not all of us are gonna agree on everything but I do try to respect everyone and thier opinon. Had a plumber once that padded the bill on me, but doesnt make me think all plumbers are crooks and I sure as heck am not gonna run them all down because of thier profession.

Every one likes to bust on the WCOs about game laws. Does anybody thank them when they increase hunting opportunities by convincing private land owners to open or keep open their land for public hunting.

Good point pats. If im not mistaken, i believe they are responsible for signing up many if not most (maybe all?) of the co-op lands. Great program!

Most Land Management groups have a Farm Game Manager, he is responsible for signing up and keeping the farmers happy He concentrates on blocks of farms.. The WCO signs up people in that dont fit into a block of other farms. I had two signs ups this year, and working with a Township now that borders SGL 232. The WCO is responsible for patrolling all enrolled properties and addressing landowner concers over illegal activity.

From what I see, not nearly enough!

We should all think about what RWJ said about donating his time. How many of us would come home from work, turn on the computer and offer to "talk shop" where more often than not, offering your help just gets you an argument or an insult?

This thread started out with a ,more or less, loaded question just itching for a dispute. The personal shots were unnecessary unless the original purpose was really just a flame war.

Do the wooded tracts fall in this category?

RWJ : My main purpose of posing the question was so I had some sort of idea what I must tolerate in the future.
Twice now I had my grain field (s) driven over by a WCO and his Dep. while patroling for late night shooting in the area of my farm, soy bean field sustain loads of damage when wet and driven on or when the plants are green and wet.
In one case I confronted the DWCO face to face an asked who gave him permission to drive in the field ( there is a 2 track tractor path 1/2 way around the field). His reply was he had wanted to hide the truck and wait along the edge of the field in the woods for late spotlighters. To which I replied well who's going to pay for the lost beans an ruts in the field...he shrugged and walked off to meet his partner parked in my woods and hiding next to the 2 track where it entered the field thru the woods.
The other case was when the same WCO with a trainee in his Dodge truck was stuck in another wet silage cut corn field. when he knocked on my door to ask if I could pull him out with my tractor he explained he was parked there so he could watch with binos for illegal turkey hunters on the nearby Gamelands. He had ruts 8" deep for 100 yds back to where he was stuck. Never did he offer to repair any damage but did thank me for pulling him out.
In neither case did the WCO or the Dep. have any reason to trespass on my land in hopes that an infraction might take place. An the crumb comment comes from them not wanting to walk a few hundred yards or wait in the rain.

I would never set up for night patrol on anyones property without asking. If things happend just the way you said you should contact your Regional Office and talk with the L.E. Supervisor. I can understand why you would be upset with the situation.

The PGC must like to drive in farmer's fields.


Several years ago during dove season a buddy of mine was hunting with a few of his buddies. They were parked in a field. In the middle of the field was a large, old oak tree. They were sitting in the shade of the tree when a GW came down the long lane/driveway.

He immediately drove through the field up to the oak tree. He jumped out shouting, "I want to see everyone's license right now!"

He check everyone's license and the shell capacity of each gun. He then went on a rant about parking the vehicle in the field below. He wanted to know who's vehile it was and said they would be getting a fine.

My buddy with the vehicle started to chuckle. The GW wasn't too happy when he did that and became more irrate. The GW started to write him up. In a very confrontational attitude, the GW wanted to know why he parked in the field. My buddy just shrugged his shoulders and said "I don't know, I just did!"

When the GW ask where he was from, my buddy pointed to the house at the end of the lane. The GW had a shocked look on his face and then ask, "Do you own this property?"

My buddy nodded his head and said, "Yes, I do!"

The GW started to apologize. My buddy started to chew him out for driving through the field. Aking why he just couldn't have rolled down the window and ask about who's vehicle was there and if they had permission, rather than drive through the field.

The GW had a real change of attitude and kept saying he was sorry.

I don't know, maybe the PGC like to test out the 4WD on their vehicles by driving through farmer's fields.

The issue of GW's driving onto private land like that seems fairly common. I have never heard of it happening in the part of Illinois where I live. I think that in most instances GW's with any sense are not going to park their vehicle and walk in unless absolutely necessary, largely because they know that they are leaving their vehicle all alone while they are off doing stuff that is likely to irritate the locals. To my knowledge, the GW's in my area do only roads patrols and do safety/license checks on people entering and leaving the woods. Never heard of a GW actually walking on to property unless responding to a complaint.