Game Wardens above the law?
 

I have pondered this for a few days and am still in wonderment of situation. Almost 2 weeks ago this coming sat. was our first part of the Illinois Firearm Deer Season.
I had parked out on the field road 1/2 mile from the main road as I have done for the past 3 years both bow and gun hunting this property. Landowners house and farm just behind me. I have a pair of domestic dogs come through my pop up blind site about 1000 am. Bout 1020 I see someone creeping along the timbers edge North of me, towards the other main county road there, wearing dark pants and a tan colored jacket/shirt. I am thinking its the dogs owner for they both had collars on. I thought what a DA for not haveing blaze orange on and in the timber on top of that. Illinois state law states that you MUST have at least 400 sg. inches on to be in the field during the firearm season, no matter what!!
I swing my video camera over there and zoom in to find out its a Game Warden creeping along the timbers edge/inside bout 80 yds from my stand. Thankfully downwind and on field edge opposite side. He has no blaze orange on, not even a hat. He is looking real intent. More than likely for me, maybe seeing my truck in the field road from his side of the block. He can't come no farther for that area is bout 3-4 inches deep mud/water and he only had leather boots on. He finally leaves. Figured he would swing round the bridge and come in behind me. Never did.
What kind of LEO who enforces the law as such, who does write citations for this type of thing, go and do what he tells people not to do, and does it himself?
With being a LEO myself for almost 20yrs come Jan. makes me think he thinks he feels he is above the law? I don't know who this cat is for I have on speed dial 3 of the local ones around here and thought bout calling one just to check to see who it is, but at same time don't want to start a fire if I don't need to.
REALLY thought hard bout burning a round into the dirt at base of blind towards his direction when he was in the mud/water just to see him drop and low crawl then thought "No". I know what kind of long arms we have and a few phone calls go a long way to ruin someones day. Not to mention if this cat is new to the area and wanting to make a name for himself. He could become my bad tattoo on my azz I can't get rid of!!!!!! Sorry so long, just curious what others have to say.

In addition to thinking he is above the law, sounds like he is not very bright either.

Roger that!!!!

Were you recording? Do you feel the recording is clear enough to identify the individual, or do you have other information that does? I think you should absolutely report it. To me, there is nothing more vile and dangerous than an LEO who violates the law he has sworn uphold. He is worse than the poacher where everyone screams, "Report him, report him!"

Your fear of reporting him? Retaliation from him and/or other LEOs who would be pissed that you decided to mess with their armed fraternity. That's something in our "free society" that we should never fear.

Yes I was recording. Its just a habit when I view. I can see him clear enough to tell if he missed any spots while shaving that morning.
I am as well one of their armed fraternity. I am not "fearing" this man by no means, for in the right instances, I have more arrest authority than he does, I am just rather curious as to why he feels that he is able to do this and not abide by the rules and laws that govern our state that he has sworn to uphold.

I have ran across co's here in Michigan who will stand on the pier next to you chat for a hour then ask for your license when you catch something. Street cloths no identification. Makes you a little irritated even though you are absolutely legal. And if he is out there with out the proper amount of orange on he is a moron. What good is catching someone breaking the law if it gets you shot in the process? The new ones are the worst. We had one sit on the road and glass our property for two weeks straight one year. We have never had any prior problems or fines issued.

I don't mean "fear" as in you are afraid of this guy like a little boy wetting his pants. But clearly from the post quoted below, you are not wanting to deal with the repercussions of reporting him. That is the type of "fear" I'm referring to.

How would any of us know? You saw it. You know or can find out who he is, so why don't you ask him, or his boss? What good does posting about it here do you, while doing nothing about it? Seems to me that your position as an LEO obliges you to do so. But that might not sit well among those within your fraternity, would it?

What I would do as one LEO to another is find out who he is and confront him in person about it. Ask him what he was up to on that date, time and place?

Are you for real? Why would a 20 year LEO speak of such things on the internet? I know LEO's they don't talk business on the net. If I'm not mistaken they are warned against it.

Why ask the general public which already thinks on the whole that LEO's believe they are above the law a question like this? Kind of like reminding someone you offended of the offense when they haven't thought of it.

"I am just rather curious as to why he feels that he is able to do this and not abide by the rules and laws that govern our state that he has sworn to uphold."

