Game Biologists are Walking a Tight Rope
I was over on SoCal’s site the other day and Al had asked the question as to what others experiences have been in dealing with game biologists. They probably have a wealth of information but sometimes it tough to get to much out of them. Those that hunt you can understand, but if they don’t, why not offer some information. I think I can understand their reluctance as any information given out about animals that may be here today and gone somewhere else tomorrow can be speculative at best and create more black eyes than back slaps. Over all I’ve had mostly very good re pore with game biologists and can appreciate the work they do.
With thoughts running in this vein, I got to thinking back on an incident that Sue and I had with a couple last year. Its quite obvious we are not only dealing with their professional sides at times, but also their very human personality side as well. So in that sense we have to give them a little room just as they give us a little room to be human at times.
Interesting county, flat as a table then you come to one of these!
Sue and I were down in the south central part of Idaho doing a little scouting two weeks before archery antelope season opened. We knew it was illegal to set up blinds over water holes two weeks in advance so we didn’t even bother bringing one. We had one hole about two miles off the highway pinpointed but then we got to looking it over and wandered if we came in from another direction if we could cut that distance in half. About half an hour later found us driving in from another direction and we were happy to see our thinking was right. We had come up to a gate and rather go any farther we decided since we found out what we needed we’d just turn around and head back out. Just as we were turning around we saw another vehicle coming from about a half a mile on the other side the fence. As I looked in my rear view mirror I thought, “wow those guys are in a huge hurry as they were going way faster then they should.” About that time they got to the gate, a guy jumped out and opened the gate and the pickup never even bothered to pick up the gate opener and then the lights came on and I realized we were the subject of their interests. I stopped and the gal come barreling up behind me, slammed on the brakes, jumped out and come running up to Sue’s side of the pickup. Now Sue has never been suspected of anything bad before so she was really shook up and this lady biologist lit into us pretty heavy. Finally her partner come puffing up from opening the gate, and listening to the conversation, you could see he got the picture real quick. There was a blind set up on the pond (illegal), there was no name or address on the blind(illegal) and we were the suspects since we were coming that way, then turned around when we saw them. Madam biologist had us pegged and wouldn’t back off, but her buddy tried to help her save face. Finally when everything settled down and Sue explained we were looking for a place we could get close to for her 79 yr old dad who had a broken leg, he even said to give him a call on his personal cell phone when we were about to make the trip down as he felt he had a couple places that would work. A couple weeks later we tried the cell phone number and sure enough, it was for real, and he was for real and gave us all kinds of information. Nice guy going beyond the call of duty. But I can understand the tight rope they walk and maybe they would rather disappoint us by not being to precise with their information, rather than give us information that doesn’t work out. I don’t know.
Our water hole!
What I do know though, is they came up on Sue’s side of the pickup so they were very aware who the suspicious and dangerous person in the rig was. And to think I have lived with her for 36 years and never realized it till then!!
She does look a little criminalistic doesn’t she?
I love that photo. And she definitely looks like a criminal in it. I say book her.
Good story, and an excellent example of dealing with wardens, biologists, and others of the ilk.
They have a tough job to do, and spend much of their time dealing with the worst of the worst. There’s one good way to do that, and it’s a matter of establishing complete control and mastery of any situation… which usually involves putting the “suspect” into a submissive position.
It’s hard to be the recipient of this attention, but if you keep your cool, bide your time, and stay polite in the face of rudeness, you can often go a long ways toward defusing a situation and even turning it into a positive experience (as you and Sue did in your case).
Oh, and by the way… they usually approach on the side with the least threat.
Arthur – I did book her indeed! Right now she has only done 36 years of her life sentence!
Phillip – Whoa, now that is called an end around reverse. Never saw it coming, but makes sense. Now how do I keep Sue from reading this as I think I just lost my positioning on this.
Excellent topic and well said. State game officers have a tough job and do it as best they can. I wish we had more of them out in the field catching poachers and illegal doers. I am happy to see them whenever I’m out hunting or not and usually try to strike up a conversation if circumstances allow. If for nothing more than to say thanks to them, for doing what they do and letting them know their appreciated by some of us.
Thanks for sharing, Gary. It’s amazing what you will run into, but like Phillip says… if you keep your cool it’ll usually help. I have had run-ins with rangers, but not wardens or biologists. I realize they do have a job to do and it’s a tough one. I’ll admit I’d be a bit on the tense side if I had a truck barreling down towards me, but you handled it well. Good advice for people!