What are your thoughts of having their guide licenses suspended for the same length of time that their hunting and/or fishing privileges are suspended?
For instance if a licensed guide is convicted of hunting after legal shooting hours, failure to display a back tag and failure to wear blaze orange and they have their hunting privileges suspended for 3 years; should they still be allowed to guide hunters?
I understand that there will be mistakes made and citations issued where a fine will be paid. In that case there is no suspension of privileges. And no suspension of their guide licenses would be required.
Any thoughts?
But if a guy temporarily obscures a back tag with a backpack, tags a deer immediately after swimming it out of a pond, or like in IL, lays an uncased bow in the back of a truck coming out of the woods, I don't think the book should be thrown at them.
I think the severity of the infraction determines the result. I think that the letter of the law can be stupid at times, though I follow it.
If someone is taking deer outside of shooting times, trespassing, not tagging deer, ignoring baiting laws, etc. their license should be yanked.
Hunt deer without the required color clothing Failure to display backtag while deer hunting and Hunt Deer/Bear after hours
On 11/28/2013
He runs a well known outfitter service in Northern Wisconsin.
Like most of you, I understand the backtag issue, and I believe that a warden would give you some time to produce the backtag if it appears to have been lost while hunting.
But this appears to be flagrant disregard to hunting laws.
Hypotheticals: This was gun deer, Thanksgiving?
Guide with a sport, no blaze, no back tag, hunting through shooting light and an extra 25 minutes beyond...Throw the book at them.
Semi-guided hunt. Sport shows up at guide's house after dark explaining that he needs help tracking. It's well after dark, no one puts their blaze back on. The sport stuffs his tag in his pocket and he or one of his buddies slings a rifle over his shoulder as he sets out to follow the guide, who's focused on tracking.
Like I said, I know nothing about the case. I'm not trying to create an excuse for anyone. I simply want justice. Whatever that may be.
I am just asking that if a guide is convicted of a hunting violation, should his or her guide license be suspended for the same amount of time as their hunting privileges.
I know of no guides here in Wisconsin that have been CONVICTED of any violations. In other states if they are found guilty they are required to give up their guiding license for the duration of the suspension of their hunting privileges.
I would like to see the same laws here in Wisconsin.
Screwball - After reading your post; your family members got a raw deal to say the least. Many would have left the deer because they didn't want to get we retrieving it. As far as tagging a deer, I had no knowledge that you personally have to tag your own deer. I have tagged deer/bear for others who don't have the ability to tag their own. I will have to check into that. Thanks!
Novemberforever's Link
Here's one.No guiding for 3 years after his 2 year stay in prison.He sold hunts at our RMEF dinner and I asked him that night how his hunters fly in, drop a doe for the EAB sticker and still have enough time to take a mature buck? 2 of my friends didn't listen to me and were busted(Lacy act) and are still Leo's today. Btw, 7-9 of the 46 hunters were current Leo's.
I don't think this is true. A case may not have been heard or has not reached a decision. So until then one is still innocent, charged but innocent.
Not citing any cases or taking sides but I hate it when people are tried in the court of public opinion. I wait until the case is closed. Sure, we all have opinions but what if someone ends up truly being innocent? What if you were wrongly accused of something and it made the press?
BTW,I know of a guide here in the Hayward are years ago caught poaching and lost his all privileges including guides license.
Again, just because a citation was issued does not mean the party is guilty of the offense. But once a citation is issued, it becomes public record unless it is a juvenile defendant.
If the DA will not take the citation to court - did he dismiss the citation? Some action one way or another has to be taken. Citations just dont desintegrate into thin air.
I received one call from the local GW about the bear and frankly I was a bit confused at what was going on. I told the GW no bear had spoiled. The calls, e-mails and harassments continued. I ended up getting 3 affidavit's, all were sent to the DA as he was now involved. One from the butcher, one from the Taxidermist and one from the father of the hunter who shot the bear. Butcher said meat is fine, Taxidermist said hide is fine, father of the hunter said meat tastes great. Officials were told to stop listening to bar stool rumors. The hunter who shot the bear, enjoys his bear mount.
