USFW agent under fire in South Dakota

[Liberty Belle]

This agent was used by GF&P to arrest the Multi-County predator control pilot in an incident that precipitated the west river hunting lockout. Since it is now hunters who are protesting his tactics and his adverse effect on the GF&P employees he works with, the governor's office has finally decided that something must be done about Prieksat and his heavy-handed ways.

Federal game warden ruffles Rounds aide's feathers
By Kevin Woster, Journal staff

A regional official for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has come to the defense of a federal game warden who is under attack by a senior aide to Gov. Mike Rounds for his law-enforcement techniques.

Gary Mowad of Denver, special agent in charge for South Dakota and seven other states, said the complaints against agent Bob Prieksat by Rounds' chief of staff Rob Skjonsberg were vague. Mowad said he hoped to meet with the governor's staff to learn their specific concerns about Prieksat, whom he considers a top-flight agent with a spotless performance record.

"Bob is one of my finest supervisors, best field agents and absolutely one of the most knowledgeable agents when it comes to the law and case history, and things like that," Mowad said. "We would like to sit down with the governor's office and find out specifically what the issues are."

Skjonsberg said Wednesday that he doesn't quarrel with Prieksat's skills in law enforcement but questions the way he deals with the hunting public. Skjonsberg said he has received dozens of complaints about Prieksat during the past four years from resident and nonresident sportsmen. The Fish and Wildlife Service should reassign Prieksat from Pierre to another state or require him to change his attitude and behavior in dealing with the hunting public, Skjonsberg said.

"I'm not talking about his understanding of the law or his ability to investigate a case. I'm specifically talking about mannerisms, approach and demeanor as he's checking people in the field," he said.

Skjonsberg has ordered state Game, Fish & Parks Department enforcement officers not to work with Prieksat except in cases of extreme need and then only when authorized by GF&P Secretary Jeff Vonk.

Because the public often confuses state and federal agents, GF&P often gets blamed for Prieksat's bad behavior, Skjonsberg said. Although the state is willing to work with Mowad on the issue, Skjonsberg said he was skeptical that Prieksat could or would change his enforcement style.

"I'm not certain anything other than that (reassignment) will bring satisfaction," Skjonsberg said. "At some point, people become so they are not salvageable. I'm not sure anything short of reassignment is going to solve the problem."

Prieksat, who didn't return a call left at his office in Pierre on Wednesday, is particularly well known in the Pierre area, where thousands of hunters gather each year to shoot ducks and geese. Along with field work as a federal warden, he also supervises other agents in South Dakota and North Dakota.

Prieksat formerly served as a conservation officer for GF&P in Pierre. He then worked for the U.S. Marshal's Service before joining the law enforcement staff of the Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency sent him to Pierre in 1995, where he took the senior resident agent's position vacated by John Cooper, who became GF&P secretary.

Cooper retired as secretary last month but continues to work for the state as an adviser to Rounds on key natural resource issues. Cooper declined to comment Wednesday on Prieksat or Skjonsberg's criticisms. Vonk also declined comment.

Pierre sportsman Roger Pries, formerly the executive secretary of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation, said Skjonsberg's efforts to discredit and remove Prieksat were inappropriate and offensive.

"Why do we need a secretary of Game, Fish & Parks if some staff member for the governor runs the department or gives directives to it?" he said.

Pries said some of the most consistent attacks on Prieksat seem to come from people involved in or tied to commercial-hunting operations. An avid hunter, Pries said he has never been checked by Prieksat in the field but presumes he has been observed by the agent over the years.

"I've never seen him, but maybe he's seen me," Pries said. "I don't think I've had anything to hide."

Pries said he couldn't judge Prieksat's style in dealing with the hunting public.

"I can't say, maybe he's a little abrasive," Pries said. "But some of the people he deals with could make you abrasive."

Skjonsberg said that other Fish and Wildlife Service agents operate in the state without causing controversy.

"I haven't heard a single complaint about other agents," he said.

Mowad said he doesn't plan to reassign Prieksat but is willing to meet with Skjonsberg.

"We want a good relationship between South Dakota and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service," he said. "Whatever this special rub is that they have with Bob, I'm very hopeful that we can work through it."

 

[Brad S]

Gov Rounds should hire a customer service manager from Walmart to elevate burearcrat relations standards to at least that of minimum wage wallys workers. I am inscensed when government employees (those riding in the wagon) can't even be as professional as a 20 year old Walmart worker.

 

[Liberty Belle]

This rogue USFW agent is a former GF&P conservation officer who operated just like the rest of the GF&P COs. Do any of you wonder why landowners were so disgusted with their actions? The lockout is directly attributable to GF&P personnel and the same "brown-shirt" tactics they used in western South Dakota. This man was a hero to them then and was referred to as "our enforcer" by higher-ups in GF&P. Prieksat is right when he says in this story that he "hasn't changed". This type of behavior was encouraged and both landowners and hunters have suffered because of it.

