Conservation Officer Question

[FOOTDOC]

My son and I went to LOTW this past weekend and were both a bit stunned by what took place. The fishing was very slow and we were in a house that we rented from a popular resort in about 19' of water. There was the normal amount of auto traffic on the road out of Morris Point and it was about mid day. So, we barely see out of the corner of an eye, a person in a black suit with a crash helmet on come around the corner of our house. He pulls the door open and says, " Oh, you are not who I thought you were" and steps in the house. He removes his helmet and asks to see our licenses. He checks our gear and chats for a while and leaves. He never once identified himself as a DNR officer. When I told the resort owner this story, he seemed upset and told me no one was allowed in the ice house without knocking and asking permission to enter. The whole experience seemed wierd and very forward. I think I might ask some questions to the MDNR. What is your opinion?

[leechlake]

If he thought he was walking into a buddies house and then realized he was wrong he should have been embarrassed. However, once he realized he screwed up he should have apologized big time and moved on, or lef the house and then requested that he could come in. You did nothing wrong, it's hard to do anything but comply, especially in the circumstance and I'm sure the surprised state you were in.

If your a letter writer I'd send a note to him and/or his supervisor explaining what happened, you may get some satisfaction and hopefully an explanation or apology. It's a tough job but some common courtesy and or following the law is the way he should have done his job.

[FOOT]

I agree w/ leechlake. It's difficult to understand his motivation and in a situation like this it's probably better to comply with his wishes and then question it later.

A few years ago it was legal for a CO to just walk in to your ice shack without knocking or announcing him/herself. Due to some individuals who were caught with drugs in an ice shack and them going to court it is now the law that the CO must knock, identify themselves and wait to be invitied in.

I myself liked it better when they could just walk in. But the law is the law and it either needs to be changed or obeyed.

[Tripleplay]

I number of years back I was up at my brother-in-laws (BIL) for New Years and the guys decided to go fishing. My BIL was best friends with one of the local CO's so we were allowed to use his house. As you can imagine, no CO is going to throw his name on his house so it was under a relatives name or something which probably avoids a bunch of problems for him.

Here we are four of us fishing crappies and just enjoying being away from the kids and ladies for awhile when the door literally gets ripped open! I think there wasn't a clean set of shorts in the house. Sure enough, it's another CO who sees the fire is going and decides to pop in and see his buddy. NOw he is really embarrassed as one of the guys actually kicked over the minnow bucket from the shock. He apologizes and shoots the breeze for awhile, never did check us or anything.

I can honestly say that although I wouldn't mind the CO's being able to enter unannounced to catch the cheaters, I'm not sure I ever want to go through that shock again and I feel the original poster's pain.

[Dave S]

I'm not too familiar with the area, but if you happened to stray into Canadian waters, there would be a different set of rules.

If you were in fact on MN waters, he had no business entering the house in the first place, let alone asking for licenses or inspecting gear.

Maybe he was looking for someone (criminal), but should have given you the decency to explain his actions. You could have/should have politely declined to accommodate him.

Did he have any thing such as Conservation Officer patches or a badge on his clothing? If not, I would be very skeptical of this guys actions.

[PierBridge]

Sounds like they were pack swarming the resorts this past weekend I heard of quite a few people that were sited for violations while fishing from rentals.

Good job on being legal!!!!

[SCUMFROG]

If this would have happend to me and my son, they would have been some I.D. shown or else I'd show him the door and maybe my foot.

[deputydan]

Scum, (I'm assuming you were joking) but remember your actions are going to directly reflect on how your child is going to act in the future.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I'd be suspicious if he never ID'd himself as a CO. Maybe he just made it up because he felt stupid for walking into the wrong house.

[Dave S]

I just want to step back and let everyone know that I do agree that our C.O.'s should have the right to inspect anyone on public waters that are partaking in an activity governed by law. But at this time, the law states they cannot enter a shelter without the occupants consent.

All too often we hear of someone's gluttonous behavior by taking gross overlimits. I can only imagine how much these findings would increase if the C.O.'s would be able to enter shelter's. I wouldn't have a problem with it since I have nothing to hide.

Our laws are put in place to protect the future of our sport. I would like to see my kids grow up and enjoy the privileges we now have.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I agree, but think a courtesy knock so as not to scare the bejesus out of a guy would be nice.

[SCUMFROG]

Dan,

If some one has the guts to come into an ice house like that he better show somw I.D. And my son is 15 and bigger then me, he'd be helping remove this person. What I'm saying is don't try it unles your the real thing.

[ozzie]

i can't stand it when people come to my house and just barge in.. I don't care if you are the law......Why do they have the right to entere without notice. They have to give reason for entering my house on land what makes this different.........Just cause I am righted the privelage of fishing they should be able to enter...No way....... I have nothing to hide but I don't need anyone barging in unanounced and shuffling through my stuff. Knock and state your business if I don't want you coming in I will meet you outside and you can express your intent. Fair enough when I am a tax paying license paying individual that follows the rules. The only time I have been checked was right after the law passed and the CO just opened our door and asked us what we had caught and if we have kept anything. Scared the life out of me for I was partially leaning on the door when he just opened the darn thing. Needless to say he just kept moving along opening every door without a knock. I follow the rules so can they..............