Unannounced to me because of the accusation calls on the DNR Hotline I was now being watched and investigated (October & November). GW was just doing there job. One such call said I was over baiting, cutting shooting lanes on DNR land, driving my ATV on DNR land etc. GW new where every stand was that I had, GW would wait until I left the house and checked deer baits that were just baited minutes before. Conclusion in GW report, No shooting lanes on State land, No ATV driven on State land and deer baiting was at or near the 2 gallon limit.
GW did find a illegally placed tree stand with screw-in tree steps and a trail camera on State land behind my house, GW watched and observed off and on for days. In November I found the same tree stand and immediately called the GW, the GW thought it was mine, I reassured the GW that it wasn't. The responsible party was eventually caught and ticketed.
In the meantime the harassing calls and e-mails kept pouring in. One such report to the DNR Hot Line was that I was over baiting on this private 80 acres and the land owner was too. The land owner was now thrown in the false accusation loop. Later on when I had the chance to read those reports with my lawyer I had to laugh. The land owner has dementia and has been in a nursing home for over a year prior to the report.
A friend drove up from Green Bay for the Muzzle Loader Hunt. The morning of November 27th we checked trail cameras and a huge buck that I have been hunting for a few years along with some of the local residents showed up on camera. I placed my friend on the stand that had the big buck pictures on. I drove one mile to some private property that I have permission to hunt only to find out the land owner was up at his cabin, we had a short talk, he said he would not go outside being my tree stand was only 75 yards from his cabin. Just before 4:00PM I shoot the biggest buck of my life, the one everyone in the area has been hunting for. Land owner already had his boots on and was standing in the doorway when I knocked. He helped me drag the deer out.
Registered the deer at the Holiday that night. Didn't take very long for the word to get out. A reminder, at this time I still have no idea about the false DNR Hot Line accusations and the GW investigating me. My Muzzle Loader tag was filled. I gave the GW a call the same night to make sure I could use my Bow the next day during the Muzzle Loader season. The next day mid afternoon November 28th another call came in the DNR Hot Line, the caller said I shot a big buck last night with my bow after hours during the moon light.
Early afternoon of the 28th, the friend that's still ML hunting with me dropped me off at the private property of the guy that has dementia and is in the nursing home. My friend will be hunting 3 miles away but will pick me up shortly after shooting time. With 4 inches of fresh snow on the ground, in the trees etc I decided to wear my snow camo with a blaze orange vest. Walked in, baited my stand, climbed the stand and preceded to hunt, didn't take long for deer to show up, I wanted to kill this one old adult doe that always busted me from this stand. At this time I didn't realize the GW was searching (told me later) each one of my deer stands to talk about the Big Buck I killed last night. The wind died down, dead calm, my back tag was rubbing and making noise from the bark of the big Norway pine I was in, so I took it off and placed it half way in my back pack. During my sit I realized I forgot my watch that was on my ML pack. I new it was close to shooting time, with all the fresh snow it stayed lighter out. I decided to pack it up, my friend would be waiting for me on the road. I stood up, took my gloves off, took my release off and looked to my right, here comes 3 deer all does, they are right on top of me now so I slowly sit back down and will wait them out, let them move off as they will not stay long, the other deer ate the 1 gallon of corn earlier I brought in, like many times before after they leave I will slowly decent and sneak away. The deer started to lose interest with no corn to eat and move away when suddenly they bolted, that's when the GW walked in. All this activity, times, dates, pictures of the deer, myself and the GW were captured on trail camera.
So there you have it, my blaze orange vest and back tag at arms length away and I believe it was 17 minutes past legal shooting time. Judge me the way you want.
GW came to my house checked the big buck I shot the night before, no archery hole in it, only a ML hole.
