One of my real failings (I have many) is that I am not very aware of things like times or dates. I have a pretty good handle on the seasons however so I'm well aware that it is coming on autumn and we all know that means hunting season. In addition, archery season has been open for a few days so there are all kinds of guys running around in camo and gut piles showing up around the countryside. So, when I walked out onto my porch this morning and saw a little 3 point buck standing in the field I thought, "Now, isn't this convenient!" I went back into the house and picked up my 35 Whelen which, as luck would have it, I had just sighted in the night before. Armed with the rifle and one shell I went back out onto the porch. The deer was still there. He was grazing contentedly about 200 yards away. I always feel slightly uneasy when such an opportunity presents itself just because it seems like such a cheesy way to take an animal. This time, as I got into a solid sitting position, something was nagging in the back of my mind. There just seemed to be something really wrong about the whole picture. I was waiting for the doe behind him to move out of line when it finally hit me... The season isn't open yet! I checked the calendar and, sure enough, there are two days to go. So, my career as a poacher ended before it began and the Whelen went back into the rack. I don't expect I'll see that little buck again but then, who would want to get a deer that easily anyway?! Regards, Bill.

Hey, there’s plenty of time to achieve your career as a poacher.

I have a story.

My friend went solo without me one year for the last day of Nov and the first 2 days of Dec. On his way home he hit a game check at the Coq toll both. The CO asked him when he shot the grouse in the back of the truck. He says "yesterday". CO... "Are you sure not the day before?†"No yesterday, I'm positive!†Grouse is closed on the 1st of Dec. He writes him up a ticket. He also asked him for his ID to go with his hunting license. He then says, "It was your birthday yesterday?" My friend thinking he's getting a brake smiles and says "YUP!" CO..."Your driver’s license expired yesterday." He then waves over the cop and he gets a ticket for that too and has to hitchhike home in Mission. He had to take the day off work and get a ride back up to the toll booth the next day.

He was given an opportunity to lie by the CO and he didn’t. He completely forgot that the season closed while deer continued to be open.

Serves him right the dirty poacher.

It isn't so hard to accidently become a "poacher". I was hunting geese a few years back on my inlaws farm. It was one of those cold, windy, rainy days that all waterfowlers love. TI had out just 8 decoys but with a bit of calling the birds were dropping right in to land in them. Now I do not claim to be much of a wing shot and when I get a double I usually write a song about it. I had 6 canadas on the ground and needed 2 more for my limit. A flock came in and I let them have it firing three shots before I knew it. I was very surprized when three geese fell from the sky putting me one over the limit and making me into the lowest form of life, a "poacher".

My mother-in-law said it was OK as she had raised the limit on their farm. I never argue with my mother-in law, so I did not turn myself in.

Robin

Even some of the most law abbiding Teh local warden was out grouse and woodcock hunting for years woodcock season ran with grouse.

The woodcock population dropped and they closed the season early. The warden goes out the day after shoots a limit of woodcocks and some grouse goes back to the office and is telling the office gal about his good luck.She reminds him about the seasons change. A big oh shit.

The wardens boss makes him write hisself a citation for hunting out season. There was lots of laughs around town on that one.

With the changing laws bag limits seasons dates type of shot,guns ect one has to try very hard not to accidently break one. It might be as simple as forgetting a lead shell in your hunting coat in a no tox zone or shooting once and having 2 birds fall putting you over the limit. Or shooting through a deer and killing the one you didn't see. Or having your watch differant then the wardens You were on time the warden says you were early or late.

Very easy to do kind of like breaking traffic laws there are so many that itis easy to slip up.