You tell us, your closer to that element than the butcher or candle stick maker. Probably thought the safety of the many out ways the freedoms of the one. He has legal grounds to think so with the inception of sobriety check points.

here in virginia, the open day of rifle season, we had 2 wardens walk about a half mile into our land about 12 oclock...of course everyone in our private land was out of the woods in camp just talkin but they come in, check everyones licenses, talked a few minutes, we beside our property is another 5 acrer peice of land and 3 guys were hunting it, and you could see them (had there orange on) well the wardens just cut straight down into the woods, nothin but tan on to go check the, guys.....they must have a set if they can just walk into the woods with just tan on twoards a group of hunters...same kinda situtation, haha

just thought id share

I can relate to your story.
I live in Illinois also and about 4 yrs ago my buddy had a Game Warden walk up on him opening day deer season wearing ALL dark green and NO orange.
I thought this was weird too, but didn't want to question him since he was checking properties for baiting as the game warden helicopter had spotted a pile of corn on neighboring ground.
The guy was ALL business and had no sense of humor--"just the facts",man.
He checked our tags/licenses,asked a few questions and left.

Mark

Do these wardens actually come to your stand and check your licenses? If so, that would tick me off. I have been checked before but back where my vehicle was parked.

Game Wardens
 

Dunno why you'd post if you're LEO but...

In CT, I was Duck Hunting a pub. spot in Central CT and saw this fella get out of a sink-blind, collect his dekes, get in a small motorboat and come to my side of the river. I helped him beach the boat.

After he got out, he thanks me and I.D.'d himself as CT DEP Officer and promptly left the property.

Guy was just a regular or appeared so.

Of course there was the two CT DEP guys that went to every Goose blind (NW CT cornfield) checking licenses, loads and plugs. As he reached over the top edge of our blind, my brothers fairly possessive lab growled and show her pearly-whites.

He then 'advised' us to "keep that dog in check". We advise him that the dog IS in check by being inside the blind and all he need do is ask for what he wanted rather than grab it.

That d!ckhead was not entitled to grab anything he does not own and he was reprimanded (by the dog) for forgetting that. He did'nt like it either and instead of admitting his mistake, played the LEO trump card.

I hope he learned from that or at least, gets nipped one day for his insolence.

Unfortunately, YOUR LEO may get nipped the wrong way if he doesn't learn, and then right quick too. Maybe you should make a discreet inquiry for his benefit.

I don't begrudge the difficult job LEO's have. I don't want to do it. However the power granted to them is a trust, not an entitlement.

Your fella, like the two who visited our blind need to remember that some people DO care how they act and will call them to task when they act inappropriately.

-- My $.02

What county was this in?

And let's get these facts out there before this gets going entirely in the wrong direction.

1.

Wildlife Code and Administrative Rules.

2.

Blaze Orange Clothing Requirements

It is unlawful to:



hunt or trap afield for any species, except

migratory waterfowl, during the gun deer
season in counties open to gun deer hunting
when

not wearing the solid blaze orange

clothing required for deer hunting (see

pages 16-19).

3.

NOTE:

During the muzzleloader-only, late

winter CWD deer and youth deer hunting
seasons, all trappers and hunters including
small game, migratory bird, furbearer,
archery deer and turkey hunters, must comply
with the requirements to wear blaze orange
in counties open to muzzleloader-only,
youth, or late-winter antlerless only deer
hunting. Waterfowl hunters are exempt.



hunt afield with a firearm for upland game

(pheasant, rabbit, quail or partridge) when
not wearing a cap of

solid blaze orange color.

NOTE:

Falconers and archers hunting upland

game are not required to wear the
blaze orange cap.

NOTE: Camouflage blaze
orange does not meet this requirement.

4. Persons tracking wounded deer with a dog

during the firearm seasons shall wear blaze orange

as required.

5.
Blaze Orange Clothing Requirements

It is unlawful to

hunt deer with any firearm when

not wearing a solid blaze orange cap/hat and an
upper outer garment displaying at least 400
square inches of solid blaze orange material.

NOTE:

Camouflage blaze orange material does notmeet

the requirements.

6.

Blaze Orange Clothing Requirements. See pg. 29

On those Department-owned or -managed sites
that allow archery deer hunting during the gun
deer season, archers must comply with the same
blaze orange requirements as the gun deer
hunters. During the muzzleloader-only deer season,
the youth deer hunting season, the late winter
deer season and the CWD season, archery
deer hunters must comply with the requirements
to wear

blaze orange in counties open to those gun

deer seasons.

NOTE: Camouflage blaze orange
material does not meet the requirement.

