Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Ignorance of the law?

Jim, I think it means to us all, what it means to you.
Some type of spam. Why, is the question?

It's a CO responding to our criticism.

That is bogus...it was not 'on' or 'in' it was against....you should have disputed it I sure as hell would.

What about dispatching a wounded animal after legal shooting light?? Imagine a massive mule deer wounded and it's 2 hours after sundown when you find him....is it legal to knife him and finish him off?

I think that once upon a time most COs were interested in outdoor ethics, game management, wildlife and habitat conservation, and the like. Nowadays, any I have come into contact with have been focussed entirely on enforcement. They seem to approach every hunter with the hope of either catching him in some transgression, or tricking him into admitting to some illegal activity, regardless how minor, that he can be cited for.

A few years ago I went with another family member who was drawn for an LEH bison hunt in northern B.C. We stayed at a ranch in the area of the hunt. One of the other hunters there at the time was ticketed ($100+) because he had forgotten his LEH paperwork back in his cabin at the ranch. The fellow had his Bison tag, which you simply cannot get without presenting your LEH paperwork in person to the authorities. He was able to produce the LEH papers later in the day, and thus avoid further penalty, but he did have to pay the original ticket. To show what a fine fella he was, later that day, the CO joined the ranch owner and his guests for their evening meal and end of the day bull session.

On occasion, a law is so stupid that no rational person would suspect it's existence. At other times, the enforcement of a law is so misguided that it takes us by surprise. This is illustrated by the "rifle leaned against the car" scenarios.
There are many circumstances when the proper answer to a query from a LEO is, "None of your business".
I have not been questioned by a Conservation Officer (game warden) for many years. When I am, I am just as civil as his behaviour warrants.
I have lived on both sides of the border and both sides of the continent. I have travelled across the US numerous times over the last 45 years. There are laws and restrictions in different areas which a person from western Canada would never expect. There are also laws and restrictions here that no resident would expect if he didn't do some research. GD