Embattled warden once recognized by state
By Kevin Woster, Journal staff

PIERRE — A federal game warden in Pierre who is now being shunned by the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department for alleged heavy-handed law enforcement was once honored by that same agency.

State records show that Bob Prieksat was named the Shikar-Safari Club International Conservation Officer of the Year when he worked for GF&P in Pierre in 1985. That award is typically given to the top conservation officer in the state wildlife agency each year.

But Prieksat is now the object of public criticism from Rob Skjonsberg, chief of staff to Gov. Mike Rounds, for law-enforcement techniques that Skjonsberg claims have been overzealous and abusive. Skjonsberg wants the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reassign Prieksat, who currently oversees law enforcement for that agency in North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.

Skjonsberg also has ordered GF&P conservation officers not to work with Prieksat, except in special situations approved individually by GF&P Secretary Jeff Vonk. Although the state can't control Prieksat or determine Fish and Wildlife Service personnel policy, it can isolate the federal agent from state officers, Skjonsberg said.

"My message is actually very simple. This agent is not our employee, and we are not obligated to do anything with him. And if the federal agency isn't going to do something about his behavior, then I can certainly make a management decision within state government that limits our exposure to him."

Skjonsberg said he is responding to a succession of complaints about Prieksat's enforcement tactics and demeanor during the past four or five years. He hasn't yet offered any specific incidents or identified anyone who has complained.

When asked how Prieksat could go from being the best in GF&P in 1985 to being officially ostracized by the state in 2007, Skjonsberg referred the question to Prieksat.

"I really can't explain his behavior then or now," Skjonsberg said. "Ask him."

When asked, Prieksat said: "I haven't changed."

A story on Skjonsberg's edict and criticism against Prieksat attracted about 100 comments on the Journal's Web site in two days last week. Most of the comments were anonymous. Some defended Prieksat. The majority were critical.

But the news story and Web site traffic are prompting some Prieksat critiques to go public. Steve Wright of Albert Lea, Minn., and Jim Wendl of west central Iowa claim that Prieksat verbally abused and intimidated them during a goose hunt near Pierre last fall, then gave them a citation they didn't deserve.

Wright said they were leaving a field where they had been hunting when Prieksat challenged them with profanity-laced accusations that they were shooting over their limit.

"He was in our face to the point where he's spitting in our face," Wright said. "He's out of control, he's so vehemently mad."

Wright and Wendl maintained that they had "gifted" a previous day's limit of geese to the owner of the land they were hunting, which allowed them to legally shoot another day's limit. After a contact with landowner Jim Forney, Prieksat told the men they would instead get a ticket for not having proper identifying tags on the geese they gave away, Wright said.

"He said it would be in the neighborhood of $50 or $75, no big deal, and that it wouldn't go on our record or affect our hunting status," Wright said.

Weeks later both men received citations for a total of $225 each. Wendl said his wife, a lawyer, studied the law and believes that Prieksat erred in interpreting it. She called the U.S. attorney's office in Pierre with questions and ended up talking to Prieksat, Wendl said.

"He jumped her just like he did with us, and went straight to hot," Wendl said.

At his wife's advice, Wendl paid the fine. But Wright is talking to a lawyer and trying to decide if he will pay his fine, or fight the charge.

Despite the expense and trouble, Wright said it might be worth the fight.

"I have never, ever been treated like that from anybody, much less somebody who represents the top tier of our sport," he said. "It's uncalled for."

Contacted Sunday at his home in Pierre, Prieksat disputed that version of the incident by Wright and Wendl. Prieksat said it wouldn't be appropriate to discuss details of the case but denied the allegations of profanity or getting close enough physically to spit in their face.

"Yes, we had a verbal confrontation over them telling three or four versions of what happened and not telling the truth," Prieksat said. "But I didn't spit in their face or use all that profanity. Absolutely not."

Skjonsberg maintains that he has heard of a string of complaints similar to Wright's and Gilkerson's. He said they made him worry that the image of state GF&P conservation officers was being tainted by Prieksat's behavior. But some West River landowners who have been critical of the GF&P wonder if there are other reasons for the state's attack on Prieksat.

Buffalo area rancher Susan Clarkson pointed out that Prieksat had worked for GF&P as a conservation officer, apparently in good standing, years before he joined the Fish and Wildlife Service.

"I don't think he just suddenly changed his tactics or demeanor," she said. "Evidently, his tactics and demeanor were OK when he was a South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks employee."

Clarkson said Prieksat might have learned some of his aggressive enforcement style from John Cooper, a former federal game warden who served as GF&P secretary from 1995 until last month. When Prieksat was a young GF&P officer in the early and mid-1980s, he often worked with Cooper, then senior resident law-enforcement agent for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Pierre.

