Consevation Officer Question

[FOOTDOC]

My son and I drove 14 hours up to Morris Point for the weekend. Fishing was slow but we still had an overall great time both at LOTW and Upper Red. Certainly have caught more fish in the past, but that's fishing! Anyway, Saturday about noon, we are in a rented house off of Morris Point in about 19' of water. There was a normal volume of auto traffic outside on the rode and out of the corner of my eye, I see a fellow in a black suit with a helmet come around the corner of our ice house. He pulls the door open unannounced and states, " Oh, you are not who I thought you were" and he steps in our ice house and lays his helmet down. He then asks to see out licenses and checks our gear. It all happens very quick and he is back on a snow mobile and off again in the distance. We did not know what to think of this but in thinking about it, it kind of ticked me off. I do not get ticked easy and have always respected people in authority. This fellow never identified himself or showed a badge. In talking with the resort owner, he told me no one is allowed in the ice house without permission. I am glad it all worked out ok but certainly caught us by surprise. What do you think? I think I may email the MDNR and ask some questions about protocol. Thanks for listening and again we had a good trip with few fish.

[loosegoose]

If he didn't identify himself as a CO you should have asked him for his credentials. If he was truly a CO it would have probably pissed him off. He can't do a thing to you as long as you were legal. The resort owner was correct in saying that they cannot enter a fish house without being invited in. If he walked right in without you saying come on it, he was definitly in the wrong. He sounds like a local CO that we have here.

[Kaz]

FootDoc: I had a fellow in a black snowmobile suit pull up to my house on a sled too. He asked for my licence and after I showed him, I asked for his ID. He said "that was fair" and opened his suit where I could see his badge. He was pleasent about it and I did see the red lights on his sled and a Hand held radio clipped to the wind shield... I was in a flip over and he was polite enough to not make me loose my heat... I think they have so much area to cover and probably don't think all of the time as they are on the run... I usually give them the benifit of the doubt, and let it go... That was my experience at LOTW last year.... Kaz

[Scoot]

It sounds like the CO expected to see a buddy or someone he knew. Probably was caught off guard and didn't follow protocol as a result. It might have ticked me off a bit too, but it sounds understandable if he really did expect to see someone else in the house.

[icemiester71]

once i got checked way out in no-mans land off of longpoint. i heard a snocat right outside. thought it was someone i knew but here it was someone in a full camo DucksUnlimited outfit on a beatup xlt. he asked how the fishing was, then fliped open his wallet to show his badge, before i could question. he was polite, even gave me a fishing report of what he seen that day, took a glance at my sled, and then left. i was just suprised he came all the way out to where i was to check. i am sure they r just understaffed and tryin to do their job. however-i`d never hesitate to ask them for ID. they are askin you for yours,, ask em for theirs. they should at least have it hangin around their neck on a chain if they cant whip out their wallet.