Backwoods Multi Agency Crime Unit

[ICEMAN]

I am getting sick and tired of reading about all of this backwoods crime which is occurring daily around our state. Vehicles being broken into and stolen, mufflers removed, gasoline stolen, windows smashed, trash dumping, trail cams stolen, meth cooking camps, illegal brush picking, gate busting, vandalism at trailhead parking lots, theft from vehicles left at fishing ramps or pullouts....you name it.

I am so F-ing sick of this crap I could scream!

I propose a Backwoods Multi Agency Crime Unit (BMACU). A state funded group of individuals dedicated to "stinging" individuals who commit these crimes. Officers could come from all jurisdictions across the state to work for a year or two...like other projects. Lets face it, it would be easy. Set up a bait car in the woods at any trailhead which gets hit often. Set up a pickup at a river pullout, or drop in. Do the LowJack thing. Officer nearby, totally undercover with no insignia, cameras, the whole thing. Sort of like a backwoods vice cop.

If we would nail a few MFers who commit these crimes, I am convinced that the rate would drop.

The problem in my opinion, the reason nothing is done proactively to catch anyone committing these crimes, is the varied jurisdictions involved. Sure, Gamies enforce the game laws, and the National forest guys their laws, but nobody in the back country is doing anything proactive.

I envision a group of undercover law enforcement officers and support, provided with all the electronic crap, with their jurisdiction being all lands within the state of Washington, empowered to set up multiple sting operations at once.

So what do you think of Backwoods Vice?

[DeKuma]

I am all for it.  I would help with this task in any way I could.  I am sick of seeing our woods destroyed!

[saylean]

I am with that for sure. I dont know how often I keep thinking what free pickings it is for criminals to bust into peoples camps/cars while they are out and about.

Its a risk of course, since most are armed...but still ...there is quite the congregation of goodies to snag if you're a tweaker.

[Gobble]

Sign me up 

[washingtonmuley]

Certainly something has to be done. As we saw last week our officers in the woods are not even safe. It is pretty sad what happens in our woods now days. I remember when I was a kid growing up on the eastside and not even having to worry about anything in the woods other that the critters now I have to worry about tweekers and people illegally harvesting things from the forrest. Something must be done!!!!!!!!!!

[bearmanric]

well i got a HK usp 45 auto today. has two 10 round clip's and 3 12 round clip's. to nuch stuff happening. i'll be up on the coast calling bear and cougar this week. alot of time's at nite a rig will pull in and sit there. just isnt safe in the wood's any more like iceman said. Rick

[bow4elk]

There's Eyes of the Woods already, but the focus is mostly on poaching, dumping, etc.  I was pretty active years ago turning in illegal dumpers in Capital Forest.

I  CRIMINALS!

[bearmanric]

 NO COMMENT'S ON EYE'S IN THE WOOD'S.

[Timberlineduke]

NO COMMENT'S ON EYE'S IN THE WOOD'S.

Did you have a bad experience with these chaps?

[bearmanric]

there pretty much bowhunter's. there good people i know a few of them. i'm a Rifle hunter. just some biased stuff. just bother's me being watched over by bowhunter's. Rick

[yelp]

You need support of local prosecuters...time, money and small fines usually get certain citations thrown out depending on local prosecutors office.  I would love to see something that protects our public lands and private lands we recreate on.  But I see all to often everyones hard work overturned at the prosecutors office.  YOu get a limp lily for a prosecutor and your screwed.   

[TheKid#10]

All for it Ice, matter of fact if I could get on the state payroll with a badge so I'd be legit. I would die to be Dirty Harry of the woods. Fricken tweakers and outdoor vandals are the scum of the earth. It's time to thin the human herd, if you know what I mean.

KID

p.s. Write in ICEMAN for president in 08.

[bow4elk]

there pretty much bowhunter's. there good people i know a few of them. i'm a Rifle hunter. just some biased stuff. just bother's me being watched over by bowhunter's. Rick

Not sure I understand.  In general, the whole purpose was a "neighborhood watch" program.  I found that most of the folks I met were waterfowlers more than anything.  ONe of  the things I appreciated was that the group was comprised of hunters from all makes and models.  Maybe something changed over time?  Love to know more.