7.

Question # 4:

Can I archery deer hunt during

the Late-Winter Antlerless Firearm Deer Season
and the Special CWD Firearm Deer Season, and
if so, do I have to wear orange clothing?

Answer:

Yes. Even though archery season is

closed during the regular Firearm Deer Season,
archery season is still open during the Youth
Hunting Season, Muzzleloader Only Season,
Late-Winter Antlerless Firearm Deer Season and
the Special CWD Firearm Deer Seasons. If you
are archery hunting in a county open to one of
the firearm deer seasons, you must wear a solid
blaze orange hat and a solid blaze orange outer

upper garment of at least 400 square inches.

8.

Blaze Orange Clothing Requirements

When and where it is legal to archery turkey hunt during
any gun deer season, archery turkey hunters must
comply with the same blaze orange requirements as

gun deer hunters.

9.

Coyote hunters must wear 400 square
inches of solid blaze orange when hunting
in a county when there is any firearm
deer season in progress including youth
seasons, muzzle loader-only, late-winter,

and CWD seasons.

10.



Illinois Youth Controlled Pheasant Hunts

for Hunters ages 10-15



Information about controlled pheasant hunting

permit reservations is available on the Department’s
website at:

www.dnr.illinois.gov.



Each hunter must be accompanied by a nonhunting

supervising adult

who must wear blaze
orange.

11.

Blaze Orange Requirement – Ground Blinds on Public
Hunting Areas. It is unlawful to use or occupy a
ground blind during any firearm deer season on public
land unless at least 400 square inches of solid vivid
blaze orange material is securely attached to the uppermost
portion of the blind and a substantial amount

of orange is visible for 360 degrees.

So there you have it. There is nothing illegal about this CPO being afield while not wearing orange. If he was hunting, then you could question if he thought or was acting as if he was above the law.

But he wasn't hunting and it is YOU that is in err.

As you said yourself, "Sorry so long, just curious what others have to say."......

Here's what I have to say. I will address your comments one by one and refrain from any name calling. Name calling would be unnecessary and serve no purpose. The folks here have their own free minds & thoughts and can form their own opinions make their own decisions.


1. "I thought what a DA for not haveing blaze orange on and in the timber on top of that."

I'll bet you aren't thinking he is such a DA anymore.

2. "Illinois state law states that you MUST have at least 400 sg. inches on to be in the field during the firearm season, no matter what!!"

That is false. As a supposed LEO you should be ashamed for not knowing the law you choose to argue is not being followed - especially when the accusation is against another fellow LEO.

3. "What kind of LEO who enforces the law as such, who does write citations for this type of thing, go and do what he tells people not to do, and does it himself?"

Please refer #2's reply.

4. "With being a LEO myself for almost 20yrs come Jan. makes me think he thinks he feels he is above the law? I don't know who this cat is for I have on speed dial 3 of the local ones around here and thought bout calling one just to check to see who it is,
but at same time don't want to start a fire if I don't need to."

Please start by again refering to #2's reply. Furthermore imagine the what these CPOs would have thought if you would have called. The fire you started would have been the eternal flame of embarassment.

5. "REALLY thought hard bout burning a round into the dirt at base of blind towards his direction when he was in the mud/water just to see him drop and low crawl then thought "No".

Incredible.

6. "I know what kind of long arms we have and a few phone calls go a long way to ruin someones day."

Please see my reply to #4.


In closing all I can say is "AMAZING! ABSOLUTELY FRIGGIN AMAZING!"

Here in Pa we had a situation a few years back. Seems one or two guys on the Commission board were being investigated for misuse of funds, private use of equipment and workers, shooting deer without the proper tags and other items. A couple people resigned and that was the end of it. Now you bring that up and the Game Commission and the brainwashed younger wardens claim it never happened. Yeah, they are above the law.

Very true IMO.. No law inforcement official is going to discuss this type of stuff on an open forum on the net.. Here a Game Warden has more power than our state police officers do. They will also wear hunter orange when out in the day time checking hunters out. They look just like any other hunter most of the time. At night it is a different story when they are trying to catch someone night hunting.

