Some people are just dumb @sses

[Shadow Cat]

Okay, a friend of mine and his son built a blind on public land. In the blind is a sign tat says if you would like to use this blind, please call and list a name and number. He just wants to know who is using it and wants to make sure that it does not get tore up. Well, I have exclusive permission to use it and hut with him and his son frequently and I always call him the night before to let him know I will be out there. I also helped some with the blind as well and make sure that it stays neat and clean. I also call ahead to find out if anyone else is going to be using the blind so I don't bother them. It sucks to walk into someones setup in the dark. Well, I get out to the blind yesterday and two guys are in the blind. I asked them who they talked to for permission and then they started to smart off. and asked if I built it and I said I had helped then they said we did a great job, but tough *censored* they went going anywhere. So I said that was okay and I understood how the "new age ethical hunter" was and that they did not have to respect anthers work or desire to utilize the hard work they had put into building something and then I backed out and went and sat down on the dike.

A little while later they came out and I apologized for my smart ass comment and we talked for a while and they left. Well, I setup and hunted for a few hours and then decided to call it a day. I got my gear and headed back to the car. When I get to the parking lot, guess what I found? This bozos 12 ga Bennelli Nova sitting in the parking lot!!!!    Well, after a good laugh at his expense, I debated on what I wanted to do with it. I could have taken it home and had a nice shotgun or I could do the smart thing and turn it into the sheriffs office and wait for the 90 days to pass on the lost and found. Well, I did the right thing and called the sheriffs office and they sent a deputy out to get the gun. While I was with her, someone called to report the gun missing. I told her that if someone was going to be so irresponsible as to leave their shotgun in a parking lot, then they should not have a gun let alone hunt and she agreed. She told me that she would call me later when she was able to verify that they were in fact the true owners of the gun.

Well, last night the deputy called me back and we had a good laugh. Come to find out, the guy had taken his dads shotgun without him knowing it and his dad was PISSED OFF!!!    Well, they get to the sheriffs office and identify the gun, but she asked for the original sales receipt and verification of the serial number and they had to go home and dig up the paperwork for the gun before she would give it back to the dad. Well, they finally got back with the info she wanted and they left with the gun, but I don't think I will be seeing him in the blind again for a while! 

[Bob33]

I'd have removed the magazine plug first and told the officer you heard them shooting quite a lot.

[Schmalzfam]

Well...Personally if some one thinks building a blind on "PUBLIC" property means they get the claim that spot..they are wrong!
If I saw the blind there on public land and a note that wasn't from the WDFW to sign up etc..I'd laugh.
The game warden would more than likely tell you that it is a free for all and first come first serve, no matter who built it.

Leaving your gun in the parking lot is not a responsible thing but, stuff happens!

[CP]

Yep, I’m not following:

“a friend of mine and his son built a blind on public land”

If the blind is on public land it is first come gets it, no matter who built it.  Why a sign?  What’s up with permission to use it?

[Sneaky]

Okay, a friend of mine and his son built a blind on public land. In the blind is a sign tat says if you would like to use this blind, please call and list a name and number. He just wants to know who is using it and wants to make sure that it does not get tore up. Well, I have exclusive permission to use it and hut with him and his son frequently and I always call him the night before to let him know I will be out there.

Yea dude, I dunno who you think you are, but I can assure you you don't have "exclusive" rights to anything on public ground.  Anyway, I commend you for doing the right thing and turning the gun in.

[Shadow Cat]

I agree with all of you, it is public land and it is first come first serve, but my friend just wanted to know who was using it so it didn't get tore up. It is just a mater of respect to the people who built it. Permission may have been the wrong word to use, but I was brought up to respect other people and what they have built.