Later, their association continued when Cooper supported Prieksat in his application for a job with the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1988.

When Cooper was appointed GF&P secretary, Prieksat succeeded him in the supervisory agent's job in Pierre. Cooper knew his share of controversy in the early 1980s, when some hunters and landowners complained that he was overzealous.

In one instance, the owner of a commercial goose operation filed a civil suit against Cooper, which was later dismissed. Clarkson said state officials seem to forget Cooper's previous reputation as a federal warden.

"When I read these comments about Prieksat, it sounded a lot like how a person from Pierre described Cooper's demeanor when he was with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service," Clarkson said.

Clarkson said she suspects that Cooper's law-enforcement style rubbed off on other officers, including Prieksat, just as it eventually permeated GF&P policy.

"The thing is, you can get rid of Prieksat, but are you going to get rid of the problem?"

Cooper recently retired as GF&P secretary and works part time as a natural resource adviser to Rounds. He declined a Journal request for comment last week.

As GF&P secretary, Cooper was at the center of many contentious exchanges with West River landowners unhappy with GF&P policies. Particularly controversial was the agency's use of the "open fields" doctrine, a group of laws and court rulings giving officers the authority to enter private fields without the owner's permission to check hunters.

Cooper fought to protect the rights of his officers to use the open-fields doctrine but also amended GF&P policy to make it more sensitive to landowners. Clarkson and other critics contend that Cooper didn't do enough. And they believe that Vonk — who also supports open fields — is continuing the same style as the new GF&P.

Elm Springs rancher Pat Trask has battled Rounds and Cooper over what he considers to be the state's disregard for private property rights. Trask said the move against Prieksat might be a manipulative attempt to improve the GF&P image.

"I'm kind of guessing that the people in the Rounds administration who are perpetrating some action against Prieksat are somehow trying to spin this," Trask said. "They're wanting to make a state agency look kinder and gentler by ostracizing Prieksat."

Skjonsberg rejected those notions Friday, saying he was simply trying to end the long-standing problems caused by Prieksat.

"Now that we've rung the bell, I just hope sportsmen find the courage to express their outrage and experiences," Skjonsberg said. "I'm pushing this because I believe our state deserves better."

GF&P's conflicts with some landowners are separate issues from his action against Prieksat, Skjonsberg said. GF&P is continuing the good work begun by Cooper to improve relations with landowners, he said.

"To this point, I'm proud of the progress that GF&P has made. At the same time, there will always be policy decisions that you disagree on. We just plan to do it respectfully," he said. "If we have a bad egg somewhere — point them out, and we'll handle it."

Prieksat said Sunday that he hadn't been contacted personally by anyone from the governor's office. Neither had Gary Mowad, Prieksat's supervisor with the Fish and Wildlife Service in Denver. Mowad told the Journal last week that he was willing to meet with state officials to discuss the issue. Mowad also praised Prieksat as a top agent with a clean performance record and said he had no plans to reassign him.

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or [email protected].
February 19, 2007
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2007/02/19/news/top/news001iprieksat.txt

 

[Brad S]

Um LB, I'm like your biggest fan, but should you be using terms like "brown shirt" for political expediancy? Is that a Clash reference "when they start wearin blue and brown, workin for the clampdown."

Seriously, knowing there is an elected defender of liberty is heartening.

I love living in the Sandhills, these guys rue government control.

 

[Southdakotahunter]

I can guarantee you, there are VERY FEW that act like this clown, and if there are, they need to go.

dont go putting all the COs in the same catagorie as this clown LB, you know they are not all like that! I can tell you the COs dont look up to this guy!

Im sure when this bad egg has hit the trail, the so called "lockout" will end, right LB!

 

[Liberty Belle]

I wondered how long it was going to take for you to weigh in on this SDH. Could we get that guarantee of yours in writing?

It was GF&P that called Prieksat, who they called "our enforcer" (their term, not mine), in to arrest the Multi-District predator pilot for shooting a wounded coyote that had run through the fence onto the GF&P pilot's property. The involvement of GF&P CO, the GF&P trapper and the GF&P pilot is what ultimately led to the lockout and the lockout will continue until landowners are protected by law from these thugs, from both GF&P and USFW.

Do you realize that Prieksat was a GF&P conservation officer for years and was honored for his wonderful service? Did you know that one of the highest officers in GF&P was Prieksat's college roommate and is a very close friend?

These quotes are from the above article you obviously haven't read:

"A federal game warden in Pierre who is now being shunned by the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department for alleged heavy-handed law enforcement was once honored by that same agency.

State records show that Bob Prieksat was named the Shikar-Safari Club International Conservation Officer of the Year when he worked for GF&P in Pierre in 1985. That award is typically given to the top conservation officer in the state wildlife agency each year."


And how about this one?:

"When asked how Prieksat could go from being the best in GF&P in 1985 to being officially ostracized by the state in 2007, Skjonsberg referred the question to Prieksat.