About 20 years ago I was hunting in the mountains on public land. Lots of fog......ground was wet and you didn't make much noise. I was creeping along a trail when I caught movement off to my right. Thru the fog I saw the outline of a deer....looked like it was rubbing at a tree...working it real good. I raised my rifle...open sights....put the sights on the chest area and put my finger on the trigger.....and then .....and only then, did I realize that I was pointing my rifle at a man. He was bent over struggling with his gear....had taken off his blaze orange (if he ever bothered to put it on) and had on a tan shirt and dark pants. The way he was bent over, he looked like a deer. I didn't have any blood left in my body....obviously I had lowered my gun by then and I announced myself by clearing my throat. I moved on down the trail and started shaking like hell. At that time, I was LEO. I questioned myself on muzzle discipline and safety for quite some time. Thank god I realized I wasn't looking at a deer.
I usually don't hunt fog any more. That guy without blaze orange is a nut.

Uncle Matt, I do understand your point and I agree with you looking back and as you did, I will address these as so.

The issue I was addressing about being in the field w/o blaze orange on was based upon my personal dealings with someone who was issued a citation for being afield during a firearm hunting season, not actively hunting or firearm in possession. They showed me the citation.

I was on private property, not public, or adjoining public property. I also know that it has always been in the past that you must in display of some type of blaze orange while afield, usually a hat at minimum.

And yes, I am LEO and yes, even though I may not know each and every single USFWS code and regulation, I am drawing from what I have had dealings with in the past. I just know that I keep myself within these boundries myself to the best of my now pointed out limited knowledge outside my job spectrum, which are street related.

As far as discussing this with others on the web,this was more of a "has this happened to others other than myself" knowledge gaining
quest.

As to what county this happened in irrelevant. I didn't and won't post that for it does not matter.

As far as the round into the dirt goes, it was JUST a thought, though maybe not a good one, not even a remote consideration towards doing so, just a flimsy thought.

I was more or less trying to find out if more people than myself had endured this act or was it just my day to have such happen to me.

I greatly appreciate your time and effort to point out my error of ways. I now feel more educated towards this matter and will be looking more into this area of my ignorance of this matter. I will also find out who this fellow is and introduce myself when I contact him and see just what he was after and show him where I was hunting that day he came looking. For if he was there that day, he is new to the area and we will be crossing paths later in one way or another.
Sorry to have offended anyone with this. Ignorance is ungained knowledge.

All the same, this guy is still dumb for not wearing orange. I work in the woods, and I'm not required to wear orange either, but it's very smart to do so. That guy is an idiot if he's lurking around in the woods in semi-camo clothes during gun season, especially on private land where you're not expecting any trespassers. If he doesn't learn, he'll be a statistic some day.

Anyone.....Game Warden or not walking around the woods during hunting season without blaze orange on is a FOOL .....

I will admit he should have had some orange on but let me ask you this, is a LOE allowed to speed when responding to a call. Can he speed to catch up with someone who just blew by him doing 90 miles an hour? Why is a LEO allowed to pull his firearm and point it at you if he is unsure of your intentions but if I do it is assault? I new york you cant use a cell phone while driving but cops can.

I have no problem with LEOs breaking the law to do their job. In most cases you could say it is necessary that they do it. They have special training that most do not have.

If he was hunting and not wearing orange that is a different story. If you are not on the job and break the law because you are a LEO thats not acceptable.

I give game wardens all the respect in the world. They go out in the middle of noware and look for people that are armed to make sure they are doing everything right. Even SWAT works in teams.

Its not a law in California, and you won't ever see me out there in blaze orange. Blaze orange is a HUGE target, especially to the drug growing mexicans in our woods.

I was approached by a CO a couple of years ago, he also had no orange clothing.
And of all the things he approached me about, faded orange hat..lol.

There was also a local CO sneaking in on Charlestown State park land that was off limits to hunting.
A friend of mine reported him not knowing he was a CO, the CO actually had a gate key to the off limits area.
Supposedly he lost his rights to get drawn for hunts at the park and received an official reprimand.