The vindictive assaults and insults, innuendoes continued and still to this day as it has in this thread. Everything was sent to my Lawyer and then forwarded to the DA, a picture started to materialize. It was mentioned that there seems to be a campaign to get rid of your guide service. We suspect and now know most of them that have been involved. Who and why? that is another story which at this time I cannot share but the hint is at the beginning of this story.
All you have to do is look at the chart before you go hunting and check your watch. WDNR also has an App one can use to get the correct time for hunting hours.
Imo, if You hunt/fish 21 days/year You will break some reg somehow. For whatever reason the locals calling the tipline multiple times added fuel to the fire. Who knows why the locals are PO'd.
Yep that worked awesome this spring for turkeys. The DNR forgot to write the app code to spring forward with the time change so during second period You were really illegal in the morning and walking out well before the birds were going to roost in the evening.Brilliant move.
"No person shall hunt deer before or after the hunting hours listed in the table on page 45. “Hunt” or “hunting” includes shooting, shooting at, pursuing, taking, capturing or killing or attempting to capture or kill any wild animal."
From the small game regs:
"Hunt or hunting means shooting, shooting at, pursuing, taking, catching, or killing any wild animal."
So the million dollar question would be whether or not sitting in a stand waiting for deer to clear out of the area before leaving be considered hunting. If it is then I have been guilty several times. It does not say the bow needs to be on the ground or that the arrow should be removed from the bow.
By the way, I liked the sunset and sunrise base for hours. I always have my GPS with me that tells me exactly when the sun rises and sets. I don't always have the regs with. I often text the times from the tables to myself so they are in my phone when I am checking what time it is.
How many of you while sitting in your stand waiting for the sun to come up have your bow, rifle or shot gun already loaded? you never hear about someone receiving a citation for that but I bet we all have done it.
Back tag needs to be worn on your back, outer most garment, no exceptions. It cannot be covered, so if you have a back pack on it should be on your back pack, once in your stand you would have to take it off and put it on your back so it can visually be seen. How many of you have left it on your back pack or fanny pack, I bet most on here have at one time.
How many of you have hunted out of a pop up ground blind or box stand and taken off your jacket, hung it on the back of your chair or stool? all illegal.
One of the State Statutes: (Just because you have a weapon (rifle, hand gun & loaded) while viewing bears doesn't constitute you are hunting.)
How many of you label (name, address)on your tree stands, ladder stands, ladder sticks, pop up ground blinds, trail cameras when hunting on public lands, whether its County, State or Fed lands even if its for one day? Every County could be different but most have some sort of ordinance like Bayfield County has. If you don't you could receive a citation.
If you hunt, fish etc you literally cannot do it without at some point unknowingly brake some sort of gaming law.
I run my climber up in the dark an hour and a half before light, square everything away, hang my bow, nock an arrow and settle in to be a hole in the woods until legal shooting time.
If it's not the act, but being ready that's the threshold for being a poacher, then I'm a rapist too.
Sunrise/sunset, how many can really tell you the exact time the sunsets? Is it any harder to add 30 minutes than 16 minutes? The tables are readily available and I print them out so they are in my truck and home and I check them before going out hunting. I usually carry GPS, watch and now a phone so I have access to time. I am sure there are a lot of hunters that do not carry these things though, maybe a watch.
As for Federal lands? USFS does not require name,etc on stands unless rule has changed. I will check on that soon. One thing I have learned from the Feds; GET IT IN WRITING!
Now, that being said, we also have approximately 72 different views on what prosecutors believe is an infraction (violation) of the law and what is not a prosecutable law violation.
A Conservation Warden or a Deputy Sheriff can write all the tickets they want to write. The can write you 20 tickets if they like.
What does it mean - not a whole hell'va lot if the prosecuting attorney does not agree you committed a violation. IF he/she AGREES to go forward with prosecution well then I would be a tad worried.
So first you have the warden looking at how he/she "interprets" the law. Then you have the "prosecuting attorney" and how he/she "interprets" the law. Then a Judge and/or finally a jury and how they "interpret" the law if you choose to take the "alleged" violation the whole 9 yards!
