so Joe-

I'm not usually a keyboard warrior and rarely stoop to the level of silly online banter, but your post is just a softball waiting to be hit out of the park-

Obviously you can read my previous posts, however comprehending them seems to be the disconnect here. I never once stated I had any problems with the Federal Agent questioning me. As a matter of fact, I welcome the interrogation- rather my concern was the tone and rudeness in the way I was questioned. I believe he has every right to ask me as many questions as he feels necessary until he can decide if I am threat to him and (or) the river. It is my opinion that if his tone and demeanor would have been friendly I would have never posted this to start.

Please refer back to the orginal post regarding the fishing license and parking. However, just to clarify for the 3rd time regarding the fishing license. At the time he questioned me for my license I was not attempting to take fish- heck, the poles were not even out of the car. So while I appreciate your observation and accusation I was breaking the law, you are wrong bud.

As for the parking- if you read the original post, the agent made it clear there was no way for me to know I was parking illegal and it is their fault they do not provide better signage. So, once again- it is obvious you can read but it is very clear you cannot comprehend.

So Joe- I will go back to my original stance...... All I wanted to do is enjoy the weekend on the river. I had a bad experience with an agent and shared it with the board here. When doing that, I understand my opinions and story are open for scrutiny. Quite honestly I rather enjoy starting a little fun conversation once in a while on these boards.

So thank you for scrutinizing my story- heck what's that old saying "opinions are like a-holes, everyone's got one" I hope your experiences with agents on the river are good in the future and you never have to deal with an agent like this.

- Cheers

[joeD]

Good grief! Settle down Beavis. I was hoping to convey good natured sarcasm and ribbing, certainly not a personal attack. My mistake. I get it, I truly do, and I understand all your points. I know and trust the people on this forum are not the problem on our riverways. My encounters with agents have been generally positive, sorry yours wasn't. Besides, I'm generally suspicious of people who get their pictures taken with Dee Snyder.

[GloryDaze]

Now don't tell me you havent' spent a little time jammin' to some Twisted Sister in your day......Not even a little "I wanna Rock" when you're having a rough day and just want to rock out??

Believe it or not- he is playing a pretty big role with an event I have coming up in September.. can you imagine the crowd that's still coming out to see him- it should be priceless!!

And given the fact you actually recognized him tellls me you are smewhat familiar with the likes of "We're not Gonna Take it"

'Destroyer" and "Let the good times Roll"- all of which are classic rock hits!!

[joeD]

Trust me, when I rock out, it's not to Twisted Sister! OMG! People still want to go see them?! I guess the end IS near. Next you'll tell me Quiet Riot is AWESOME and in heavy rotation on your iTouch. Yikes.

[Al Agnew]

Several thoughts here...about fishing licenses, I was of the impression that you needed to have the paper even if you did the transaction online, does anybody know for sure what the case is there? Glory, you admitted it was your fault you didn't have the confirmation number...seems to me that if you DON'T have to have the paper, the confirmation number would have to be VERY important. Picture this...say the agent wasn't near his car radio to check out whether you were in the system. He would have no way of knowing whether you were or not until he got back. Certainly no way to enforce the law that way except to give you the ticket. I suspect that he would have been following the law to ticket you JUST because you had neither paper or the confirmation number, no matter what the law is about the paper. Whether or not he did it politely or not, I suspect he WAS cutting you some slack there. As for when you are legally fishing, I think that if there are fishing rods in the boat or on your person when you are on or near the water, it is legally assumed that you are fishing. While your rods were still in the car, once he asked you for the fishing license and you DIDN'T say, "We aren't fishing", it is legally assumed that you ARE planning to fish (which he would have easily ascertained anyway just by continuing to watch you load the boats). I once got a stern warning because I was floating the Buffalo with a woman who DIDN'T fish (this was many years ago), and the agent said that it would be legally assumed that we were both fishing because there was more than one fishing rod in the boat. (And actually, I could see the point of her even needing a license simply because she was handling the canoe so that I could fish, although I didn't think of it at the time and don't think the law reads that way.)

As for the driving onto the gravel bar, how obvious was the embankment he said you drove over? Was it obvious that other people had been driving onto the gravel bar the same way? If so, he should have been more polite about that.

His other questions seem to me to be valid ones. So it seems that the only real gripe you have was that he was a horse's rear end about the way he asked them. While it doesn't excuse his attitude, I suspect that if you deal with drunk or potentially drunk party floaters all day, your attitude might get a little jaded. Too bad his seems to be.

[taxidermist]

There is no need for any of the Feds to be rude, even if they have a bad day there is no need. They have even stopped many locals outside of the park boundries. News flash today there are three new park vehicles that say "HOmeland Security, Federal police" on the side of them.

I have been around the river since I was a kid, which is longer than some of you are old. We had cattle at Kyles Boys ranch before it became park property again longer than a few of you are old.

Hopw many remember when you could drive through fromt he boys ranch and come out at Paul Scroggins place at Compton?

I looked a some land back in by Tom Thumb, the road was very bad getting in, found the survey pins, but also foundout the Park had managed to close the road where it crossed a small corner of the park. After talking to a couple Harrison lawyers it would have cost 10,000 or more to fight the park and get the road opened. So is a since they have another 180 acres thats park land but taxes are paid by an indiviudal on.

Y'all have never seen the park rangers set by the Carver Cem. and write people tickets for speeding either have you? Some one finally made them quit, but finally they did.

Three years ago my truck was searched from top to bottom without my consent by big badged park boys as I drove out of Gene Rush, no gun, was not driving fast minding my own business. Yes I complained it fell on deaf ears and took a minor act of congreesmen to get the ranger chewed out. Now I carry a copy of the Constitution with me and the IV amendment page dog eared.

Many of the kids get a badge and allow the authority to turn to power hungry beng.

I simply stay away from the Buffalo, since most locals dont spend enough money around the area.