Had a talk with the Game Warden

[ohiosam]

The local Game Warden was at the monthly meeting of my gun club last night. He discussed somethings you guys might find interesting.

About the change of opening day of gun season to Saturday. He said he thought this would be real popular, but he has heard more negative comments. The 3 biggest concerns is small game hunters loosing a weekend, lack of travel time and retailers saying that the 3 days between Thanksgiving and opening day are their biggest sales of hunting equipment.

About the new fines based on antler size. They aren't meant for "minor"(his word) violations. They are meant for things like spot lighting and out of season kills.

On the size of the deer herd in southern Ohio. He said that the biggest problem is lack of access and landowner's biggest concern is liability. While the state law says you aren't liable that doesn't mean you can't still be sued. You will probably win but you(or your insurance) will spend money defending yourself. He said OFBF and the Division are working on a "defense fund" to help landowners offset legal fees if they get sued allowing hunting.

[deerhunt45]

Very interesting sam. Thanks for posting up.

[Patriot1]

what do you mean when you say fines based on antler size?

[ohiosam]

There are new rules about fines for poaching big bucks. It's based on Boone and Crocket gross score.

Read more here.
http://www.ohiosportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18520

[coonskinner]

i agree with landowners worrying about being sued...i have had several i know mention this...a lot prefer not to sign anything like permission to hunt slips...:D

[Fish-n-Fool]

Coonie - I know more than a few like that too. I've got one place that I am allowed to be on (the guy that rents the landowner's house on the property too), but he won't sign the state's slip. I try to get all my places to sign a state slip - figure it makes it easy if anybody questions me. I asked him about what would happen if I got checked? He always laughs at me and says to have them call him; said he won't sign anything for me, but won't press charges on me for tresspassing either:biggrin:

[Francis]

Interesting. I like how the gun season opens on Monday, I don't think we should change it but thats my opinion.

[ohiosam]

OH, I forgot one other thing he said. The Governor has ordered all departments must cut their budgets. Even though DoW doesn't receive any money from the General Fund they still must make cuts. He said enforcement won't be cut. He didn't know for sure what will be cut but he speculated that they might buy less land. He also said that none of their savings will go to the General Fund or any other department. They will just save the money till they are allowed to spend it.:coco:

[coonskinner]

Coonie - I know more than a few like that too. I've got one place that I am allowed to be on (the guy that rents the landowner's house on the property too), but he won't sign the state's slip. I try to get all my places to sign a state slip - figure it makes it easy if anybody questions me. I asked him about what would happen if I got checked? He always laughs at me and says to have them call him; said he won't sign anything for me, but won't press charges on me for tresspassing either:biggrin:

i have had them say that too...also they say i can write my own slip and sign their name...so if i try to sue them they can say its a false document...but if i should get checked by a gw and they check it out with the landowner they will say that everything is legit...:D

[ohioarcher]

thats some good info sam thanks

[Blackbeard]

Good info Sam, thanks.

["J"]

Typical government thinking, save money all year and then spend like gangbusters at the end of the (fiscal) year with what you have left. They all do it.It's called unfunded or fall out money requests.