While standing and chatting with my hunting buddy at our parked cars along the foothills of the National Forest, embolden local residents stopped to log my license plate number and report my presence to the local sheriff's department. Less than 15 minutes later a sheriff's deputy arrived. The female officer indicated that the department received a report that hunters were in the area and requested to see our hunting permits. Mind you, my buddy and I were standing at our vehicles without weapons visible. The Sheriff's department was already aware that it is hunting season. In many places, hunters wear camouflage clothing to mask their appearance from the animals.
Since my buddy and I were simply standing and talking, I informed the deputy that the permits we hold are valid for hunting, not standing and talking on public lands. She indicated that she wanted to check the permits in the event we went hunting later. I asked if she stopped individuals standing and talking in the park and request a valid driver's license in the event they decided to drive later. Requesting my hunting permit when I'm not hunting is just as ridiculous as requesting my driver's license when I'm not driving. The deputy repeated that she had the responsibility to investigate the incident because of the call into the office. We provided her with the information requested and she politely acknowledged that she understood why we were less than thrilled with her presence. She indicated that the department receives many calls from local residents during the hunting season reporting the presence of hunters in the area. I'd hate to be the resident needing immediate assistant to only find out the deputy was dispatched to investigate the presence of a hunter in the National Forest hunting area during hunting season wearing hunting attire. Time for communication...
No comments:
Post a Comment