"I really can't explain his behavior then or now," Skjonsberg said. "Ask him."

When asked, Prieksat said: "I haven't changed."

A story on Skjonsberg's edict and criticism against Prieksat attracted about 100 comments on the Journal's Web site in two days last week. Most of the comments were anonymous. Some defended Prieksat. The majority were critical."

And this:

"Skjonsberg maintains that he has heard of a string of complaints similar to Wright's and Gilkerson's. He said they made him worry that the image of state GF&P conservation officers was being tainted by Prieksat's behavior. But some West River landowners who have been critical of the GF&P wonder if there are other reasons for the state's attack on Prieksat.

Buffalo area rancher Susan Clarkson pointed out that Prieksat had worked for GF&P as a conservation officer, apparently in good standing, years before he joined the Fish and Wildlife Service.

"I don't think he just suddenly changed his tactics or demeanor," she said. "Evidently, his tactics and demeanor were OK when he was a South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks employee."

Clarkson said Prieksat might have learned some of his aggressive enforcement style from John Cooper, a former federal game warden who served as GF&P secretary from 1995 until last month. When Prieksat was a young GF&P officer in the early and mid-1980s, he often worked with Cooper, then senior resident law-enforcement agent for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Pierre.

Later, their association continued when Cooper supported Prieksat in his application for a job with the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1988.

When Cooper was appointed GF&P secretary, Prieksat succeeded him in the supervisory agent's job in Pierre. Cooper knew his share of controversy in the early 1980s, when some hunters and landowners complained that he was overzealous.

In one instance, the owner of a commercial goose operation filed a civil suit against Cooper, which was later dismissed. Clarkson said state officials seem to forget Cooper's previous reputation as a federal warden.

"When I read these comments about Prieksat, it sounded a lot like how a person from Pierre described Cooper's demeanor when he was with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service," Clarkson said.

Clarkson said she suspects that Cooper's law-enforcement style rubbed off on other officers, including Prieksat, just as it eventually permeated GF&P policy.

"The thing is, you can get rid of Prieksat, but are you going to get rid of the problem?"

Where's Happy? He must have something to say about this, wouldn't you think?

 

[Southdakotahunter]

I dont know the man and have never had a run in with him. What i can testify to is i have encountered MANY COs in my hunting and i can recall only 2 that have been real pricks. One was in charles mix county, the other was up north......cant remember exactly where, but it was a woman. Anyway, all others were very friendly, helpful and just decent people. There will be bad ones for sure, just like bad ranchers. I have no idea why it took so long to figure this fella out. I hope they clean house of the bad ones. I have always said that.

So what about it LB.....gonna call off the dogs once this clown is kicking rocks down HWY 14??? Time to shut down the lockout? Start trying to manage the animals? When will ya give me permission? (when hell freezes over right) Amazing how much clout hunters have huh LB

 

[Brad S]

Ok SD hunter, show me all the complaints levied by "the good COs" against the "lone rogue" Bull$hit! LB posted evidence that the "lone rogue was actually revered by the "good COs"

The lockout is a property rights issue not jack booted thug issue. Yes, jack booted thugs don't abide property rights, but the lockout is about establishing that all who don't respect property rights are jack booted thugs.

While no property owner would want an abusive psychopath on their property, even kind, polite COs can propagate leafy spurge (1 of a thousand negative possibilities) if they don't respect property rights.

 

[P Joe]

Ok SD hunter, show me all the complaints levied by "the good COs" against the "lone rogue" Bull$hit! LB posted evidence that the "lone rogue was actually revered by the "good COs"

The lockout is a property rights issue not jack booted thug issue. Yes, jack booted thugs don't abide property rights, but the lockout is about establishing that all who don't respect property rights are jack booted thugs.

While no property owner would want an abusive psychopath on their property, even kind, polite COs can propagate leafy spurge (1 of a thousand negative possibilities) if they don't respect property rights.

Well...... while don't you arrest the wind then. I'm sure that has more to do with you spurge problem than any tresspasser. Typical "stupid" talk here folks. Hide behind some far fetch, but possibly fessible excuse!

You have no idea what this is all about do you??? SDHUNTER don't you just love it how out-of-staters just jump in here with uninformed opinions. To think that the whole lock out was started for property rights........well you bought into their bull sh i t too Brad S!

It is kinda of funny how some of these ranchers claim that I don't have a right to shoot anything on their land, but when one of their boys got in trouble for shooting on land he didn't have permission on, from the air yet mind you, then things are different. The very thing, they complain about is what they did, and started this whole mess. Really what gave YOUR pilot the right to shoot a wounded coyote on land you didn't have permission on?? Especially being land controlled by GFP interest? Kind of like speeding by a hypo and expecting not to get a ticket isn't it???????

