[ClickClickD'oh]

http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2007/11/18/news/03hunter.txt

In La Crosse County, one hunter faces a possible felony charge for pointing his rifle at a DNR game warden.

Same things I've said over and over concerning flashlights on guns... DO NOT USE YOUR SCOPE AS BINOCULARS!

[DoubleTapDrew]

Hunter may face charges for ‘scoping’
By Tribune staff


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Hunters took to the field Saturday amid snow, wind and falling temperatures, and the first day of the hunt was safe and quiet, according to area county sheriff’s departments.

In La Crosse County, one hunter faces a possible felony charge for pointing his rifle at a DNR game warden.
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The incident happened early Saturday as Warden Henry Bauman approached a hunter in a stand. The hunter said he was not going to shoot but was using the rifle’s scope to see who was coming, Bauman said.

The practice is called “scoping,” and it’s a felony offense if the hunter knows he is pointing at a game warden, a misdemeanor if pointing at anyone else. While it’s common to use scopes to spot other members of a hunting party and to monitor people or vehicles, Bauman said, it is illegal and unsafe. Bauman said he is referring the incident to the

La Crosse County District Attorney’s Office.

Violating one of the 4 rules. Being scoped doesn't give you a very good feeling. That's interesting it's a felony to scope a game warden and a misdemeanor to scope anyone else. I guess their lives are worth a bit more.

[MachIVshooter]

I'll scope game animals, as my rifle's optics have higher magnification and better clarity for identification of sex and counting points. I have 20/12 vision and am usually not that concerned with identifying people but, if needed, I'll use binoc's.

[Officers'Wife]

Very strange,

I could have sworn it was still bow season in Indiana.

Selena

[SoCalShooter]

This is why they make monoculars and binoculars. I do not understand why he would point a loaded rifle at someone like that, I know its something I would not do.

[Rey B]

No, firearms season opened yesterday in Indiana.

[MDHunter]

Why ANYONE would point any firearm at another person in a non-defense situation is beyond me...this is the type of person who really makes us hunters look good.

Michael

[mustanger98]

Seems to me, pointing a loaded rifle and "scoping" someone... I don't care whether they're a game warden or not or who's scoping who... it oughta be classified as a felony such as assault with a deadly weapon if not a terroristic threat.:scrutiny:

If ya'll are saying we don't need that guy representing us, then I agree.

[Eagle103]

Smart guy. The game warden isn't much smarter either though to be wandering through a hunting area approaching people. There may be a rule about knowing your target and what lies beyond it but that doesn't seem to matter much to some people. I understand that may be part of the job but you wouldn't get me to do it.

[Reyn]

Here it would be a misdemeanor. Reckless endangerment.

[p35]

The game wardens I see around here usually wear green pants and "deer colored" shirts. Kinda makes you wonder how good an idea that is.

[islandphish]

Plus, as a hunter, who needs all the extra movement from waving around a gun barrell while "scoping".

[mustanger98]

The game wardens I see around here usually wear green pants and "deer colored" shirts. Kinda makes you wonder how good an idea that is.

That's about how they dress in Georgia, too. And when they're conducting a hunter ed class, they're usually preaching against wearing colors similar to the deer's colors.

That's why I won't wear a silverbelly or mist grey Stetson deer hunting. Too many idiots will give you a "Texas inema" through the head trying to open up a deer from behind.

[oklahoma caveman]

they tend to just wait at the pickup round here. but yes its stupid to do that.

[Bartkowski]

Why don't they wear orange so that their is no question as to what the thing moving towards someone is.

I would like to know why scoping a game warden has a harsher punisment than anyone else.

[alsaqr]

"is called “scoping,” and it’s a felony offense if the hunter knows he is pointing at a game warden, a misdemeanor if pointing at anyone else."

Yep, the life of a game warden is so much more valuable than the life of Joe Smoe, hunter.

[Gbro]

Mn CO's wear blaze orange.
That same thing happened here several years ago. the CO. talks about it during his part of the Firearms safety class.
He was checking out a group of hunters with his binoculars, and watched one of the hunters walk over to a pickup and lift a rifle and aim it down the road to see who was there. The CO drove up, walked over and picked up the rifle that was used, and opened the action to find one in the chamber.
a ticket was issued, and when the hunter appeared in court, the PA was in favor of charging the hunter with a felony. The CO stated the hunter made a stupid mistake, and had no malice in mind. He received a fine and lost privileges for 3 years.

Some stupid things are done, Even some nice people that never think of the ramifications of their actions. I know the hunter and he is a good person. Just had a big brain fart.

[jr_roosa]

"The game warden isn't much smarter either though to be wandering through a hunting area approaching people."

Isn't that what the game warden is supposed to do?

As for a warden versus Joe Shmo and felony versus misdemeanor, it's the same as how taking a swing at a cop is a bit more meaningful than taking a swing at just anybody. It's not that his life is worth any more, but that you're endangering the game warden's life AND you are making a statement about what you think about his authority.

I work in an ED, and in my state it's a felony to threaten or interfere with a health care worker. It's not that I'm special, but rather that being a jackass in an ED has the potential for more harm than being a jackass in a bar or on the street.

-J.

[CrawdaddyJim]

"The game warden isn't much smarter either though to be wandering through a hunting area approaching people."

Isn't that what the game warden is supposed to do?

Not unless he is chasing a suspected felon. Of course he is allowed to go where he wants to go. But most times they wait by your truck or at the exit/entrance road into the area. That way he can check game, license, and whatever.

I would be seriously PO'd if the FWC officer (here they are state patrol officers with more powers) walked up on me while I was in the blind or stand. But I damn sure wouldn't scope him. :O

[jpwilly]

I could understand if the guy was looking at some game as the warden approached...it's another thing to use a loaded rifle and scope as a way of observing people! I don't think it should be a felonly though. That's a bit much.

[jeepmor]

The practice is called “scoping,” and it’s a felony offense if the hunter knows he is pointing at a game warden, a misdemeanor if pointing at anyone else.

What makes him so special?