I'm not involved anymore other than I just keep trying (like always) to turn in illegal dumpers, poachers, etc.  I can't commit my rare and valuable free time to too many volunteer activities anymore.  Wish I could but with small children my priorities have to stay in check.  Instead, I take the girls out scouting, etc. and we always pick up litter on the way out to leave the area cleaner than we found it.  They love it and I know it's the best use of my free time.

[bearmanric]

 i'm talking olympia area. Ray crisp and kyle are good people. there were a couple of them that hunted the coast. i was told i shouldnted be in the wood's bear hunting. i dont hunt were the elk are. to not to mess up hunt's. i felt like getting in a fight.  i wish we could all get along. i'm a Rifle hunter that is what i i'm. seen quite a few slob bowhunter's this year eastside. seen quite a few with pistol's on the 4 wheeler's. and going behind gate's. it is sad not enough game warden's. we all have some bad apple's. Rick

[Bofire]

 :)Good idea Ice! or they could sell  depredation tags??, seriously I'd support that.
Carl

[bow4elk]

i'm talking olympia area. Ray crisp and kyle are good people. there were a couple of them that hunted the coast. i was told i shouldnted be in the wood's bear hunting. i dont hunt were the elk are. to not to mess up hunt's. i felt like getting in a fight.  i wish we could all get along. i'm a Rifle hunter that is what i i'm. seen quite a few slob bowhunter's this year eastside. seen quite a few with pistol's on the 4 wheeler's. and going behind gate's. it is sad not enough game warden's. we all have some bad apple's. Rick

I'm in Olympia too.  Weird - sounds like some ego problems for sure.  I see the same crap wherever I hunt it seems.  Somebody dumping TV's and shooting the crap out of them (leaving 478 casings all over the place!), Quads behind gates, cut locks, etc. etc.

I don't think it's fair either way to say that gun hunters or bowhunters are this way or that.  You said it best, "we all have some bad apples".  Simple as that.

It comes down to a person's character and ethics, and that's it.  That moral compass will guide a person regardless of what season they hunt and what they choose to hunt with.  I am quick to jump on anyone I hear badmouthing hunters for all the shell casings at nearly every log landing in Western Washington.  Just because some dirt bag is making a mess of the environment with guns doesn't mean they are a hunter per se.  That's no different that saying a pretty woman standing on a street corner is a prostitute.  Pretty offensive leap in my mind, and why I don't tolerate comments that incrimate all hunters by the actions of some low life with a shotgun.

I know that hunters - conscientious hunters - don't behave that way, and they certainly don't dump washers, dryers, TV's, and stinky old couches in the woods.

[DOUBLELUNG]

How about a Redneck Rural Crime Unit (RRCU)?  No arrests, no citations, no prosecutions - just testicles nailed to the nearest tree or fencepost

[deaddog]

IF YOUR ON A LEGAL HUNT IT DONT MATTER IF THE OTHER GUYS A HUNTER OR NOT, IT WOULD STILL BE HARASMENT OF A HUNTER, TURN THE A-HOLE IN.

[Timberlineduke]

You know what.....I don't need an organization to be ethical......but I have looked into the Eyes In The Woods and went to a "CORT" class a week ago. I'm not impressed with some of the adminastrative aspects of the organization....but I am glad I went to the "CORT' class. (crime oberservation and reporting training) Because now I have a better understanding of what's involved and what's the best way to report something when I see it. I think if we all just stay involved and actually report the violations we see while we're out there......that it's got to get better. My 

[brokenbone]

I have seen the shrinking of places to hunt and shoot for fun because of he retarded people that abuse the woods.  just in skagit and whatcom co last year all of the hills that I used to go hunt and shot on were all closed.  I have had the windows broken out of my car about ten years ago in the woods.  nothing was taken.  it was just for fun.  I have had a bad run in with a wounded cougar 7 or 8 years ago.  I carry a .40 s&w or a 45 all the time in the woods.  concealed or not I will not be eaten!   as for the two legged vermin they can catch my bullets just as well.  I would never shoot any one for breaking into a car or truck bu I will strip them down and take there info so the police will get them.  I have scene some real winners in the woods.  I walked to a few rangers when I was doing SAR in SNO CO and most of them all said the same thing.  trash came from the poor that live in town and the TVs and other crap come from the fair to do from the city that need so get rid of an appliance and want to go shooting.  then they think the will not have to pay to recycle it and they will not have to clean it up. I have heard reports that the budget for cleanup on stuff like that is huge.  bigger than half of the budget true or not it is a waste.