Some ranchers had a legit beef with this guy and GFP, and he was\is a jack@ss. He should have been removed years ago. How GFP handled the whole deal wasn't right. They were rude and really didn't understand the situation.

But the ranchers were not excatly in the legal realm doing what they were doing when this all went down. Not saying I don't agree with them and their choices, but it wasn't legal what they did. GFP had to do something. I don't agree with what they did, but it couldn't go on the way it was. Both sides should\could have fixed it then.

It didn't happen, and because hot heads from both sides blew things out of control some greedy ranchers got the ones that had a legit beef to follow them in trying to run over the rest of the state with their commecial hunting ideas.

The funny thing is, LB, YOU never bring up the other legislation that some west river politicians have introduced along with the open fields bill. The only thing LB hides behind is her property rights.

She never did answer any of my questions I put forth to both her and Jingle Bob. Both parties have played "dumb" with me when I have asked about specific legislation that both parties DID know about. I wonder why????? Sorry LB, but I'm calling a spade a spade, and you madam are a spade.

Oh, and just wondering, but wasn't someone quoted as saying "This Lockout started with one word. Prieksat!" OR am I just making things up??!!!!

 

[Brad S]

"greedy ranchers got the ones that had a legit beef to follow them in trying to run over the rest of the state with their commecial hunting ideas."


Hey Comrad, how did the ranchers "run over the rest of the stste?"
I know your answer, I just want to snicker at your limitless stupidity some more. Come on now, I'm laughing with you not at you.

 

[Brad S]

"Well...... while don't you arrest the wind then. I'm sure that has more to do with you spurge problem than any tresspasser. Typical "stupid" talk here folks. Hide behind some far fetch, but possibly fessible excuse!"

Hey Einstein, people die from tornadoes so its ok by your stupidity for CO's to kill them. Oh yeah, wind is'nt responsible for spurge propagation. What about ecoli scours, What about bvd and on and on. What about a tresspasser spooking livestock, or infringing on your privacy when a rancher and his wife are skinny dipping in a stock tank? or queering a roundup or spoiling the scenery? I know Stalin wouldn't care, but Thomas Jefferson sure as hell would.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Well...... while don't you arrest the wind then. I'm sure that has more to do with you spurge problem than any tresspasser. Typical "stupid" talk here folks. Hide behind some far fetch, but possibly fessible excuse!

You have no idea what this is all about do you??? SDHUNTER don't you just love it how out-of-staters just jump in here with uninformed opinions. To think that the whole lock out was started for property rights........well you bought into their bull sh i t too Brad S!

OK, P Joe, I'll bite. What was the reason for the lockout if it wasn't to protect property rights? And please, no recycled manure for an answer.

It is kinda of funny how some of these ranchers claim that I don't have a right to shoot anything on their land.

It's not only ranchers who claim you don't have a "right" to shoot anything on their land, the law says the same thing. You get caught hunting on my land without permission and you'll be arrested. It's no different than if you caught me rummaging through your drawers in your house – it's called trespassing and it's illegal.

Some ranchers had a legit beef with this guy and GFP, and he was\is a jack@ss. He should have been removed years ago. How GFP handled the whole deal wasn't right. They were rude and really didn't understand the situation.

But the ranchers were not excatly in the legal realm doing what they were doing when this all went down. Not saying I don't agree with them and their choices, but it wasn't legal what they did. GFP had to do something. I don't agree with what they did, but it couldn't go on the way it was. Both sides should\could have fixed it then.

What were ranchers doing that wasn't legal? GF&P didn't "have" to do a darn thing. They were actively trying to get this pilot grounded so their pilot could have his job with the multi-district predator control board, a board funded entirely by ranchers who hire their own predator control pilots to kill predators.

It didn't happen, and because hot heads from both sides blew things out of control some greedy ranchers got the ones that had a legit beef to follow them in trying to run over the rest of the state with their commecial hunting ideas.

Greedy ranchers? Running over the rest of the state with their commercial hunting ideas? Wow, P Joe, this is a pretty wild claim even for you! Kindly explain this one to us, will you?

The funny thing is, LB, YOU never bring up the other legislation that some west river politicians have introduced along with the open fields bill. The only thing LB hides behind is her property rights.

Now I'm really curious… what legislation are you talking about? What other legislation was introduced along with the Open Fields bill? I introduced the bill and it's strange that I never noticed any other legislation attached to MY bill.

She never did answer any of my questions I put forth to both her and Jingle Bob. Both parties have played "dumb" with me when I have asked about specific legislation that both parties DID know about. I wonder why????? Sorry LB, but I'm calling a spade a spade, and you madam are a spade.

Well, let's hope I'm at least as sharp as a spade and not as dumb as you… claim I am. Refresh my memory, what "specific legislation" did you ask about?

Oh, and just wondering, but wasn't someone quoted as saying "This Lockout started with one word. Prieksat!" OR am I just making things up??!!!!