Too give you an example - we have a very strong minded CCW District Attorney - very "Pro" gun. You would pay hell to get a CCW charge prosecuted with out extenuating circumstances. But that is his job and the way he, as a district attorney runs his office. He is a hunter and a fisherman - but remember - all DA's are not....and most have no clue what it's like to be in the field.
That same CCW violation in let's say...ah, Dane County? I wouldn't want to be the one charged there.
NWO you can give us a list of all things that are illegal - but they are only truely "illegal" if someone would prosecute you for it. And yes, the vast majority you may find yourself before a judge.
My jacket hanging on a chair in a Double Bull blind. Really? Just wouldnt happen in my county! I'd never write a ticket for it and I dont know who would. But if it concerns you - wear your jacket or put the tag on your outer wear. Even thou no one can see it!
I'm going out on a limb here, but I would be willing to bet you - hanging a back pack with your tag clearly visable "might" get you a lecture from the warden or deputy - I can almost bet as I cannot speak for our DA - say "dismissed." Clearly it would make more sense to have everyone see your tag than on your back agaisnt a tree and no one see it. I know what the law says.
It makes as much sense as if I stopped your vehicle on a day we are getting 4 inches of snow, for "failure to dislay a registration plate."
The law clearly states your license plate must be clearly visable at ALL times. Are you going stop every other block and clean off your plate? Well you better!! Or I am giving you a ticket!!
Ya, that'll fly!
So we have to look at the laws subjectively. What is allowed and what is not.
I do not believe that if you are in your stand with a lodaed firearm - your hunting. BUT, some DA's might - so load at shooting time.
Play it smart - follow the rules to the best of your ability and be prepared to explain your actions.
I disagree. Some of us spend time learning and understanding the regulations so we don't accidentally break any laws, weak excuse.
I feel that a guide should (and probably does) have a greater understanding of regulations and should strive to follow those regulations more closely than the average joe hunter. That said, any guide found guilty of violations such as the ones listed in this thread IMO should lose their license to guide for life, and their right to hunt for however much time is decided by the courts.
On another note, IMO it's pretty low/pathetic/whiny to start a thread like this just to bash someone. I understand that the thread starter did not mention a name in the first post, but when followed in another post with details of the specific charges, might as well have put the name in the first post. Heck why not put the name in the subject line. Some people need more hobbies, or, at least different hobbies.
HunterR - Ouch!
I disagree with you! Anyone that spends any good deal of time is going to inadvertently break a conservation law - If it's a hood partially covering a backtag number or a treestep screwed into a tree limb to use as a bow hanger. How about the guy that accidently leaves his wallet laying on the coffee table at 4:30 AM and discovers he has "no license on person" when he's in his treestand? How about the guy that trims 2 small limbs on a tree on State land so he can get a clean shot?
How about the guy duck hunting that once in the marsh reaches over into a side pocket and finds two lead shot shells he left in his jacket from last weeks pheasant hunt? Damn him!
The list goes on and on and on. You can "learn" and "understand" all you want - your human and to be human is to error.
We are all human. We make mistakes. That's why God invented a confessional. :^) I dont care how hard you try some time in your life, you'll slip up and 99.9% of the time no one will be there to see it. You know it and no one else, but it happens! You scold yourself and you learn from your mistake and say "Thank God no one saw that idiotic move!!"
Everyone here speeds in an automobile. If you say you dont...you lie! Most of us dont try to or go out thinking, "hey I'm burning up the Interstate tonight" and we find themselves stopped by the WSP during a "discussion" with the little lady!
It's so easy to sit back and judge people - well I got news for you - for the grace of God many times it could have been you - Shit happens!
If it hasn't happened yet, trust me! It will!
I dont condone misbehavior of any kind and if people knowingly break the conservation laws, the should be cited.
No one should cop a "holier than thou" attitude!
