Wildlife Officers...exactly what is it they do here in Ohio?
- Thread starter Wingman
- Start date
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Bottom line.
Silly infractions or got ya tickets written to everyday workin man hunters has little overhead for cost. The only real cost to the DNR is the piece of paper it's written on. The majority of people pay them without a fight.
Investigating poachers, going after habitual violators have an immense cost. Time, resources, equipment, overtime, etc. There is a high expense to catch these guys and make it stick. At the end of the day if they're successful the DNR may recoup a couple thousand in fines handed down by a judge. This also costs the county money for booking, housing, prosecuting, public defenders etc. There is no return on investment for nailing these people and it often leads to a revenue loss that could be 100x what was recouped in fines.
If you were a DNR trying to maintain operating budgets and balance spending vs revenue which group would you target on a daily basis?
Silly infractions or got ya tickets written to everyday workin man hunters has little overhead for cost. The only real cost to the DNR is the piece of paper it's written on. The majority of people pay them without a fight.
Investigating poachers, going after habitual violators have an immense cost. Time, resources, equipment, overtime, etc. There is a high expense to catch these guys and make it stick. At the end of the day if they're successful the DNR may recoup a couple thousand in fines handed down by a judge. This also costs the county money for booking, housing, prosecuting, public defenders etc. There is no return on investment for nailing these people and it often leads to a revenue loss that could be 100x what was recouped in fines.
If you were a DNR trying to maintain operating budgets and balance spending vs revenue which group would you target on a daily basis?
Big_Holla
Senior Member
One radio show up here has interviewed our Conservation Officers (same as game wardens for the most part) very often and every time they are asked about the process someone has to go through to report something to get results. They emphatically said that unless you are observing the people in the act at the time don't waste your time calling them directly. The best results are always to call Mich's) RAP line, same type of reporting as your TIP program there in Ohio. That is where they compile information and build cases and then work with the local CO (game warden) to try to take care of things. Now you also have a supervisor directing things from the top. If one guy calls the local CO/GW and another calls the RAP/TIP line for the same person doing the violating the two reportings might never be linked together.
Quite often they have stated that the bigger cases that are solved are always a result of someone, sometimes several people, calling in and reporting. Facts are what they need. Whether it's a plate number (even partial), vehicle description, person descriptions, location, pictures, etc. that is what they need. All too often they would say that there is too little information or nothing specific that can help them. Rumors don't solve things but could lead them in the right direction.
As for some of the comments about being inconvenienced by searches I can understand the frustration you may have had to go through. But at the same time it would make me happy (ish LOL) that my neighbors are looking out for the deer/game in the area as much as I want to myself.
Quite often they have stated that the bigger cases that are solved are always a result of someone, sometimes several people, calling in and reporting. Facts are what they need. Whether it's a plate number (even partial), vehicle description, person descriptions, location, pictures, etc. that is what they need. All too often they would say that there is too little information or nothing specific that can help them. Rumors don't solve things but could lead them in the right direction.
As for some of the comments about being inconvenienced by searches I can understand the frustration you may have had to go through. But at the same time it would make me happy (ish LOL) that my neighbors are looking out for the deer/game in the area as much as I want to myself.
Read through most of these posts and I'm concerned as to the hate that a lot of you seem to express for the people that help watch over our beloved sports, environments, hobbies whatever. I work for the state, Iam a parole officer in Adams county. The only parole officer in Adams. I've got a caseload generally around 90 people and Iam always balls to wall, pedal to the floor busy. Benefits and pay were nice when I was a corrections officer working straight 40 and doing not much at all, now....haha I'm a sucker. There is one gw per county in Ohio. They receive all the calls about everything and can only rely from what I've heard on dnr investigators to assist, and I not think their are many of those. I couldn't fathom the calls they receive from deer season alone. Tresspassers, poachers, random lights, and hearsay. "Hi my name is Joe and I want to blah blah blah for minutes and call me back" no number left. People call me often and what is big to them ain't jack to me in parole. Sorry, don't have time to call back, I've got MIA sex offenders to find and that guy driving under suspension can be for later. But I guess if I can't do the job than quit or they should hire someone else! I've got a good relationship with my local gw's, I hunt in Ross and pike and recently met Cartwright in Adams. When you see them, introduce yourself state your name shake their hands.talk a bit with them if they have time that way if you call, they remember you. Get the facts before you call. Pictures, video, plate numbers, names, etc. If it illegal activity going on that generally wouldn't involve a gw like drugs, contact the sheriff, they can patrol parks. there are better game wardens than others just like there are for cops, teachers, priests, hunters, fishers, and parole officers. If your looking to make a change stop complaining and see what you can do to help, or go to ohiomeansjobs and apply.
I'm sure there are game wardens on here and other dnr personnel reading this thread, there are definitely things that I don't understand and wish would change, but I'm sure game wardens have very little with making those decisions and mainly enforcing them. Thank you from myself and numerous others for the job you do. Be safe and you can check me and search my car anytime.
I'm sure there are game wardens on here and other dnr personnel reading this thread, there are definitely things that I don't understand and wish would change, but I'm sure game wardens have very little with making those decisions and mainly enforcing them. Thank you from myself and numerous others for the job you do. Be safe and you can check me and search my car anytime.
Whitetail-Joe
I for one don't hate the GW's per say. I would say the general attitude is most TOO members don't see anything being done that is important to them in their area. Our local GW comes to our gunclub couple times per year for update reports and that's the only thing I know. Won't comment any further as it's too close to home. LOL
Most Too members just love the outdoors and it's important to them for everything to be correct. With only one GW per county that's a lot of area to deal with in so short of a time.
I for one don't hate the GW's per say. I would say the general attitude is most TOO members don't see anything being done that is important to them in their area. Our local GW comes to our gunclub couple times per year for update reports and that's the only thing I know. Won't comment any further as it's too close to home. LOL
Most Too members just love the outdoors and it's important to them for everything to be correct. With only one GW per county that's a lot of area to deal with in so short of a time.
Big_Holla
Senior Member
Whitetail Joe good point on calling the sheriff and local law enforcement on the drug spotting and other illegal activities. We just had 2 meth labs get busted/broken up on lands up here in Michigan this week due to reports to the police departments (and not DNR) from normal law abiding citizens.
Big_Holla
Senior Member
As we are at work checking this site day in and out... And let's not even think about when an IKS thread starts!
Any of you guys from Lucas county remember Gary stevens? That guy was full stick gung ho full out wide open lol. I swear he slept in the Marsh. They broke the mold after him. Had some good conversations with him.
Whitetail Joe I know you have a rough time in Adams county I'm friends with Kim Rogers the Sherriff there.A lot of Drug Problems there hunted there for about six or seven years never seen a GW.
I think that was the guy's name that wrote me a ticket back in 99-00 for keeping a walleye that was hooked on the outside of the mouth. I ended up going to court and they changed the law the following year to read "hooked inside the mouth". It used to read "hooked in the mouth"...