I'm surprised to see that you frequent Tony Dean's website(she said, with tongue firmly planted in cheek) and you are as accurate with your quotes as Dean is. I told him that the lockout could be laid at the feet of JOHN COOPER and Prieksat, but I guess poor old Tony doesn't hear so well if it's anything related to GF&P.

p.s. Brad – thanks for your insightful comments. This whole thing is pretty hilarious, isn't it? Too bad you're not entitled to weigh in on this issue since you moved to Nebraska!

 

[Brad S]

I'm only 10 miles from the border, but this Dakota cold makes me a naturalized Dakotan. The real tragedy is the open fields trespass is the wedge it drives between law enforcement and law abiding citizens. This wedge is needless and counter productive.

 

[P Joe]

Hey Einstein, people die from tornadoes so its ok by your stupidity for CO's to kill them.

What are you freaking talking about??? You don't even know do you?

 

[P Joe]

OK, P Joe, I'll bite. What was the reason for the lockout if it wasn't to protect property rights? And please, no recycled manure for an answer.

It may have started with this idea in mind, and I am sure that some ranchers have this and only this on their mind, but the commercial group has teamed up with those ranchers to push their own agenda.

It's not only ranchers who claim you don't have a "right" to shoot anything on their land, the law says the same thing. You get caught hunting on my land without permission and you'll be arrested. It's no different than if you caught me rummaging through your drawers in your house – it's called trespassing and it's illegal.

Then why did the ranchers blow up when YOUR pilot got caught shooting on land where he wans't suppose to? It was no different than trespassing. And it is a FEDERAL CRIME to shoot from an aiplane without FEDERAL approval. Which, correct me please if I am wrong here but, your pilot didn't have it at that time. I know and agree it wasn't right what GFP was doing to him, but laws are laws as you said. You don't expect to speed by a HYPO and not get a ticket do you?

What were ranchers doing that wasn't legal? GF&P didn't "have" to do a darn thing. They were actively trying to get this pilot grounded so their pilot could have his job with the multi-district predator control board, a board funded entirely by ranchers who hire their own predator control pilots to kill predators.

They went out on their own with a pilot that didn't have federal approval and shot from an airplane. He TRESSPASSED.

Like you said yourself, if I shoot\walk on any of you land, I am guilty of trespassing. Flying and shooting a coyote on land you don't have permission on is TRESSPASSING. Unless you consider that different. Then I will be on the first plane over your ranch to shoot my trophy deer.

I don't agree with what GFP did. But I think the ranchers also handled the situation wrong. You could have had a lot more support and accomplished a lot more if you had played your cards different.

For example what is happening right now. I know it took 10 years to get his @ss on the hotseat, but had you not gone cold and unworkable, things might have been different.

Greedy ranchers? Running over the rest of the state with their commercial hunting ideas? Wow, P Joe, this is a pretty wild claim even for you! Kindly explain this one to us, will you?

Some of the legislation that was brought up this year.

Now I'm really curious… what legislation are you talking about? What other legislation was introduced along with the Open Fields bill? I introduced the bill and it's strange that I never noticed any other legislation attached to MY bill.

None of it was attached directly to your bill. I never said that. I said legislation, or other bills. Specifically the one with the transferring of deer licenses from rancher to hunter.

That is my biggest beef, I specifically asked about that, and everyone in the discusion played dumb. Then magically it gets brought up in the house 3 months later! BullSh!t. You can't tell me you had no idea what I was talking about.

Well, let's hope I'm at least as sharp as a spade and not as dumb as you… claim I am. Refresh my memory, what "specific legislation" did you ask about?

I never said you were dumb and am sorry if you took it that way, I was just pointing out the fact that I was lied to by you and Jingle Bob. I can't find the thread, but I remember most of what was said.

I'm surprised to see that you frequent Tony Dean's website(she said, with tongue firmly planted in cheek) and you are as accurate with your quotes as Dean is. I told him that the lockout could be laid at the feet of JOHN COOPER and Prieksat, but I guess poor old Tony doesn't hear so well if it's anything related to GF&P.

I like Tony about as much as you do! Eitherway, my point was that this whole deal started with that whole escapade. That I think we agree on. And I am pist that you and other ranchers have tooken up arms with the ones that WANT to commecialize hunting. And left the rest of us in the middle to either side with that or Tony.

p.s. Brad – thanks for your insightful comments. This whole thing is pretty hilarious, isn't it? Too bad you're not entitled to weigh in on this issue since you moved to Nebraska![/b]

I don't think this thing is funny and I wish it for end. Nor do I appreciate a person from out of state telling me how things should work. Who cares if he lived here once. UNTIL he has a VOTE in South Dakota, his opinion and comments do not have value to me or anyone else.