You have to have a flag pole attached to the outside of the blind and have to run the back tag up the pole.
Same as if you're shooting out of your house or cabin. You need the back tag on and if using a gun you need blaze orange on. I'm waiting hear of someone getting busted for not wearing blaze orange in their house! LOL!
Maybe my reading comprehension is not that good but it appears that he is guilty of having his orange and back tag in the tree next to him instead of on him - for that you would take away his hunting, fishing and guiding? Go to the eliminate back tag thread and half the people are admitting to not wearing their tag while in the stand, should they all have their hunting and fishing taken away also? No where did I see that he got charged with hunting after hours. You can sit in a tree as much as you want with a bow or gun (or both) and not be hunting.
NWO what did you actually get charged with? I would really question what the warden was doing trying to track you down when he knew you were hunting. Why is he coming onto private property and messing up your hunt when he wanted to talk to you about the deer you shot the night before? Why couldn't he just come to your house after dark? Sounds like a warden trying to be a real jerk.
I disagree with that statement also. I try my best to keep up with all the new regulations to the best of my knowledge. Most people refer to the hunting booklet that is available to them when you buy a license. Have you ever read all the State Statutes on the hunting regulations that aren't in the booklet. Even the GW doesn't know them all and is constantly consulting there region supervisors or calling there Bureau of Law Enforcement Policy Officers down in Madison.
Zinger, I have thought about that many times.
Sounds like a bowsite poster who doesnt know the whole story and is making assumptions!
How did the warden mess up the hunt? NWO said he had deer beneath him and that is why he didnt get out of his stand?
Interesting!
As I stated in my earlier post, if found guilty of the charges (I see one for hunting deer/bear after hours at the link provided) then yes I believe the guide license and hunting licenses should be taken. I simply don't believe the excuses, and I'm guessing the warden didn't either or he wouldn't have written the tickets. In my experiences most wardens are intelligent, rational, cool headed people quicker to give a verbal warning than to write a ticket. I'd like to see the warden's report and get his side of things.
So After almost two years why was this thread even started, what was the purpose? I have not been convicted of any crime and will not be...Why do you think that is?
Wardens can and do walk in anytime they want legally. My first time was opening day 1977, He was convinced I was in the tree with a rifle in a shotgun area, nope ,scoped shotgun. Second time was a trainee on the opener who took a 1 mile walk thru, checking 8 hunters on the way.
NF - You know my take - good job trainee - doing what we pay them to do! That's earning a paycheak, walking one mile through the woods and checking hunters! Proactive - not reactive enforcement efforts.
November no a warden doesn't have the right to just go onto private property whenever they want to. They need a reason to go and search someone. If they saw you with a rifle in a shotgun zone that would be a reason, but I'm guessing it was just an excuse to search and hassel you. Hunters need to start standing up for their rights and not allow wardens to walk around on private land and search us just because of a long held myth that they can go anywhere they want. The are officers of the law like Cops and must follow the same rules. If it's something that visible from a public area or a common are such as the person's side porch then the LE can look at it but they can't go snooping around your yard or property without a warrent or probable cause, and just because you're hunting is not probable cause.
Where did you get your law degree? Really? Where do you come up with this stuff? Someone is going to listen to you and find themselves in a jam!
Yes, law enforcement officers - can enter onto your property or the property of anyone else without permission. Anytime. It's not a "myth" - it's the law!!
That being said, the law that supports this activity is called the "open fields doctrine."
When you refer to an officer seeing something from a common area your refer to the "plain view doctrine."
The "open fields doctrine" has it's limitations as it does not allow a law enforcement officer to "snoop" around the "curtilage" of a home. Those areas that there is a "expectancy of privacy."
Areas like the home, garage, a fenced in area right near the home are all off limits unless a search warrant is obtained.
However, if your growing marijuana on your back porch and the Sheriff's Office happens to fly over and spot those plants, that is a "plan view" observation and no search warrant is needed under those circumstances.