just my 2c worth

[bow4elk]

It's hard to come up with a good answer when your 4 and 7 year-old kids ask, "why is there all this garbage in the woods, dad?"  At least they'll know right from wrong but it PISSES me off that they have to look at it.  So at the end of each day we do our part and pick up a good load of trash.  I search for mail in the garbage bags and have busted a few as a result.  It's not what I want to be doing, but it's necessary at it does work.

It's nice when you can confront a treehugger by asking how much they've done for the environment, stating you are a hunter and you clean up the forest.  They just drive their trendy '69 Microbus and spew all that clean exhaust while flipping the dreads out of their eyes.

[fc2038]

got my vote

[blessed]

Yes, it's got my vote. ..and the mess in the spring left behind by the snowmobilers is at the top of my list!
I think we should be able to pick up tossed out cans and get fingerprints off them too!
I think the redneck method would sure save some money for the public court system!!

[ICEMAN]

To the top, in light of the huge camp theft and car breakin's of late...

[rasbo]

have rope will travel

[runamuk]

How about a Redneck Rural Crime Unit (RRCU)?  No arrests, no citations, no prosecutions - just testicles nailed to the nearest tree or fencepost

sign me up.....have hammer and rusty nails

[Special T]

What i want to know is why more people haven't copied the success of Sheriff Joe  of Maricopa County AZ That guys is a no nonsense sheriff that's good for his citizens....

[Bean Counter]

I think the woods fall victim to the numbers. At any one point in the forests of America there are X number of thugs at work spread out over many XXXX miles. In big (liberal) cities of America, there are XXXXX numbers of thugs spread out over a few city blocks. Where do you think you get the most arrests per officer? 

Don't get me wrong I love the woods and want crime ended there, but until we as a society stop asking for stadiums to be built with taxpayer money but instead demand more jails, and less secretaries for the National Endowment for the Arts and more USFS LEOs, the problem will continue. 

[300UltraMagShooter]

As much as i hate to say it, i bet there a bunch of low-life thugs that use this site.  I bet we could set up a sting on here.  Maybe figure out a way that all of us can identify our cameras and the pics from them.  Then when one gets stolen, we'll keep track of new pics on the site.  You know the scum can't help but show off their new toy. 

There should be a hundred posts on a topic like this.  However, we see very few.  Just speaks volumes. 

I had some stuff stolen just last week.  I even know who did it, but can't do anything about it..... other than take matters into my own hands... which would just end up costing me more.      Sometimes the law is pretty worthless.   

[Jerbear]

About a month or so ago, my wife and I were driving out behind our place on the Klickitat Wildlife Area.  We saw theses three quads coming out of an area called Old Headquarters.  Didn't think much about it as they were on the road at the time.  we went down into the area and after about a half hour we came out, and headed home on the Anderson Loop Road.  We got to the area where the alfalfa field is.  On the far side of the field is a year round pond.  Well the three quads were chasing each other around the pond.  Dust all over the place.  I backed up to see how many tracks were in the alfalfa field.  There were quite a few.  I pulled up and the three quads were coming back to the road.  I got out and they stopped.  The guy in the lead sat there and looked at us.  I ask him what they thought they were doing.  I told him he wasn't the guy that farmed it, and besides the whole area is posted no off road travel.  Well he gave me his name, like I was supposed to be impressed.  I told him I was going to contact the game dept.  They left, on the road.  Anyway I contacted the Wildlife Area Manager.  She ask me and Cathie for a statement and then she went and took pictures. This took place 10-6-09. She contacted enforcement in Yakima, and her supervisor in Vancouver.  To date NOT A DAMN THING HAS BEEN DONE.  I checked with her last week.  She is pissed.  What good does it do, if the enforcement people aren't going to do anything?