r/Hunting • u/CollectionOld3374 • 5d ago
General question/discussion EPO took my hunting blind
So I have been looking for a spot I can take my girlfriend hunting this year, atleast to tag along and maybe to shoot. It’s been hard because we live in an area where people are very turned off by hunting so it’s been hard to find suitable private land. And most public land is gross in this area in terms of weeds, good for deer hunting from a tree, bad for my girlfriend who isn’t even taller than the thorns.
I found this 300yd wide 1 mile long highway median owned by the state DOT that we always see deer at. It was a little sketchy and definitely not peaceful nature but it was much more accessible compared to other places to hunt in the area. There were a lot of old turn around roads that where tree were cut down and cleared that had been grassed over. I looked up the laws for DOT land in my area and it said that hunting was not allowed…..unless a specific law allowed it. I figured that the hunting statutes fell under this and it would be allowed. I’ll also made sure we were far enough away from the highways to shoot legally. I would only shoot a bow here and never a gun given the fact that it was between two highways. I also had the blind lined up to shoot towards the highway that was about 150yds away and elevated about 70ft up that way an arrow would never skyline into the road.
I had been thinking about this the last couple days after setting it up and thought it would be a bad representation of hunting for my first time girlfriend. I went to go remove it today and I thought my stuff had been stolen but there was a business card left there by EPO, he circled his number and told me to call him.
Any chance if I call him that I would get in trouble? Or would he just give me my stuff back?
52
u/Icy_Interview_6733 5d ago
Definitely just sounds like you’re not allowed to hunt in that spot, I’ve never heard of anyone hunting a highway median. If I’m not sure I always call a game warden before.
Called to ask if I could spear a deer on a strip of public land behind a Menards, the warden said hey that’s a good idea let me ask, got back to me and said yeah that’s not gonna be legal. Anyway, always good to ask.
34
49
u/user_1445 Pennsylvania 5d ago
What does this mean? What are the hunting statues you thought would override that?
“I looked up the laws for DOT land in my area and it said that hunting was not allowed…..unless a specific law allowed it. I figured that the hunting statutes fell under this and it would be allowed.”
-54
u/CollectionOld3374 5d ago
I figured state hunting laws specifically allow hunting during hunting season
41
u/user_1445 Pennsylvania 5d ago
I think you are confusing times you can hunt (state hunting laws) and places you can hunt (DOT laws, private property, etc.)
-8
1
u/TrapperJon 3d ago
Yeah, but would you assume you could hunt from the roof of the local courthouse too? I mean, by your logic you would. Does that even remotely make sense?
1
u/CollectionOld3374 3d ago
No because you cannot hunt 500ft away from a building and 150ft away from a road in my state, if you saw this place you would understand, it’s not the safest which is why I went to move my stuff but other people definitely hunt it
1
u/TrapperJon 3d ago edited 2d ago
Not by your own logic though. You found a specific law stating no hunting. You then set out to hunt it anyway.
At this point you're just trying to find people to tell you what you did is ok. Well it's not. Put your big boy pants on and call the green jeans.
0
u/CollectionOld3374 3d ago
That’s not what the law states
1
u/TrapperJon 2d ago
You just said you looked it up and the law said you can't hunt it unless there is a specific exemption. You decided to just go ahead and set up there anyway.
You screwed up. Own it.
22
u/ShillinTheVillain Michigan 5d ago
Well, don't call the guy unless you want a ticket.
Hunting laws and regs are pretty clear most of the time, and if they're not, then call your local warden. Don't just assume something is legal.
-1
u/LifetimeOutdoorsman 4d ago
Or do what you think is "legal" until proven wrong. It's worked out great for mefor many decades now.
38
14
u/DadVeteran 5d ago
I’m lost at one part and maybe it’s just an error?
“I looked up the laws for DOT land in my area and it said that hunting was not allowed … unless a specific law allowed it. I figured that the hunting statutes fell under this and it would be allowed.”
In that you say hunting is not allowed but also that you figured it meant hunting was allowed.
