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' Just got off the phone with a semi-new friend (Joe) I met as student in hunter ed. class. We've done a little scouting/hunting together recently on Corps of Engineeers lands on tributaries of Lake Lewsiville and Lake Grapevine. He called not only to share a scary story but because he knew I'd be steamed over what had transpired right at 6:00 p.m. today.

The Corps hunting booklet rules for both lakes states "archery only" for feral hogs and "no handguns". Shotguns are allowed for specified species, but shot size is restricted to nothing greather than 2s. In light of all the controversey here and other places, he knows I've even left my CHL handgun at home for our recent little expeditions.

Joe was bow hunting for hog on Corps land on south side of Hwy. 380. The terrain is relatively flat, with lots of trees, brush and briars. He had parked in parking lot on the north side of of 380. Parking lot is on Corps land leased from the Corps by the City of Denton. He had set up a ladder stand and was about 15' up in a tree when he heard talking, multiple gunshots and bullets buzzing all around him. He said he immediately called 911 and headed down the ladder and said the dispatcher even asked "Is that gun shots I'm hearing?"

Denton PD arrived pretty pronto as they were quite famaliar with the big public parking lot where he was headed and he met them near the highway as he came out of the woods. He said they collared a couple of guys with a 22 and a 9mm pistol. They'd been throwing bottles in the air and blasting at 'em.

He said that game warden arrived a few minutes later and said "no jurisdiction" ... Then checked his hunting license and hunter ed. card as the yahoos walked without so much as a citation ...

Unfortunately that is the chance that you take when hunting on public land. Too many "Yahoos" for me! Save your money and get a lease....

I guess that illustrates how likely you are to take a ride for carrying on COE land, then...

Quote: "Unfortunately that is the chance that you take when hunting on public land."

Yep, some of it is like the name implies, very "public".

A couple of weeks ago, we had hand carried my little boat down to Hickory Creek to put in just about 3 miles north of the range. We used trolling motor going east for about a mile before getting out the first time to scout what looked like might be a good area to set up about 75 yards off the creek when Joe said "Nobody is ever going to be back in here to disturb any hogs." Those words weren't off his lips more than 2 seconds when I spotted movement off to the southeast about another 30 yards. It was a guy about 70 years old, walking down a narrow trail we'd not gone far enough to see, looking for a place to set up for fishing when the water warms up here in a few weeks ...

On the way back at dusk, the squirrels were very active and Joe said, "If I had my shotgun, I could nail one of those." Coincidently, about 3 seconds later, through the trees, we saw two women on horses galloping by about 60 yards beyond the squirrels. A shame, but the horseback riders out there probably need to be wearing "hunter orange" clothing too ...

Greybeard wrote:'
He said that game warden arrived a few minutes later and said "no jurisdiction" ... Then checked his hunting license and hunter ed. card as the yahoos walked without so much as a citation ...

I thought Game Wardens had jurisdiction everywhere. We hear about how they can enter private property without a warrant, cut gate locks, search vehicles and coolers without probably cause and perform any of the duties of any other sworn peace officer.

I don't get it. Why wouldn't they at least have called the COE rangers? Not that they can do much beyond issue a citation....

Quote: "I don't get it."

Same here, but I may look into it further because it appears to be contrary to what is in their book. At least for those of us who do get the permit and try to abide by the regs., it also clearly states "no target practice".

78641 wrote:everywhere. We hear about how they can enter private property without a warrant, cut gate locks, search vehicles and coolers without probably cause and perform any of the duties of any other sworn peace officer.

No they can't. They are not exempted from the Fourth! It's been discussed here before. I guess they let the rumor continue to spread because it's beneficial to them.

They are not exempted from the 4th, but they do have wide reaching powers. If they have reason to believe a person may be hunting or fishing they can search vehicles, coolers, campsites, etc. They can and do cut locks to access private land where hunting may be taking place. They also have the same enforcement authority of any other peace officer, even in non-wildlife situations. They can give traffic citations, arrest shoplifters, whatever. Their jurisdiction, unless I am mistaken, is anywhere in the state the hunting or fishing may occur.

Seems in this case that these guys were at the very least using their firearms recklessly, and could have been cited for that, COE regulations aside.

Joe said it appeared that their defense to that was (or would be ) they did not know he was in the background.

Yeah, the "power" of game wardens has in some cases has been abused and yes, some myths do get perpetuated ...

Joe just called and said he'd called the Lewisville Corps office. They re-affirmed absolutely no guns in there except shotguns. He gave them the name of game warden who let the yahoos walk ...

Being a pretty day and all, we're going to meet at noon to go check on another spot that, since the recent rain, is hopefully inaccessable to all but us die hards ... And at least one of us will be packing a shotgun ...