DNR checks

[Raven]

Just read in the paper that the MN supreme court ruled that the DNR can check your live well with or without your permission. The article didn't mention ice houses. Anyone heard anything?

[Guest]

Ya you got it right.
But look in the Open Water Forum and under "Boat Searches". You should find a lot of info in there.

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Fish ON!

[Fat Rap guy]

The rules about searching shanties stays the same. The new ruling only applies to boats only. I'll look up a link for you to read in a minute.

[Fat Rap guy]

OK- I found it.

"The Supreme Court said its ruling doesn't conflict with one it issued last year prohibiting conservation officers from searching ice-fishing houses without probable cause.

Boats and ice houses are different, the court said. Anglers have a reasonable expectation of privacy in an ice-fishing house because they sometimes also eat and sleep there."

Link-Star Tribune Sept. 26

[This message has been edited by Fat Rap guy (edited 09-30-2003).]

[Guest]

Nothing to hide here. The DNR is only there to make sure we fish for years to come, and the lakes don't get overfished.
Any DNR Offical that wants to check me out, can come in (if room) and warm up while he checks my license etc. They are there to enforce the rules in our regulations book.
Does anyone have problem with following the rules?
Trust me they always knock even though they can "walk in" they do respect us and we should do the same.

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I don't drive fast, I fly low.

[klbowe]

The DNR is welcome to visit my shack any time !

It seems to me the DNR always had the right to enter a fish house and make sure the sportsmen inside were legal but as soon as people started cooking meth on the lakes the courts began to worry about violating someones rights.

Hello ?

[Waterbeater]

We've got the beginnings of a little war here in western SD. The Game Wardens of our fine state believe they have the right to enter you house, go through your freezer, rifle through anything in your house without a search warrant. A few months ago they tried a pilot, licensed to shoot coyotes, in federal court for shooting a coyote 1/2 mile outside his permit. They seized his plane, confiscated his benelli shot gun, and ended up fining him $2000 for a ****ed coyote. They also grounded all paraplane liscenced to shoot Coyotes. Coyotes are a huge cause of loss to the livestock bussiness. You couldn't hunt a coyote into extinction with the US Army.
The wardens feel free to come across my property anytime they wish with no probable cause. Myself along with a lot of other land owners have since locked out our property ( over 600,000 acres in all) from any hunting to try to get the Game and Fish Dept. to the bargaining table.
What do they do next? They go to the newspapers and say how we are anti sportsman and anti hunter. About 95% of ranchers are hunters themselves. The hunters are a freind to us all. We are at the end of our rope here. We are using the only bargaining tool we have left, our land.
The state is also gobleing up property at an alarming rate and driving up land prices at the same time. The Government has no bussiness in land ownership. The Government owns all land, sound familiar?
Our state has the worst game management imaginable. When we are overrun with deer they downsize the number of tags and when the game has hard times they increase the number of tags.
It has gone so far in our state the Police agencies now have game wardens with them on some raids because of the vagueness of the law governing these wardens pertaining to them not needing a search warrant. So to all of you saying come on in and they are only protecting the game, BEWARE!!!! When a Wildlife Mangement Officer approaches me with Mace, Handcuffs, and a Glock, I get nervous.
Just my 2 cents.

[irvingdog]

Tom Daschle.........

[Steve Foss]

Irvingdog's reply makes even more plain what is already clear: This thread belongs on the "Outodoor Political Power board."

[wasssit]

DNR are going to be tough and bust you without warning. Since, they can't come in the fishouse they'll be inspecting the outside of your house for all of the correct regulation. Like lic., reflectors, and on people not picking up trash around there fishouse. Now, if someone forgets their license at home, why can't the DNR use a handheld computer to see if they did buy one. And just give you a verbal warning, no tickets. Since all licenses are on computer. DNR are doing a good job but they need to work on there lack of humor. lol

[Tawandawalleye]

I wouldn't mind DNR coming into my house, but I sure am not going to leave my door unlocked. I have had too many drunks, in the middle of the night, come walking in. That is now the main reason I now keep a gun with me at all times. You boys may not worry, but there are a few women who like to ice fish also, and it's no fun when an uninvited guest just walks in on you.

[gilliweed]

I applaud all those who say "no" when a conservation officer knocks, and all those who keep their door locked.
The DNR has far too much power as it is. I am very happy to do my part to assist and cooperate in resource management, but not to the point of being awaken in the middle of the night to have my shack searched, liscence checked, for no reason. Like the gistopo, do you have your papers?
They can do their job, without striping sportsmen of privacy.
that is my 2 cents.

[irvingdog]

Sorry stfcatfish......Just being a gadfly and stirring the pot a little. I couldn't help myself.

I'll stay out of this stuff if my opinions offend you or any of the other mods.....

[Waterbeater]

I'll support your statment irvingdog. Call a spade a spade.

[Steve Foss]

Oh, hey, no dog, that's not it at all.

Everybody's opinion is as important as anyone else's. Just trying to keep things where they belong. Since this is basically a political issue, figured it belongs on that board.

No big deal either way. No harm done either way.

And good fishing to you.

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"Worry less, fish more."
Steve Foss
[email protected]