"Open fields" allows any law enforcement officer to travel upon any lands during the course of his/her official duties.
No one is going to "take a walk" on your land just to stretch their legs. They have a purpose in mind. So your "I'm guessing it was just an excuse to search and hassel you" is nothing but bunk! Ya, the wardens aint busy at all, they have time for that...
Perhaps the warden has heard shots from that land or he sees someone hunting the property? He/She has every right in the world to walk onto the land and contact the person(s). No bones about it.
There are numerous reasons why a law officer (warden) would enter private property and walk it.
The law states that neither you and I have any expectancy of privacy on the "back forty".
Here's a thought - spend 10 minutes doing some research before you give bogus advise.
Yes you're correct that they can go onto private property, I said that wrong, but they can't go searching all your property. The myth I talked about is that people think a warden can just come in your house and search it without a warrant or very substantial probable cause. SO why was the warden walking on private property to check NWO? The only thing the warden can force you to do is show you your liscence (and even that's questionable if you really didn't have one and wanted to push your 5th Amendment) and it's quite apparent that the warden knew NWO had a liscence. So what was the wardens motives to walk onto private property? To ask him about a complaint that didn't have any evidence beyond a call which was probably annonomus that he could have done much easier at NWO's house or wait by the road at his truck? That certainly looks like over stepping his right to go onto private property, it sounds like he was snooping to see if NWO was doing anything illegal which goes far beyond him going there to check his tag.
It sounds like you're LE so you know how to skirt the law and get away with things such as asking permission to search in such a way that it sounds like you're demanding to search. I'm sure wardens have ways of walking around on private property and using some excuse as to why they're there. That doesn't make it right or legal.
When you encounter the warden at the boat launch the warden was conducting a "consent search." You have every right to refuse to consent and not open a cooler or any other compartment on that boat. Most folks however, comply - open the compartments and life goes on.
As goofy as it may sound as a law enforcement officer, I can walk about a parking lot and ask people if I can search their vehicle. That never happens but I could and I would suspect most folks may let me do that. "With" their consent.
Happens on traffic stops all the time. But it now happens after the stop has ended and an officer may say "And oh by the way, you dont mind if I look through your vehicle." It's important that the public knows the traffic stop has ended so there is no argument of coercion.
Your speculating at best when you talk about NWO's situation and subsequent contact by the GW. What we do know is that there was a warden there. We know that he had every legal right to be where he was at the time he was. The reason is a mute point.
Screwing up the hunt - well "bo-hoo" we pay our wardens to check people and that is part of the price we pay to have that enforcement. That simple!
"it sounds like he was snooping to see if NWO was doing anything illegal which goes far beyond him going there to check his tag."
Hello - again - that's what we pay wardens to do - find folks that are doing things that are illegal. So if he just "checks" the tag he should ignore anything else? Come on Zinger!
In closing Zinger - A.) I dont "skirt" the law. B.)And I "dont get away with things! You're not only incorrect my friend, you're out of line!
Once again Zinger - law enforcement does not "need" an excuse to walk someone's property - nothing in he law requires that...anywhere. That being said - no LE officer will waste his/her time taking a "walk" on someone's land without a purpose! LE are busy people they dont have the time to just walk in the woods.
By the way, the 5th amendment has nothing to do with providing a warden with your license when he/she asked for it. The 5th amendment as I am sure you're aware is to protect people from self incrimination. There is a law in Wisconsin that requires that when asked by a warden or other Law Officer that you "shall" produce and display that license. Your failure to produce might very well land you in County jail - your have a legal obligation to provide that documentation. Kinda like when your stopped and the Trooper asks for your license - I suggest you provide one!
You can be exhausting! :^)
No one received any suspension of hunting or fishing privileges because of any action that they took.
We all know of guides that have broken the law and have had their hunting or fishing privileges suspended. I am simply asking if you agree or disagree that they should have their guides license suspended for the same duration.
Public record shows what NWO was not sentenced to suspension of any hunting or fishing privileges. Not wearing orange, or your backtag is not enough to have those rights revoked, so he would not have lost his guides license.