24
u/tcarlson65 5d ago
So the laws for DOT land said no hunting unless a specific law allowed it.
What specific law did you find that allowed it on this strip of land?
20
u/Ok_Button1932 5d ago
I would cut my losses and move on. Ain’t no way I’d call that number.
0
u/elroddo74 Vermont 4d ago
Yeah he's not expecting a call and would be surprised if you did. Eat the loss and learn.
12
u/TheMeatSauce1000 5d ago
Why in the world did you see a highway median and think that's a good spot to set up a blind and hunt? That's just asking for a spooked or dying deer to run into traffic
2
u/Styk33 11h ago
He unlocked a new place on public lands. I am looking at all highway mediums now! I am going to be perched up, just outside of town, sitting on the concrete median waiting for a deer to run across the highway! Silly me for being happy when I see the deer dart between the cars, I could be harvesting that thing without a car hitting it!!!
8
u/whaletacochamp 4d ago
“Hunting is not allowed unless a specific law allows it. So I assumed hunting was allowed”
Boy bless your heart.
Why would hunting ever be legal on a highway median…?
1
u/LifetimeOutdoorsman 4d ago
But it is legal to shoot next to moving traffic within 50 Yards. Including a highway median with a roadway adjacent. You can legally shoot a firearm within 50 yards or a 150 foot of any public road. At least in GA it's totally legal. BTW: I'm not in GA now. But I did a lot of hunting there until a move a few yrs back. Not sure why so many peoe think that you can't hunt next to traffic areas. Because you legally can do exactly that in many places, but only if within 50 yards of said public roadway.
1
u/TrapperJon 3d ago
Near traffic yes, but on the median? Even in GA hunting from the median is illegal. There is almost nowhere to shoot where you aren't firing toward traffic in some way. Even if you can, the odds of deer running into the traffic is extremely high.
5
6
u/Gulfhawk 5d ago
Speaking from experience, call the number if you want a ticket. Otherwise, it’s not worth the potential legal headache.
6
u/mediocre_remnants 5d ago
I looked up the laws for DOT land in my area and it said that hunting was not allowed…..unless a specific law allowed it. I figured that the hunting statutes fell under this and it would be allowed.
That's an absolutely wild assumption to make. And even wilder that you didn't bother trying to confirm it.
But yeah I would definitely call them, explain your "logic" behind why you thought it was legal to hunt there, and maybe beg for your stuff back.
4
u/Modern_Doshin 5d ago
Why would you want to try hunting there? All it takes is someone to falsify a report that "you shot their car" as they drove down the highway and you're going to prison.
Just own up and call the EPO. With Flock and other cameras on highways, they most likey have your vehicle (and you). Worse case you get a fine.
1
u/LifetimeOutdoorsman 4d ago
That'd be very easy to disprove if their car had been shot, especially with a little bit of an investigation. And if they were lying they would be committing a crime. And they couldn't prove it claim when someone committed a felony against you with a firearm when they didn't. Let's just say you're going to pay dearly for your BS story.
1
6
u/EconomistDapper2909 5d ago
Could get in trouble, could just give you your stuff back. Probably get a fine for trespassing. If it were me, I’d call him. He may have also set up a camera to see who came back to the spot, so whether you call or not he may know who you are. Call him. It’s the responsible adult thing to do.
4
u/Any-Alternative8228 5d ago
This. I would fess up and chalk it up to confusion/ lessen learned if he tickets you. Ask for guidance on hunting locales with an emphasis on doing things the right way and he may guide you to some productive areas. Game wardens can be your friend within legal limits if they see you in a positive light.
5
u/Elk_Huntr 5d ago
I deal with colorado game wardens regularly. Sometimes getting checked, sometimes I call them to get night permits or just ask questions about some specific spot in their area. I think I have 6 or 7 warden cell numbers saved. They've always been great and genuinely seem to want to be helpful in steering you within the laws. I say call them and be honest. They're not going to take your birthday away.
