Fishing Mille Lacs yesterday and had the DNR drop in on me.
I told them I had one in the box and before I could turn around he was on my boat pulling this fish out of the box.
The fish measured out legal, had the license, checked my throw cushion passed everything.
I’m glad to have these guys out protecting the resource and I have no complaints.
They were professionally polite and I was soon back to fishen.
I was just a little surprised how fast this guy was standing in my boat.
They usually ask first when I get checked.
We had a huge discussion in a previous thread in this forum a while back 
As I recall, they can legally board your boat. However the only thing they can do is open up your livewell, and that’s it!! They cannot under any circumstance open your storage compartments and start going through them without probable cause
Not to mention they are the only people with the authority to Slap, spank, punch, or kick your kids 
Otherwise it’s liable to affect their IQ
They also asked if I had a cooler on board, I didn’t, but I got the feeling they would have checked that as well.
Quote:
They also asked if I had a cooler on board, I didn’t, but I got the feeling they would have checked that as well.
Next time, if you have a cooler, call it your personal belongings keepsake box… not a cooler 
Does the same hold true for Wisconsin DNR? I do fish there when I return home on occasion.
Yes, WDNR has the authority to board your vessel
I’ve had this happen before, they literally ransacked everything backpacks,tackle boxes, cabinets, my rectum 
etc.
asked them what the hell they thought they were doing and their reply was ” we can look anywhere where you could be hiding some fish…. Of course he found no fish but me and my buddy sure felt violated during the whole ordeal.
Ya that, and they always fly up on you at full speed, then kick it into neutral at the last second.
Your fist thought is this guy is about to hit me, then you realize it’s the DNR and he’s standing on your boat.
It’s a fine line to walk in order to protect the resource.
they can probly get by with (and get away with) being one step either side of that fine line
. . . BUT . . .
treading on one side fosters respect and admiration
trampling on the other side breeds contempt and resentment
Yesterday 3 family members and myself were on my Tuffy and we were on our way to see the South Shore fireworks in Bay View WI which is on Lake Michigan. As we neered the Milwaukee harbor we noticed a boat heading at us from about a 3 o’clock angle. We kept giving way but he seemed to be aiming for us. When he got close it was realized it was a red Coast Guard vessle. I had kicked to 150 Merc Verado up to full throttle in trying to keep safe distance, but he kept aiming towords me. Well, I was past him and didnt hear any siren and saw no lights and just kept her floored for a couple more miles till we hit the mouth of the break wall. I was full legal, and had no fishing gear as we were only going to see the fireworks, but I.m still not making it any easier for them to “interfear” with my day. And, until I realized who he was it was a little disconcerting to have someone aiming at you out on the lake.
Ive had my boat ransaced multiple times,while fishg and duck hunting.They fly in at w.o.t and just hop on in like their family and start diggin thru your stuff like its thiers with no regard for it at all.This spring on pool 2 while ripping open a compartment they about tossed in my very expensive Beckman net,if I wouldnt have made a lunge for it it would been on the bottom.While I understand they have a job to do they dont need to be such aholes about it.I have nothing to hide but dont enjoy me or my stuff being treated like trash,some are nice and courteous while most fit in the ahole category.
It would be interesting to get the smart phone out & take a video of them & see if their attitudes & actions change.
Just like getting pulled over by the police. They can stop you and look into your vehicle but cannot open anything. Not compartments or personal gear.
NRA magazine just had a article on this. When you buy a hunting and fishing permit you give up some of your rights with regard to search and seizure. May vary state to state. Sad when they misuse the power. Have know some that truly want to see people enjoy the outdoors and protect it, giving violators a rough way to go. But seen plenty that have you figured for guilty, till you prove innocence. Can be a real downer to a good day.
They have no more right than any law enforcement officer. They must have probable cause for the stop. Do not let your rights be trampled upon or we are back to Nazi Germany. And please don’t say “we have nothing to hide.” These are your rights against improper search and seizure. Don’t throw these rights away.
Quote:
They have no more right than any law enforcement officer. They must have probable cause for the stop. Do not let your rights be trampled upon or we are back to Nazi Germany. And please don’t say “we have nothing to hide.” These are your rights against improper search and seizure. Don’t throw these rights away.
They do NOT have to have PC to stop you. CO’s can stop a boat any time they please to conduct a safety inspection. They need PC to go through any closed compartments that are not a livewell or cooler. If they get into any other compartments they already have PC, they probably have been watching you from afar and thought you were hiding something.
I don’t think any law enforcement can say they were “watching you from afar” and then automatically get to rummage through your stuff….wouldn’t every LE in the world use that one ? 
(deertracker some clarfication maybe ?)Why can the DNR ? I think this get’s back to the rushing into one’s fishhouse and finding Cheech and Chong in there…. they will lose that one in court everytime (the DNR that is) It only becomes a problem when you have that 25″ walleye stuffed in the glove box 
It is illegal to possess certain fish on certain water, just like it is illegal to possess crack in your car glove box, as it also is in your boat…. what makes the boat case different ?
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