If a guide is involved in illegal activity where he/she would lose his or her hunting privileges should they also lose their guide license for the same amount of time?
Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill!
BTW feel free to look up my background too! It's all public!
I have gained absolutely nothing. I was looking for an opinion from hunter on what they expect form the guides they might use.
I see a few that agree that if a guide looses his/her hunting privileges they should also have their guide license suspended for that amount of time.
Time will tell if the hunters in Wisconsin accept this or not.
Maybe the question will be on the agenda at the next WCC Spring hearing.
One of my best friends hunted with NWO, as did his son, and they said, you could not find a more outstanding guide, and nice guy, and a guy who loves to hunt bear more than him.......
I for one, put value in my friends opinion .........
On 11/28/2013
He runs a well known outfitter service in Northern Wisconsin"""
Now if that post isn't pin pointing another and written to try and discredit another person or business then what is ?
Mike F lets come out with it. What is your beef with NWO? Why are pin pointing him. I'm sure we would all like to hear the back ground here. If you have a beef with his guide service write a review in the outfitters section. That is the place to air your displeasure not here.
I don't know NWO but just like RC they made a mistake they paid it GET OVER IT.
I agree with others this thread once it got personal should be pulled. This site at times seems more like the local coffee shop gossip table. In the meantime we wait to here from MIKE F and don't say you haven't directed this thread at him,,, read your own posts. WAITING!
Surely one cannot be this spiteful for no reason at all. I have to believe some how Mike F has been given false information, influenced and encouraged by others at one time or another and just wanted to purposely discredit me and my Guide Service.
My advice to Mike F is to mind his own business- what goes around comes around. You may have the DNR looking at your operation shortly. With these types post one has to wonder about the integrity and level of professionalism of the service you are working for or providing. As far as motions for the Conservation congress next year- how about registering outfitters based on past experience, liability insurance and previous experience with background checks to keep the fly by night services out of what they think is easy money.
Mike Foss runs one of the best outfitting businesses in regards to bear hunting in the state minds his own business and gives his hunters the hunt they pay for and deserve. I have had hunters who have hunted with him in the past and have never heard a bad word about him or his opperation. These hunters would have hunted again with NWO,but they messed up on there zone choice and had A down instaed of D in the application process.
I have guided fisherman and bear hunters for 33 years. Its not very assuring knowing there are low life's out there willing to slander me on sites like these so they can gain by my pain! Mike earned his good reputation- he deserves respect from his fellow guides- he has mine. He is a great guide and better yet- a great person. I'm not sure I will be taking part in anymore discussions on sites like this moving forward. What happened to a phone call or letter or better yet an in person conversation? I was the victim of some slander a few years ago on this site myself-Mike Foss called me to give me a heads up directions to the site----(this site) to defend myself. It came from one of my hunters in 2008 who killed a bear on day 2 of the season ,but for some unknown reason to me-found it necessary to slander my service because of who knows what- he never called or spoke to me in person about it. I was left wondering-what? why is he mad? I provided a private land stand for him- didn't charge for the second guy filming which required more work for me, assisted him in getting his bear out the following morning, got it to a cooler- my only guess is I had to make a call on a tracking job based on safety the nite before- (after dark) he wanted to keep tracking- but we heard the bear run off and I was not about to use a firearm after hours to finish it off. He ended up getting the bear the next morning at 630AM -it was still good and I thought it ended nice for him- but he slammed me anyway on this site- totally disgusting. He wasn't man enough to talk about it in person- but he sure jumped on this site since I guess its an excepted practice here???.
So, some advice from a guide who has hunted all over the lower 48 and Canada for Whitetail, bear and Elk- some guided some not and held a Wisconsin guides license for 33 years- "If you have a problem with someone- maybe try being a man and tell them in person" Social media sites are not for this type of stuff. If you want to praise them give them a tip- and tell them you can be used as a reference.