Day One: Warden is 'scoped' by hunter, triggers safety lesson
November 17, 2012
By: Joanne M. Haas/Bureau of Law Enforcement
Warden Wire rode with Conservation Warden Jesse Ashton of Polk County on Day One of the 2012 Gun-Deer Hunt today, November 17.
It was an eventful day that had just about everything in the mix – all of which was documented in a series of tweets carried on the Department of Natural Resources Twitter feed – www.twitter.com/WDNR - (hashtag - #wardenride).
The day began before dawn with Warden Ashton preparing to investigate complaints of illegal baiting in a few areas. One case in northern Polk County ended with Warden Ashton issuing four illegal bait citations and one warning for no blaze orange. The hunters also are prohibited from that property for 10 days.
Frosty roads also made for some unexpected slippery stretches in the morning that lasted near mid-morning in places where the sun was slow to appear.
Talking about slow to disappear… while passing through Frederic, Warden Ashton spotted a deer standing near the car wash. “Guess he’s safe there,” he said. And on another road, about 15 trumpeter swans were taking a break in a corn field.
Don’t scope me!
While Warden Ashton used his binoculars to survey the hunter scene in one area, he caught sight of a hunter looking back – through the scope of his hunting firearm. Not smart! And with that, Warden Ashton made his way back into the woods to have a talk with the hunter.
Warden Ashton gave a stern lesson to the hunter about scopes. The message from the warden is: Getting scoped is for targets. Binoculars are for looks. The hunter was apologetic but Ashton stressed such negligent use of a firearm could mean jail time. And he leaves the hunter with a few things to think about.
Warden Ashton did his share of registering deer for hunters, saving them trips to a registration station – as well as checking licenses and tags.
There were reports of some slow deer movement while the temperatures were up during the day’s mid-day – approaching 60 in some places. Hunters complained of it being too warm, but as the afternoon gave way to the sinking sun and cooler temps, the deer started to move and the shooting picked up.
And so did complaints of off-the-road shooting.
The day ended with Warden Ashton going from one end of the county to the other to handle an off-the-road shooting complaint. Once on the scene, the suspect’s vehicle approached from the opposite direction. Warden Ashton approached, turned on the truck’s emergency lights and made the traffic stop.
Ashton talked with the individual about the complaint, but could not substantiate the complaint. However, the deer in question is illegally tagged. So Warden Ashton seized the deer. Enforcement action is pending. And before he could leave the scene, the individual approached and politely asked the warden for a jump to liven up the now-dead truck. Ashton readily obliged the request.
What happens to seized deer? Warden Ashton says seized deer typically are sold to people in need of venison.
On Sunday, Warden Wire will travel to the West Central Region for a tweet-along with another warden based in the Clark County area.