FullCryHounds wrote:When you act like an outlaw, expect to get treated like one.
That is the root of the problem, being treated like an outlaw when every aspect of the hunt is completely legal. When I was arrested and held for killing a lion after dark, I had followed every law. I can recite the game laws for cougar in this state right down to the silly ones that I don't understand the reasoning. I was drawn for the hunt and had two non-hound owning buddies along for a good time. We hunted hard and caught a nice tom on two week old frozen snow that no one else was catching lions on. The game wardens were convinced we cheated. Even though I followed every single rule, every single rule! I have never had a hard time with wardens, like I mentioned, I have a lot of respect for them. They do a thankless job that is quite essential. But as soon as a game warden starts to ask questions, or gets an attitude with me
my lips are sealed. Some of them are just looking for a reason to give you a bad day, even if they aren't sure you did something wrong.
As far as "accidentally" popping up bears in a closed state, give me a break. You don't "accidentally" pop up bears while roading your dogs. I have unintentionally caught bear while bobcat hunting in the fall, but you walk away from the tree and no one is going to know the difference. And if a game wardens sees me and my dogs under a bear tree he will know it wasn't intentional. The electricity running through the dogs should be the first clue.