REMEMBER MY FISHING THREAD ....????????????

[h20hunter]

Nope.....I wouldn't even expect the boy(s) to get cited for the infraction. A reminder should be good enough if it is clear that the intentions were to simply get a picture and the fish was handled responsibly.

My comment was directed to the cadence created by BH beating his chest and stating that if you agree that this is illegal you are "gonna have a problem" with him. As stated before there is much much more to his relationship with the local departments than just his kid taking a fish out of the water for a photo.

[boneaddict]

As stated before there is much much more to his relationship with the local departments than just his kid taking a fish out of the water for a photo.

And that why I am trying to respectfully get the rest of the story so the likes of Woodman don't think they do this just for sport.

[BOWHUNTER45]

is it illegal to practice taxidermy not licenced?  I mean as a hobby.  not selling things or anything

As long you are not selling it you are ok.   Encompassed in that is doing it for friends (taking a 100 to cover costs or buy beer).  That sort of thing.   Better be careful with migratory stuff and records too these days.  I think you can get into trouble really fast.

We had a short conversation about Taxidermy ... I do need to get a license and I may but I need a bigger place to do it commercially !

[Curly]

How do you know it was multi agency?

Does they WDFW have a SWAT team?

No. They use other agencies.  When the raided my neighbors barn to take a peek at his two legally taken and tagged elk they brought two state patrol cars, one sheriff's and fish and feathers with the lights going.  Allot of man power for nothing. Wish I had a state job!!

I had fish and feathers come over on a similar deal last spring. They went through the freezers looking for a Nat. found nothing. My wife told them on the way out door that I had buried it in the garden! Next thing I know they have crime seine tape around the vegi garden and a bit latter a truck load of uniforms show up with shovels. After they spent all day digging up the vegi garden I thanked them and put the rototiller back in the barn!
Gotta love that women!

 

Nice twist on the one about the guy telling officers about hiding pot under the woodpile:

Hello, is this the Sheriff's Office?'

'Yes What can I do for you?'

'I'm calling to report 'bout my neighbor Virgil Smith....He's
hidin' marijuana inside his firewood! Don't quite know how he gets it inside them logs , but he's hidin' it there.'

'Thank you very much for the call, sir.'

The next day, the Sheriff's Deputies descend on Virgil's house. They
search the shed where the firewood is kept. Using axes, they bust open every piece of wood, but; find no marijuana. They sneer at Virgil and leave.

Shortly, the phone rings at Virgil's house.

'Hey, Virgil! This here's Floyd....Did the Sheriff come?'

'Yeah!'

'Did they chop your firewood?'

 

'Yep!'

'Happy Birthday, buddy!'

[huntingfool7]

After a day like that, I'll buy BH a crown........and coke. 

Raiding a guys house for a picture like that is over the top.  Gasping fish or not.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Hey ..you guys take it for what it is worth ...You all know how I run by now ...if you like me fine , if you do not fine ...I am sure some think old BH is an outlaw but you can always lace up your boots and come along  just be sure you are in shape 

[Curly]

I'm glad they couldn't pinch you or your kids for anything.

I'm curious though, what would they do if they found fillets?  How do they tell if its steelhead or salmon (short of taking a sample for DNA testing) if it isn't a whole fish?  (and even if it was steelhead, they wouldn't know if it was native or hatchery if it was processed).

[Knocker of rocks]

They were able to obtain a search warrant for a Facebook pic of a mishandled fish. Did they take anything?

That's the crux here I think.  How on earth could they get a warrant, and even if they did,  how could any seized evidence be admissible.

1) Prove that the photo was taken in Washington.

2) Prove that any (hypothetical) steelhead were taken in Washington.

3) Prove that any (hypothetical) steelhead found in the OP's  freezer were not taken 1, 2 10 or 20 years ago.

4) Prove that any hypothetical steelhead found in the OP's freezer were from Washington streams

5) Prove that any DNA tests are unimpeachable, when we are talking about frozen fish.

I could go on and on, showing how a smart lawyer could jam all this up WDFW arse.  This was a colossal waste of time and effort, and the WDFW should be ashamed and held accountable for exercising warrants where any evidence will be very questionable.

[Knocker of rocks]

I'm glad they couldn't pinch you or your kids for anything.

I'm curious though, what would they do if they found fillets?  How do they tell if its steelhead or salmon (short of taking a sample for DNA testing) if it isn't a whole fish?  (and even if it was steelhead, they wouldn't know if it was native or hatchery if it was processed).

[Curly]

I could go on and on, showing how a smart lawyer could jam all this up WDFW arse.  This was a colossal waste of time and effort, and the WDFW should be ashamed and held accountable for exercising warrants where any evidence will be very questionable.

Sure seems like a waste of time, doesn't it? 

I don't want to say much bad about WDFW though.............it seems like they don't like criticism; Right BH45?   (They might get a warrant to come search our freezers if we complain about them too much).

[Knocker of rocks]

I could go on and on, showing how a smart lawyer could jam all this up WDFW arse.  This was a colossal waste of time and effort, and the WDFW should be ashamed and held accountable for exercising warrants where any evidence will be very questionable.

Sure seems like a waste of time, doesn't it? 

I don't want to say much bad about WDFW though.............it seems like they don't like criticism; Right BH45?   (They might get a warrant to come search our freezers if we complain about them too much).

How many discovery passes could be paid for by the funds wated on this legally wild goose chase?

[bearpaw]

Was there really a swat team to check for a steelhead in your freezer? 

bearPaw ..you should kmow by now my figure of speech is a little on the shady side  No ..it was not a Swat team but it looked like it in my driveway ...sorry if that was a problem 

No problem, was just curious if there was actually a swat team. Thanks for claryifying.

[Curly]

BH45, do you really think they thought Teddy was bonking nates?  Or was that simply an excuse to come look at your place?

[92xj]

You guys really think they went through all that trouble, wasted money and time and searched the house to try and find one native steelhead or do you think that maybe there is more to the story?

[Knocker of rocks]

You guys really think they went through all that trouble, wasted money and time and searched the house to try and find one native steelhead or do you think that maybe there is more to the story?

I assume the lowest common denominator in this type of case, laziness.