Community advice request.

[Spook]

First and foremost I wanna tell all you guys/gals how much I enjoy reading ur stories and insight. I'm a fresh fish who joined to hopefully help further the sport and join in the topics. 

I have a fairly small rant and looking for a little insight or opinion and I pre-apologize that this is my first post. 

On Oct 2nd in the evening I decided to try out a NY forest spot in 4A. I started way previous to the season by setting up cams, studied topo, scouted, scouted, scouted. That evening I passed on a 8yrd shot on what I estimated to be a 1.5 y/o doe. She was super tiny and instead took a bunch of pictures of her. Heard a very close gun shot after she walked well outta view but that a topic for another time. 

Over the past couple weeks I've been in and outta there with nothing to tell or brag about. Sunday morning I snuck in at around 0545 still very dark out and set up my own bush ground blind like the 1st day. It was very rainy and foggy and called it at around 0900. Something caught my eye on the ground in the middle of the field so I decided to investigate. Turn out what I thought was litter was a white AND brown salt lick sitting on a pile of corn. After I shook my head for a minute, I looked over and noticed a man made stick blind about 10 yards away from the pile. Two and two added up and I packed up and hiked out. While loading my truck, I noticed at the back of the parking area a fresh skin and a gut pile. Not trying to reach but it was a smaller doe and pretty close color match to the girl I let pass. Disgusting and letting that do my thinking, I opened up the DEC regulations and called all 3 ECO's in the county. No answer from any so I called dispatch and let them know. 

Tonight (Tuesday) I missed a phone call and it was the 2nd of three ECO's on the list. 

Im not gonna bore you all unless asked about the whole conversation but for 24 minutes this guy talked and came off like a complete donkey rectum. He accused me of growing pot, setting up feeders, poaching from the spot for the last 4 years when this is my 1st year there, hunting from the stick blind etc.....  I was sitting at the dinner table with my fiancé mind you and she heard every word. She was almost madder than me. The final words of the conversation was this ECO telling me not to hunt ANYWHERES in the forest, that he hopes to "meet" me one day soon, and that I have been warned. That by the way doesn't even scratch the surface of the almost one way conversion.

What would any of you do. Need some advice before I really insert foot. 

Once again, sorry this is my first post and I promise to add as much helpful info to the site that I can  

 

Mike

Edited October 18, 2017 by Spook
Grammar

[Steve D]

8 minutes ago, Spook said:

The final words of the conversation was this ECO telling me not to hunt ANYWHERES in the forest, that he hopes to "meet" me one day soon,

Only one way to answer that one....Hunt legal and give him  one of these 

[Spook]

Lol... Thanks Steve. Trust me very much, he got every mental middle finger and swear word from both me AND my fiancé. 

He told me if he caught me on forest property, I'd have my weapon seized and be cited for hunting a bait pile. 

[Lawdwaz]

Don't know if it's legal or not but I'd call the Man back and record the conversation..............

[Spook]

Wish I thought of that prior to the conv :-/

[Swamp_bucks]

Sounds like the one running around by me.  

[Zag]

Something doesn't add up. Maybe speak with his supervisor to try and get more clarification about your conversation.

[Spook]

Thanks zag. I completely agree. My girl said it sounded like he was protecting another hunter and the turf.

I tried calling the supervisor which doesn't have a name in the manual and it took me to dispatch. I requested one to call me. If I held my breath while waiting, I wouldn't be typing this reply lol. 

[grampy]

Hunt a different area than where you found the bait pile. If you are caught within shooting range, you can be charged, even though it's not yours. Seems as if that area has way too much going on, to be enjoyable to hunt. As for the ECO, could he be mistaking YOU for the dirtbag in that area? I've met a few ECO's over the years and most have been very professional and helpful. This one, from what you have told us, does not fit the norm.

[Spook]

4 minutes ago, Swamp_bucks said:

Sounds like the one running around by me.  

Since I've been a youngin, I've always tried to do right when it comes to the environment. Coming from A background in L.E. and the fire service, I always try to help the supposed "good guys."

I told this jerk that if this is what to expect when calling in a tip, I'll never call in another. 