I think you should take note LB, on how all that legislation failed and why. The people of SD are not going to support you on the open feilds when they see all the other crap coming behind it. Now I want to believe that you only care about the open fields doctorine, but why then support all the other crap? Maybe is it because you too are just hiding behind property rights to gain something? Maybe it isn't, but I think it would be best for you to draw the line on where you stand. If you are unwilling to seperate yourself from those who are hiding behind this, then what are people to think?

 

[Happy go lucky]

LB wrote:What were ranchers doing that wasn't legal? GF&P didn't "have" to do a darn thing. They were actively trying to get this pilot grounded so their pilot could have his job with the multi-district predator control board, a board funded entirely by ranchers who hire their own predator control pilots to kill predators.

These prohibitions do not apply to state or federal employees, authorized agents, or persons acting under a license or permit, who are authorized to administer or protect land, water, wildlife, livestock, domesticated animals, human life or crops. Each person authorized under a license or permit must report to the issuing authority each calendar quarter the number and type of animals taken. Each state that issues permits must file with the Secretary of Interior an annual report listing permit holders, animals authorized to be taken, the animals actually taken and the reason for issuing the permits. § 742j-1(a) and (b).

Enforcement. The Secretary of Interior is responsible for enforcing this Act and issuing regulations. Authorized Department of the Interior employees who witness a violation of the Act may arrest the violator without a warrant, take the person to an officer or court, execute warrants to enforce the Act, and conduct searches. Any federal judge or magistrate may issue warrants upon probable cause. The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with state fish and wildlife agencies or other authorities to facilitate enforcement of the Act, and may delegate enforcement authority to state law enforcement personnel. § 742j-1(d).

Forfeiture. All animals taken, and all guns, aircraft and other equipment used in violation of this Act, are subject to forfeiture to the federal government. Federal laws relating to the forfeiture of vessels for violation of custom laws apply to forfeitures under this Act. § 742j-1(e) and (f).

Tell me LB what pilot was the state of South Dakota looking to get in to your area?

I love your paint all with a broad brush attitude LOL! You do this with all authority figures? Or just those that disagree with the mighty LB?

Anyone in law enforcement is a dirty SOB by some or they wouldn't be doing their jobs! You must have thick skin in this line of work!

You have bad apples in all walks of life and can't judge the majority by the minority!

Also for FWIW, I did some checking into your outragous MT Lion story from the state of Washington I beleive, it had ZERO truth to it at all, none of it ever happened. No posse of lion hunters, no wardens involved, and nothing killed even to the slightest degree you claimed! It is hard to take some seriously when you shoot at the hip so often, fact checking gives credance to ones words.

 

[SJ]

Pjoe I think you should read the Federal Airborne Hunting Act before you start trophy hunting. If you find where this Act addresses trespass let me know.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Liberty Belle wrote:
OK, P Joe, I'll bite. What was the reason for the lockout if it wasn't to protect property rights? And please, no recycled manure for an answer.

P Joe: It may have started with this idea in mind, and I am sure that some ranchers have this and only this on their mind, but the commercial group has teamed up with those ranchers to push their own agenda.

Okay, I'm puzzled again. What commercial group has teamed up with ranchers to push what agenda? And how are they pushing that agenda? Do you have knowledge we aren't privy to?

Liberty Belle wrote:
It's not only ranchers who claim you don't have a "right" to shoot anything on their land, the law says the same thing. You get caught hunting on my land without permission and you'll be arrested. It's no different than if you caught me rummaging through your drawers in your house – it's called trespassing and it's illegal.

P Joe: Then why did the ranchers blow up when YOUR pilot got caught shooting on land where he wans't suppose to? It was no different than trespassing. And it is a FEDERAL CRIME to shoot from an aiplane without FEDERAL approval. Which, correct me please if I am wrong here but, your pilot didn't have it at that time. I know and agree it wasn't right what GFP was doing to him, but laws are laws as you said. You don't expect to speed by a HYPO and not get a ticket do you?

Your ignorance of the facts is almost overwhelming. The predator control pilot has federal approval now and had it back then. The Federal Airborne Hunting Act is what all licensed aerial predator control pilots work under and our pilot was conducting a legal hunt that had been requested by livestock producers who were losing livestock.

Liberty Belle wrote:
What were ranchers doing that wasn't legal? GF&P didn't "have" to do a darn thing. They were actively trying to get this pilot grounded so their pilot could have his job with the multi-district predator control board, a board funded entirely by ranchers who hire their own predator control pilots to kill predators.

P Joe: They went out on their own with a pilot that didn't have federal approval and shot from an airplane. He TRESSPASSED.

Again – he HAD federal approval and he didn't trespass intentionally. He finished off a wounded coyote that ran through the rogue GF&P pilot's fence. The coyote had been shot on the land of the producer who had called the pilot to hunt. In hindsight, I guess he should have just left the wounded coyote to die a slow death, but who knew that doing the humane thing and killing that wounded sheep-killing coyote would get the pilot a trip to the federal courthouse in Rapid City, courtesy of GF&P and USFW agent Bob Prieksat, handcuffed and wearing leg shackles like a mass murderer.