Yes a LEO is allowed to speed responding to a call but is a LEO allowed to speed to get home for the night, or to take his kid to the basketball game? **** no he is not. I have followed several cops who were speeding like a mother just to get home. And I have I have seen more than a few cops pull somebody over just to see who was driving the car and for no other reason. If they ever pull me over without cause their butts will be in trouble with their superiors. They can not pull a person over without probable cause and just to look in the window to see who the driver is, is not probable cause. And yes it does happen. My dad followed the local sheriff in our town going 85 the entire way one time. He went straight to the gym and dropped his kid off and my dad waved as he drove by him. He knew he was caught. Needless to say that bugger leaves us alone now.
And personally our local LEO is a pain but at the same time he is doing his job. What ticks me off is he comes out and checks us while night rabbit hunting. We were legal and he asks us to give him a courtesy call for next time. So we give a courtesy call three times in a row, and three times in a row he comes out and checks on us anyways. Every ******* time we were legal he was just being a pain in the butt. So needless to say he no longer receives a call when we go out. To **** with it, we try to let him know so he doesn't have to be up at 3:00 am but he comes out anyways so we make him earn his money now. Also he likes to play ninja cop and run around with his nightvision equipment and follows us around just to see if he can catch us doing something illegal when he has no premise to suspect us of anything illegal. And we are always courteous and polite. Well off my soapbox.

While I don't want to let my paranoia show, for the most part I assume that for anyone w/ a badge & a gun the answer to your query is yes.
Like everyone else I have numerous personal anecdotes to illustrate my opinion. Suffice it to say I assume this to be the case and comport myself accordingly.

"your vehicle resembles that of one im looking for. but since i have you here, license and registration?"....reason enough, ive had it happen to me. there is always, always a reason to get pulled over...

I guess I'll comment. If he's not required to then he's not. It's just makes sense to wear it for one's safety. As to LEO doing what they want. Sounds to me like we're grouping all the LEO in one bucket here and basically calling them trash. I believe it's fair to say the phrase one apple spoils the bunch fits here. Remember these are the men and woman (majority of them) who swore to keep the peace and follow and enforce the very laws we do. There the ones who might take a bullet walking in the front door at a domestic abuse call, or have a revolver pointed in his or her face at a traffic stop at 12 am on a back road. And for what nothing they make crap for wages. They do it bacause they want to.

Yes, there are some bad apples but most put their lives on the line for us.

was he hunting or was he doing his job? if he wasn't hunting should he still need to be wearing orange?
RR


I was once told by an Illinois CO, very sternly and very very rudely, that "during during firearm season you absolutly should be wearing blaze orange in the woods even if you aren't hunting, matter of fact you have no business out there if your not hunting". On a side note, I beleive the law also says that no one can interfere with your hunt, shouldn't that include CO's? I mean if they want to check you out they can do it when you come out can't they?

Some thing that's missing these days is the right image. When LE looks and acts like the element they are paid to defend the innocent from, the battle is lost.

They are supposed to be the guys on the white horses, not look like the villains in black. Being in black may produce some results, but what it does to the vast majority is criminal. The majority believes LE thinks they are above the law, let that sink in and then wonder what example the people have to follow.

When LE conducts business in confiscated drug offender vehicles the message sent is LE is just like the drug lord. LE needs to understand, they are very few and need the admiration and support of the majority, Be the guys on the white horse and you'll get it, do it not and your all alone.

"Avoiding even the appearance of evil"

What county? I also hunt Illinois.

Game wardens are people, just like everything else theres good and bad.Once when I was 12 {god thats a long time ago} I had my deer license confiscated.We had left that morning and dad had grabbed both licenses off the counter.They were in the glove box and we were on our way to meet our hunting party.We werent even actively hunting yet just driving down a gravel road on the way to our buddies house.The warden had another group pulled over allready and as we came upon them he stopped us and asked for our licenses.When dad pulled em outta the glove box he took mine and wrote dad a ticket for being in possesion of multiple licenses even though I was sitting beside him, we werent hunting, and the licenses were in the glove box and not even in anyones possesion.Our biggest crime that day was driving down the road with orange vests on.The guy was just being a prick, he was new and on a power trip.It took a long time before I had any respect for them after that and to this day I will not wear any orange while Im inside a vehichle.It was later thrown out of court and the judge reprimanded the warden when he got anattitude in the court room but it cost me a year of gun hunting all the same.

A few years later we were hunting a river bottom and I got turned around and wound up coming out on the wrong property.The land I was on was owned by a warden who happened to br driving by at the time I walked out.he asked if I knew whos field I was in, i said no and told him I got turned around in the timber and figured I was about 1/2 mile off where I shoulda come out.He coulda wrote me up for tresspassing, took my licenses etc... but he just asked if I had seen anything and gave me a ride back to the right driveway. To this day if he stops me its generally a quick check of my license and about 20 minutes of chatting about what weve seen and how the deer/pheasant numbers are looking that year.He is a good guy, good at his job, and if he ever gives you a ticket you can bet you deserve it.