[lunker651]

I heard of a story kind of like this but it was hunting. Two brother was hunting in a WMA land and a CO was hunting too. When they met up in the forest the Co ask them questions and search them and when the CO ask for the shotguns they were carrying. Then one brother ask for some ID and he didn't show any so guess what happen next. The brother that ask for the ID stuck a hand gun to the co's head and demanded Id or he has no right to search them. I heard that the gun was pointing at the CO all the way to the car until some county sheriff came. The incident that happen did went to court and the charges on the two brothers was dismissed. I don't really remember what county this happen in but it was a whille back.

Some COs think they can do anything they want just because they are working for the law. Don't get me wrong the majority of them are good and lawful but the few bad ones just makes them look untrustful.

If a CO ask for my Id's and search me and they are not wearing thier working clothes with the badge on, I will most certinly and definatly ask for thier ID before I even give them mine.

[blue_healer_guy]

Thats a weird story which got me thinking about license's. Let's say your house doesn't have a current license on the outside. It doesn't have to unless your fishing in it, right? Well how can a CO prove you were fishing if he can't legally enter the house? Not at all trying to not buy a shelter license, just curious.

[Powerstroke]

The one thing missing form this story is whether or not he was wearing a CO uniform. All you said is a black suit with a crash helmut. Just cause he wanted to see your licenses doesn't mean he was DNR.

It is very irresponsible to start a witch hunt like this. If hew didn't identify himself as a CO and isn't wearing the uniform, then he was probly someone who screwed up and tryed to cover it by pretending to be a CO.

I know several CO's personally and all are law abiding guys.

To lunker and anyones else thinking like this....Just cause he isn't in uniform doens't mean he doesn't have the right to enforce the laws. Off-duty officers make some of the biggest arrests. AS long as they identify themselves as an officer its legal.

SOmething about that story is F's up. There's no way that he pointed a hamdgun at a CO's head and got the charges dropped. I call talk.

[V-12 Merlin]

I think it sounds "fishy" that there was no ID, and doesn't appear to be a uniform. I'll bet some guy was just embarassed about barging in and made it all up.

Well, I won't actually bet, because that's not legal....

Anybody that needs a weapon for self-defense, I can make you a marshmallow shooter - just remember to keep the marshmallows from freezing in case you need to "Stay-Puff" somebody, otherwise all you'll get is the "puff"....

[icehousebob]

I was fishing in my permanent house alone one night on Tonka when some guy walkd in and started asking questions. He didn't identify himself as a CO and besides, I had been checked before by the local CO so I knew this wasn't him. Well, as he talked to me, he was looking my house over and looking at the flasher, tackle, rods, etc. It hit me then that he was casing my house for a late night visit. Everything of value went home with me that night. It wouldn't hurt to keep a disposable camera handy to photo all uninvited visitors. If they object to it, maybe they have some reason.

[PierBridge]

Quote:

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Let's say your house doesn't have a current license on the outside. It doesn't have to unless your fishing in it, right? Well how can a CO prove you were fishing if he can't legally enter the house?

---

Not having a current shelter license is probable cause for the CO to enter your fishhouse without knocking.

[Dave S]

not having a current license leads to suspicion as well as you can be cited for not having a current license on the shelter, whether it's used for fishing or not.

A shelter of any type on public waters needs to have a current license.

[deeky]

I know other places I have been it is law that if ANYONE asks to see your liscense, you are required to show it to them, CO or not. Is that the case here in Minnesota?

As for sticking a hand gun in someone's face because he asked to look at their gun, that's pretty ballsy. I'm not sure I wouldn't shoot from the hip. But then I wouldn't ask to inspect a strangers gun either.

Anyone know about being required to show your license?

[ozzie]

You don't have to do nothing unless it is a CO or police. Why would I have to prove to JOE SHMOE that I indeed have a license. I will gladly show it to the CO but to some over bearing jackhole that is trying to pull authority over me and has none, Good Luck!!!!!!!!!

[eyepatrol]

Who knows what this guy was up to, but if it wasn't a CO, I'd be a bit weary of identity theft with your driver's license number and stuff on your license. Probably isn't the case at all, but still, I'd be weary of it.

[FOOT]

I never thought that it might be some guy just BSing you but a couple of the answers to your post make me believe it might just have been somebody goofing off.

I had a similar thing happen years and years ago. My brother was a policeman and they were issued different unifrom shirts and told to destroy the old ones. SInce some of his were almost brand new he gave them to me without the patches. However, they still had the dark blue epilets ont he shoulders.

I was out fishing a metro lake one day and trolled by 2 young men. As we were passing I said "Hi" and they replied back and asked if I wanted to see their fish. I said sure and admired some nice crappie and a coulpe of walleye. Then they started handing me their licenses.

Obviously they thought I was a CO. I said there was no need to show me the licenses and wished them continued good luck as I trolled away.

[wasssit]

I agree with ozzie. CO must follow laws as they are written. They can't make up there own. The state takes are money and buys uniforms for them? Now, if i had 4 lines down and a freind went to get beer. Iwouldn't let him in until my freind shown up, with the beer and lots of it. Than invite him for some water and chips (not beer) that's for us, and tell him the fishing sucks, today. Asked him whats going on with the other houses and if there catching any. Most CO are very very polite people, but PLEASE KNOCK or inditify yourself 1st. You'll get a frendly fisherman, not a upset or panic one. When CO rip open the door without asking or indintify themsleves bad things can happen. What comes around goes around. CO needs alittle respect of the fisherman and I'll gladly show respect to you.