I have a few contacts with Law Enforcement, including the GW. I told a story a while ago about a deputy harassing me about a bow in my back seat with arrows in the quiver. He was looking for anything he could do to write me up for something...even accused me of hunting out of season because I had my bow and was coming out of the woods (on my own leased property).

I have had more contact with animal control than any other game and inland fishery guys. I have actually found a loophole to get ridof the hounds that are constantly running deer on my land and it didnt come from the GW that said there was nothing I could do.

I have called my buddy at animal control on numerous occasions to come and get the hounds. If they are not wearing their rabies tags and county tags on their collar, its a violation and he takes them to the pound where they get a nice bath, flea or tick control, a good meal or two, and get tested for worms, etc. The thing that is helping me rid them of coming back is the fee (bond) the owner has to pay to get his dog back.

My point is that is a very wise decision, just as GMMAT says, to at least get to know their name and build some type of relationship. Unfortunately my county is probably the largest in the state and the limited numbers of GW's dont really seem to want a buddy to talk to about hunting and regs. They are too busy out driving their F350 4x4's writing fishing citations and checking for unlicensed hunters. I have a GW that lives about 3 or 4 miles from me and I always wave at him while passing but he never waves back. Seems like a real pompous *******. I have talked hours with the Animal control guy, and even have plans to hunt with him this year.

You are lucky Jeff to have contact with him 3-5 times a year, our GW doesnt even have a phone number to call. Its all dispatched through the county and 9 out of 10 times they dispatch me to animal control. I live in such a rural area I sight my scope in on my muzzleloader in my back yard, even go through a few boxes of shotgun shells target shooting.