FOIA - $150 tickets for WY wilderness rule NR violations. NO other ramifications.

[ladogg411]

FOIA results summary from WY GFD regarding actual enforcement of the NR Wilderness Rule. WY Statute 23-2-401(a)

In the past 10 years:
1. 12 NR hunters were cited for violating WS 23-2-401(a) (a few warning tickets also issued)
2. No hunter was required to return to WY for a court appearance and total cost of violation was the bond amount, $150. Same as all the other simple traffic type tickets
3. All of these misdemeanor tickets were marked "no court appearance required" - just like a speeding ticket.
4. No hunter lost WY hunting privileges or was reported to another state for loss of privlieges.
5. No hunter had any property seized (gun, atv, vehicle, etc).
6. Of those 12 violators, 4 hunters were in possession of an animal that was harvested in a wilderness area. Three of those 4 hunters were allowed to keep antlers, cape and meat. One of those 4 harvesters had antlers confiscated as his group hadn't tagged the animal and tried to pass it off as a resident kill. Despite the dishonesty, the warden only took the antlers - and then donated the meat back to the hunter.

 

[MuleyFever]

Did it say who issued the tickets or what wilderness they were in?

$150 is way cheaper than a guide.

 

[wytx]

GW writes the tickets and doesn't matter which wilderness area.

Sounds like time to get some fines changed if the outfitters insist on keeping this on the books.

 

[Clark33]

I still think this is the dumbest hunting law in the books.

 

[MuleyFever]

GW writes the tickets and doesn't matter which wilderness area.

Wondering if there is a pattern of who likes to write them and where. For science.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Wondering if there is a pattern of who likes to write them and where. For science.

As thin as GW are in WY..I gotta believe they either tripped over those 12 people doing somethine else or they were tipped off by ourltfitters.
That's 1.2 tickets a year over a decade.

 

[Flatgo]

I bet the Wyoming game warden made a follow up call. I hunted a wilderness area with a Wyoming resident a few years ago, and a few weeks after hunting, I got a call from the GW. He was nice enough, but could definitely tell his was asking to make sure everything was legit. If you weren't doing it right i could see him painting you into a corner. I don't agree with the law as a non resident, but if I was a Wyoming i think i would be in favor of the law. crazy the difference in hunting pressure from montana to wyoming.

 

[7mm-08]

I bet the Wyoming game warden made a follow up call. I hunted a wilderness area with a Wyoming resident a few years ago, and a few weeks after hunting, I got a call from the GW. He was nice enough, but could definitely tell his was asking to make sure everything was legit. If you weren't doing it right i could see him painting you into a corner. I don't agree with the law as a non resident, but if I was a Wyoming i think i would be in favor of the law. crazy the difference in hunting pressure from montana to wyoming.

Remember your Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights, gentlemen. You can politely decline to answer questions. Law enforcement is very skilled at getting YOU to talk yourself into a citation.

 

[MuleDeerMike]

I know a guy who once called the authorities in WY to ask what the fine was for hunting as non res in the wilderness. They told him the number, he said cool, and went hunting.

 

[TSAMP]

Remember your Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights, gentlemen. You can politely decline to answer questions. Law enforcement is very skilled at getting YOU to talk yourself into a citation.

Nobody talks themselves out of a ticket, plenty of folks talk themselves into one.

 

[Schaaf]

Posting this thread is a good way to get that citation penalty increased.

 

[Wyo_hntr]

I find these threads hilarious.

I've hunted out of state multiple times, never once occurred to me that I had a right to complain about rules, cost, or anything else. Or break laws because I don't like them lol.

Anyways....bitch on...

 

[ThorM465]

I find these threads hilarious.

I've hunted out of state multiple times, never once occurred to me that I had a right to complain about rules, cost, or anything else. Or break laws because I don't like them lol.

Anyways....bitch on...

Another victim of the public propaganda I mean education system. This country was built on the shoulders of men with the exact opposite attitude.

Don't forget to take your mask off and replace it when you get home at night.

 

[Wyo_hntr]

Don't forget to take your mask off and replace it when you get home at night.

You must have mistaken me for your husband. I am not.

 

[Bubblehide]

You must have mistaken me for your husband. I am not.

Lol

I could sling a damn good comeback, but that was a good laugh, and I certainly don't need to get caught up in a pissing contest.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

So $150 trespass (literally) fee, nice.

 

[Beendare]

Interesting, thanks OP

 

[CGSwimmer25]

FOIA results summary from WY GFD regarding actual enforcement of the NR Wilderness Rule. WY Statute 23-2-401(a)

In the past 10 years:
1. 12 NR hunters were cited for violating WS 23-2-401(a) (a few warning tickets also issued)
2. No hunter was required to return to WY for a court appearance and total cost of violation was the bond amount, $150. Same as all the other simple traffic type tickets
3. All of these misdemeanor tickets were marked "no court appearance required" - just like a speeding ticket.
4. No hunter lost WY hunting privileges or was reported to another state for loss of privlieges.
5. No hunter had any property seized (gun, atv, vehicle, etc).
6. Of those 12 violators, 4 hunters were in possession of an animal that was harvested in a wilderness area. Three of those 4 hunters were allowed to keep antlers, cape and meat. One of those 4 harvesters had antlers confiscated as his group hadn't tagged the animal and tried to pass it off as a resident kill. Despite the dishonesty, the warden only took the antlers - and then donated the meat back to the hunter.

What state are you a resident of?

 

[Jakeb]

Curious if I can just call a warden on my way and get the ticket over with so I’m not bothered during my hunt?

 

[wyogoat]

And again, people on a site like this that eats their own is advocating breaking a law because they don’t agree with it? Game laws at that?