[Spook]

21 minutes ago, grampy said:

Hunt a different area than where you found the bait pile. If you are caught within shooting range, you can be charged, even though it's not yours. Seems as if that area has way too much going on, to be enjoyable to hunt. As for the ECO, could he be mistaking YOU for the dirtbag in that area? I've met a few ECO's over the years and most have been very professional and helpful. This one, from what you have told us, does not fit the norm.

I very much agree and told him he won't see me there ever again.  Just a gut punch with the work I put in and the ECO coming off as more hindering than helping. 

 

Edited October 18, 2017 by Spook
Grammar

[grampy]

I totally understand, and truly sympathize with your frustration. And I'm hoping a new area will be even better hunting for ya. Good luck and welcome to the forum.

[Spook]

Thanks grampy. Nice to meet yah. 

I have another area that's perked my senses. Guess there's no better time than now to dig in..... and it's out of this god forsaken county hehe. 

[Steve D]

9 hours ago, Spook said:

He told me if he caught me on forest property, I'd have my weapon seized and be cited for hunting a bait pile. 

The "bait" pile is probably his and he is mad you found it and reported it.

[Spook]

Steve, you must be a mind reader lol ;-).

[bugsNbows]

I'd be going as high up (as necessary) the chain of command to put an end to his BS immediately. Most ECO's are decent, but once in awhile a douche bag shows up. Sounds like you found one. Sorry Chief. Better find a new spot and steer clear of that area for sure. 

[gfdeputy2]

35 minutes ago, Steve D said:

The "bait" pile is probably his and he is mad you found it and reported it.

My first thought also!

[genesee_mohican]

I would have asked for the name of the person in command and would have ended the conversation, then contacted them.

[Spook]

20 minutes ago, bugsNbows said:

I'd be going as high up (as necessary) the chain of command to put an end to his BS immediately. Most ECO's are decent, but once in awhile a douche bag shows up. Sounds like you found one. Sorry Chief. Better find a new spot and steer clear of that area for sure. 

100% agree bugs. I asked him three times for his superiors contact info and he refused. The net is a wonderful thing. I got his barracks info, LT and Capt's info. If none of that yields an apology to my fiancé and myself then come NY office of inspector general and then the good ol governors office  (not gonna start a political topic). 

NY brags about having a superior and highly effective encon program. NY requests citizen tips to help achieve the goal. I've never once read that you will be accused of the crime when your trying to help them solve the crime..... especially one that's been stated to be "under investigation for four years."  

[Robhuntandfish]

i had issues with a coast guard person a few years ago and had to go over his head and it worked out fine and all was corrected - he issued me a ticket for no visual distress signal in the boat.  Showed him the copy of the coast guard regs and he still gave me ticket - there was an DEC guy with him checking for fish etc and he was even rolling his eyes at the guy.  Called supervisor and he said yes I was correct and threw out the ticket.  There are good and bad ones for sure.  You were and are doing the right thing there.  

 

[Spook]

Thanks Rob. I'm by no means a cop hater but in today's world, this cat is not what we need running around. 

[growalot]

Oh man..well first protect yourself...don't call his supervisor...you call DEC in Albany..you get names and numbers before you talk..then tell them what is happening..You then ask for an email address and type what you told and send that out keeping a copy.. Then you call the local head and let them know who called you and what was said...,not revealing you contacted Albany. See what they say..Then let them know of your records..also ask for a e mail address to them and send out your email with a copy. NOW you are protected..you have dated records.....do not think such actions are over kill ,you have no idea how far dirt bags will go to protect themselves,nor how clever they can be...Good luck...welcome to the  real world..

Edited October 18, 2017 by growalot

[biggamefish]

11 hours ago, Lawdwaz said:

Don't know if it's legal or not but I'd call the Man back and record the conversation..............

You can record conversations in ny and only one person has to know about it! 

[growalot]

Admissible in court? If so when did that change?

I asked a region 8 officer if he minded if I taped our conversation..His response was " Why would you ask that!" I said so we have no misunderstandings. His response was this" This conversation has ended"  Then he hung up...Lol

[turkeyfeathers]

Could you go back to bait pile without a weapon and armed with only a shovel to bury it? Problem solved and doubt POS who did it will do it again