As far as GW wearing orange vests in the field why would they?Theyre dealing with armed people everyday, there out in remote areas, and generally alone.Theres more than just "legal hunters" out there.Poachers, drug runners, meth labs, you name it they run into it.Pretty sure i wouldnt care to walk up on a group of tweekers at a meth lab presenting them a blaze orange target to focus on.Id much rather go undetected as long as possible while I figured out what exactly I was looking at.

Welcome to reality. Have you read the news about NYPD lately?

OP, in your defense, I know LEO's who post on youtube and forums.. All the guys bashing and questioning the legitimacy of your post are full of you know what. CO or not, how stupid. There's a blaze orange law for us ordinary folk for a REASON.. If I was a warden you wouldn't see me stomping around without it..

Sounds like a trophy hunt to me :biggrin:

Well, I was attending some work related dealings this past week and came across a buddy of mine and I was asking him if he knew of any CPO's new to the area and told him why. He said yeah and that he was over at the County Sheriffs office now.
I finished up with what I was doing and headed over there. I ran into him and introduced myself and asked if he was down there at that time. He said yes. I told him where I was at when he came in and how I saw him. He just laughed and said that I must have my blind really blended in well for him to not see it. I told him I did.

I asked him why he did not have any blaze orange on and he stated that it was recommended by dept. but not required, more of was his choice. He did state that it is more than likely not a real good choice, but still his choice. I told him what I thought and what I had thought of and he laughed and said that if he had spooked off a big buck doing so, I guessed he would have it coming. I told him that he had a good walk to get in from that side and he agreed.

I then gave him my card with my cell and wrote my home on it as well as my vehicle descriptions and tags on it. I then gave him a map from the road he came in on to my blinds, both lock-on and pop up and where I park at. I told him that I go in before light and come out after dark unless I get one. He said that he had just transferred in and saw my truck out there and was just looking around. I told him next time he wants to see me, just call me and we can go from there. Better to work together that against each other. He agreed, gave me his card with cell on it, shook hands and off we went. All good.

You sound perfect for the job. Leo's are not the only professions warned against posting on the internet by the by, but that doesn't stop them either until the chit hits the fan. See many Health care proffesionals talking about the mistakes they make? I imagine if you were a Doc you wouldn't wash your hands after touching a sick person.

I read all the posts up to this point and feel, the intentions of this thread, were to vent anger at and degrade LEO's. No Conservation Warden working in the field , in his right mind, would make it easy for someone to kill him! I have never seen a warden in the woods with out the legal atire on. (Over 40 plus years) Call it what you want, I don't believe the Story, cause that is what it is.

Now, could a warden go haywire? I suppose one could, but, the Law Enforcement officers know every one in their jurisdiction and word would get out rather quickly. And YOU, if you are a LEO, are a chicken s**t for not reporting him, that is if this story really happened.
:mad:

I'm going to play devils advocate..
Did he have a firearm, or bow in his possession?
Your not hunting if you don't have these..
Yeah some Officers do think they are above the Law..
Not all though.. Some are respect their badges and limitations..
Limitations such as CO's not allowed to stop vehicles on highways or set up roadblocks on a hunch you may be going to or from a hunting place, without a visual of a dead animal in your possession in your vehicle.They can only Legally check your vehical and Rifles in the presance of a Police Officer who sets up some sort of roadblock. A CO has no legal right to stop you..If you have no animal and he throws on his lights and wants you to

pull over to side of the highway, to inspect, just wave to him and drive on by..
Some Officers try, and hunters that don't know this law allow them to search and inspect..But most Officers abide by it..
I don't know what your Laws are as far as non hunters in the bush,
but up here, there is no Law as far as what non hunters can or can't
wear during hunting season..
I hunt fish, and dog train with CO's, Fishery and Wildlife Biologists and Police Officers.
Not all the time do they do carry weapons..
Maybe he was in uniform but off duty just walking dogs..
Alot of hunters including the officers I hunt with and myself enjoy just
walking our dogs in the Bush during hunting season without actually hunting..It's up to the hunter to recognize the fact other people enjoy the bush as much as they do for different reasons..
Maybe he was on Duty without a Weapon..
If your not in possession of a Firearm or Bow, walking a dog in the bush without a leash is allowed during hunting season..
Unless you see a weapon, don't assume..
I don't think this person broke any law in any way shape or form..
He obviously upset you.. But Public Property is just that, Public..
And there is different Laws that must be recognized to those that don't or aren't hunting..