[CP]

1.   If I found the blind I might use it
2.   The sign on public property is nothing more than litter, I would dispose of it as such
3.   My name and number is nobody’s business but my own
4.   I don’t need anyone’s permission to hunt public land
5.   You, your friend and his son are all out of line, no disrespect to other people and what they have built intended

[carpsniperg2]

you don't have to worry about the hunters that are using it with or without permission its the anti that finds it and destroys it. like said public is public, if anything you guys might be breaking the law to build on public ground might not be legal, without permits. i am not sure but us ally if you build a attached structure you need permits now if it was your law down blind or something then yes it is yours.

[Shannon]

I have good ethics and I would not bother to call either. If someone goes through the trouble of building something on property they don't own then they need to accept the true owners of the property can use what they built. If its public land then we all own it. In fact, I would probably be pissed off enough I would throw away the paper with the phone number. We all have trouble finding a decent place to hunt and anyone *censored* enough to expect me to call to use a blind on public land needs a reality check.

[Ray]

I could have used a new shotgun.

On the blind. Was he really your friend before you found the blind? I thought you met him by being a nice guy and calling him up asking him to use the blind. That sounds like a testament to your character. Aside from the debate of whether or not it is legal.. Which I don't really care about too much. I'd use it but I wouldn't bother to throw away phone numbers. I'd rather enjoy my time shooting the birds than get upset about it.

[ICEMAN]

Good job turning the shotgun in Shadowcat, good example to set, hopefully the kids realize it was you who found it and turned it in...

[jdb]

good job doing the right thing

[Shadow Cat]

Yes Ray, I did meet him by being respectful and asking to use the blind. Afterward, I still call out of respect and do little things to keep it up and clean when I go out there. As for the sign, it is painted on the inside to prevent people from littering the area. I have hiked trash out of the blind as well as empty shells, feathers and guts. Like I said, I agree with all of you about it being first come, first serve on public land, I was just brought up to be respectful of others work and wanting to keep a clean place that others and myself can use without getting upset about the lack of respect that others show by messing up a blind. I have been in other public blinds that WDFW has put up that others have left trash in, graffiti and have even defecated in.

I think some of you have gotten the wrong idea. The main point of my post was doing the right thing by turning the shotgun in to the sheriffs office and it getting back to the right owner. I could have left it and a felon could have gotten it and the owner would have been screwed if it were ever used in a crime. Granted, a Bennelli Nova would doubtfully be used in a crime, but I'm not willing to take that chance. This area also has a lot of dog walkers and bird watchers and it would not have left a good impression of hunters by being irresponsible and leaving a shotgun behind.

[CP]

Maybe I have gotten the wrong impression but as I read this thread your friend, the builder of the blind, believes that he now owns it and has established a set of rules that others must follow if they wish to use it.   You as a builder helper have “exclusive permission” to use of the blind and feel the need to police others in following the rules of its use.

When you encountered a couple of young hunters using the blind contrary to those rules you confront them.  When they stand up for their rights to legally hunt public property they are “smarting off” and you admonish them on their lack of ethics.  Hunter harassment?  Maybe. 

Later one of the young hunters forgets his dad’s shotgun in the parking lot, possibly because he is distracted and imitated following the encounter with you.   You turn in the gun into authorities and happily gloat about the inconvenience to the owner in its recovery.

I hope that I am wrong in the above but I still don’t think that you fully understand.  The blind is now public property.  The sign offends and angers me as it should offend and anger all users of public land.  If you really want to do the right thing you will remove the sign from the blind.

[Schmalzfam]

Well, if what you were trying to get across is what you stated in your last post, you should've said that. Personally, when I read someone's post about thinking of taking it home..in response to someone else's gun..it bugs me!
It's just not right. Things happen and as far as you knew it was that kid's gun. You wrote a long paragraph on the issue with the blind, at the blind and with the "KIDS".
I applaud you for doing the right thing and turning it over to authority's. I just didn't understand why this thread was named"Some people are dumb @sses" if your point is you did the right thing maybe you should've named it " Filled my moral duty of the day!"
Glad the owners got their gun back. I also hope when this situation happens again, you remember you are on "PUBLIC" land and had no right in confronting those kids at all.
Have a great season:)