Originally Posted by
Topgun 3006
"You think that trespassing for any reason is wrong and should be treated as a serious crime. Does that sum it up?"
With the exception of using the word serious it is very simple if that's what you want---If a law says you can't do something and you go ahead and do it anyway, regardless of why, you are in violation of said law. Maybe that's a strict intrepretation that you and Rockport don't agree with regarding trespassing, but I won't get a ticket because I won't disobey said law, whereas Rockport stands a good chance of that AND losing his deer AND possibly even losing his hunting priviledges if caught and it's determined to be an egregious violation. It is not up to the individual to make a determination of whether they think the law is good or bad and to violate it if they think the latter. If they think it is bad, then it's up to them to try and have the law changed, not violate it. I guess this may come from a 30+ year career in law enforcement, but that's my take on it.
Not really, the law in IL has lots of hoops. Many hoops in which most land owners don't jump through. If I were taking law as the end all of everything I could go on the neighbors property any time I want because it is not properly posted. I don't do that because I have morals but the law does in fact say that I can. 99 out of 100 times this is how the conflict between law and my morals go (something I could legally do but don't because its against my morals).
I'd watch what you wish for when advocating following the law to a T because the law is very far from perfect.
To me not letting someone retrieve a wounded animal is abusing the law just like me hunting on land that is not posted properly would be.