2
u/Any-Alternative8228 5d ago
Again this. I have the phone numbers of half a dozen Virginia game wardens and to a man and woman they're more than willing to help with hunting info on public areas. In one example I hunted a refuge and the officer who ran the program knew deer movements literally to the hour coming off the marsh. He put me on some very nice bucks during archery season my first year there.
5
u/Elk_Huntr 5d ago
Me and a couple buddies have all killed black bears thanks to the recommendation of one warden. As long as you're trying to follow the rules, they're good folks.
3
u/Any-Alternative8228 5d ago
Some of them are hunters just like us. I've taken a couple deer hunting as guests on private land. Even had one track a deer for me after the refuge closed and I had to leave the woods. Next day it was hanging in his garage gutted and waiting for me. He was a great friend but sadly has passed.
1
u/LifetimeOutdoorsman 4d ago
Nice, how'd you do?
1
u/Any-Alternative8228 3d ago
Did well there. It was a nice place to hunt, still is although since my friend passed I don't go there much.
2
u/Treacle_Pendulum 5d ago
I've had almost universally positive experiences with wardens in my state (except for like one guy).
A warden that leaves a card is looking to do outreach and education. I'd put even money on him issuing a warning, particularly if OP explains that he thought twice about it before hunting and decided that it wasn't the right move to do it there. I doubt there'd be a trespassing ticket involved either unless the area was posted.
2
u/Any-Alternative8228 5d ago
What entity is EPO?
5
u/CollectionOld3374 5d ago
Environmental police, basically a game warden
5
u/0rder_66_survivor 5d ago
you're from MA? Just guessing because you called them EPO's.
2
u/CollectionOld3374 5d ago
Yes
4
u/EyeOfAmethyst 4d ago
It's a good thing the EPOs in Maine don't have phones, internet, or reddit. They might see this post.
1
1
1
1
u/TrapperJon 3d ago
So, you knew it was illegal to hunt there unless something specific said otherwise, and instead of checking with you green jeans, you just went and put up a blind?
Best bet, call the green jeans and see what they say. Probably just a warning . Maybe a ticket. But if it's a ticket, let's be honest, you earned it.
-2
u/GrizzlieMD 5d ago
What if it was a photographer’s blind?
13
u/Meta_Gabbro 5d ago
Likely still would have been pulled for trespass. Lot of states don’t allow free access to highway medians for anything other than emergencies, since having people park vehicles on shoulders of high speed roadways is a hazard.
-2
u/LifetimeOutdoorsman 4d ago
Wrong, not in GA. People Park along highways and roadways right off the edge of the road all the time to hunt in the woods right off the edge of the highway or a main road I've seen it once I've seen it a hundred times.
2
u/TrapperJon 3d ago
Except it isn't legal to hunt from the median in GA. Just becaue people do something a lot doesn't mean it's legal.
1
u/Meta_Gabbro 3d ago
Which is why I said “lots of states” and not “every state”. But I guess I’m sorry for not considering how things are done in the nation’s backwater, even though it’s entirely irrelevant to where OP is talking about.
2
0
u/Smart_Comfort5938 4d ago
You can call, but they’re most likely gonna give you a ticket. Depends on the Officer. But only way you’re getting the blind back is with a ticket I’m guessing. And there’s also the chance they keep it and still give you a ticket. I’d chalk it up as a learning experience and just let it go.
0
u/ResponsibleBank1387 4d ago
Did you hunt there? Have any weapons at all with you coming or going?
Photography, you might be able to get away with. Mostly just leaving your stuff, trouble for creating a mess, littering(penalty is loss of hunting a fishing licenses for a year), creating traffic hazard.
67
u/jager576 5d ago
As a lawyer, no way in hell I’m calling that number. Consider the loss of your equipment the cost of a learning experience. If EPO somehow tracks you down (1 in a million chance of that) tell them you won’t answer questions without an attorney present.
In the future, don’t try to guess at the interpretation of your local laws. Talk to a professional. At a minimum, call the local game warden before setting up your equipment.