P Joe: I don't agree with what GFP did. But I think the ranchers also handled the situation wrong. You could have had a lot more support and accomplished a lot more if you had played your cards different.

For example what is happening right now. I know it took 10 years to get his @ss on the hotseat, but had you not gone cold and unworkable, things might have been different.

And pray tell, how would you have handled the situation?

Liberty Belle wrote:
Now I'm really curious… what legislation are you talking about? What other legislation was introduced along with the Open Fields bill? I introduced the bill and it's strange that I never noticed any other legislation attached to MY bill.

P Joe: None of it was attached directly to your bill. I never said that. I said legislation, or other bills. Specifically the one with the transferring of deer licenses from rancher to hunter.

That is my biggest beef, I specifically asked about that, and everyone in the discusion played dumb. Then magically it gets brought up in the house 3 months later! BullSh!t. You can't tell me you had no idea what I was talking about.

I can only assume you are still talking about HB 1177, the bill that would have allowed one landowner sponsored licensed to be sold to a hunter that the landowner designated and the hunt had to occur on the landowner's own land. When I was asked to sign on to the bill, I did because it seemed like a pretty small compensation for all the game a landowner raises at his own expense.

A lot of these landowners have children or other relatives who have left the area and have a hard time getting a license to hunt on the very land they grew up on that their families still own. Little did I know that allowing this courtesy to the landowners in return for all they do for the wildlife in South Dakota would end hunting for every other "sportsman" in the country!! After all the nasty emails I got from hunters, I realized more than ever how much you guys take for granted the expense landowners incur raising your wildlife for you and how little you appreciate what they do for you.

P Joe:I never said you were dumb and am sorry if you took it that way, I was just pointing out the fact that I was lied to by you and Jingle Bob. I can't find the thread, but I remember most of what was said.

Excuse me - Jingle Bob and I lied to you? I'd sure like to know what you think we said that wasn't the flat-out truth. I don't appreciate being called a liar, especially when you can't tell us what the lie was!! It doesn't surprise me that you can't find the thread.

P Joe:I think you should take note LB, on how all that legislation failed and why. The people of SD are not going to support you on the open feilds when they see all the other crap coming behind it. Now I want to believe that you only care about the open fields doctorine, but why then support all the other crap?

Maybe is it because you too are just hiding behind property rights to gain something? Maybe it isn't, but I think it would be best for you to draw the line on where you stand. If you are unwilling to seperate yourself from those who are hiding behind this, then what are people to think?

Again – what other crap? Or is this the same landowner sponsored hunting license you're talking about?

What would there be to gain by "hiding behind property rights"? And if you can't tell by now exactly where I stand, you haven't been paying attention.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Happy: Tell me LB what pilot was the state of South Dakota looking to get in to your area?

The state wasn't trying to get anyone into our area. Where did you get that idea? Our predator control pilot, who was licensed to aerial hunt by the federal government, was already here doing a very good job for us. It was the pilot who worked for GF&P that tried to get our pilot grounded so he could get our pilot's job with our predator control board and he used other GF&P personnel and this rogue officer from USFW to help him do it.

Happy: I love your paint all with a broad brush attitude LOL! You do this with all authority figures? Or just those that disagree with the mighty LB?

Anyone in law enforcement is a dirty SOB by some or they wouldn't be doing their jobs! You must have thick skin in this line of work!

You have bad apples in all walks of life and can't judge the majority by the minority!

My Dad was a cop. My husband's cousin was the chief of police in one of the largest cities in the state. I know the dangers law officers face every day. I have the utmost respect for legitimate law enforcement officers, including the two new GF&P conservation officers in our area, our county sheriffs, and their deputies. I do, however, have a real problem with any law enforcement officer who abuses their power, don't you?

Happy: Also for FWIW, I did some checking into your outragous MT Lion story from the state of Washington I beleive, it had ZERO truth to it at all, none of it ever happened. No posse of lion hunters, no wardens involved, and nothing killed even to the slightest degree you claimed! It is hard to take some seriously when you shoot at the hip so often, fact checking gives credance to ones words.

Well, isn't that just too bad? I told you it was a story told to my son by a guy at a horseshoeing clinic he attended in Montana. The guy had no reason to lie that I know of, but you just believe whatever makes you happy.

 

[SJ]

Happy go lucky--Also for FWIW, I did some checking into your outragous MT Lion story from the state of Washington I beleive, it had ZERO truth to it at all, none of it ever happened. No posse of lion hunters, no wardens involved, and nothing killed even to the slightest degree you claimed! It is hard to take some seriously when you shoot at the hip so often, fact checking gives credance to ones words.


I found your FWIW quite interesting. Could you tell me who you checked with.