- 2 days ago
- #realityinsighthub
#
#RealityInsightHub
🎞 Please subscribe to our official channel to watch the full movie for free, as soon as possible. ❤️Reality Insight Hub❤️
👉 Official Channel: />👉 THANK YOU ⭐❤️❤️❤️⭐
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00A Michigan conservation officer in District 7 and another in D9 check on waterfowl hunters in
00:10November and to look at the state's efforts to provide public
00:16areas for hunters to pursue ducks and geese on lands they've deemed wetland wonders. Two
00:22Michigan conservation officers, one in District 1 and the other in D3, monitor deer hunters on
00:28the opening day of deer season. Conservation officer, anybody inside? Open the door back
00:33here. And they both encounter situations in which they work closely with other
00:37emergency response agencies. Have you had anything to drink or smoked any marijuana
00:42today? And to look at a dedication for a new DNR facility that's named in honor of
00:47two fallen conservation officers. Wild animals and wild places, they're more than
00:54a picture, their inspiration, excitement, and adventure. Patrolling and protecting these
01:01natural resources is a first-class band of peace officers. These are the Wardens,
01:07dedicated to the preservation of our great outdoors.
01:11Music
01:12Autumn in Michigan can feel like there's just too much to do for the dedicated outdoors
01:14outdoor enthusiasts. White-tailed deer can be hunted throughout various seasons from the 1st of
01:16October through the 1st of January.
01:17another.
01:20Autumn in Michigan can feel like there's just too much to do for the dedicated outdoor enthusiast.
01:38White-tailed deer can be hunted throughout various seasons from the 1st of October through the 1st of January.
01:44Bear and elk can be pursued by hunters who are fortunate enough to be granted a tag through
01:49a draw system.
01:51Many species of fish are also readily available.
01:54Other animals that many people are passionate about trying to bag are ducks and geese.
01:59Michigan is typically one of the national leaders for number of Canada geese taken each
02:03year and also has several duck species available to its hunters as well.
02:08In the state's District 7, Conservation Officer Carter Woodwyke is checking on waterfowlers
02:16set up on state land.
02:21Good morning, how are you?
02:30Good.
02:32First bird of the morning it looked like?
02:34Yeah.
02:35Nice.
02:36State Conservation Officer, obviously.
02:39You guys had a pretty good mess of that flurry come in there.
02:42Eh, I don't know how we didn't kill these men.
02:44Yeah, we should have had a lot more.
02:46Been doing pretty good out here this year.
02:48Yeah, we got quite a few ducks this week.
02:50Did you?
02:51Mm-hmm.
02:52I got five last night.
02:53Nice.
02:54Very nice.
02:55You want to check my gun?
02:57Yeah, I'll check his license here first a second.
03:00You want to sell dinner out of it?
03:02You can pull him out.
03:04Get the plug this one?
03:05No, it's plugged.
03:06It better be.
03:07It's just a plastic unscrew the cap once.
03:08Let me grab three.
03:09Oh, yeah, why?
03:10Because it's only about this big around.
03:11What is?
03:12Let me show you.
03:13Let's start with three of your shells at least.
03:14Hold on, I'll show you the plug.
03:15It's probably going right around it.
03:16See right here?
03:17That's your plug.
03:19Oh, so my checker.
03:20Oh, I see what you're saying.
03:21The checker's just going right around it.
03:22That makes sense.
03:23I've never seen a plug like that before.
03:24Yeah, that's easy.
03:49Perfect.
03:50That works.
03:51How are they?
03:52Good.
03:53I figured with you guys being out in your spread, I'd try and quick do a check before
03:58more geese keep coming in.
03:59I almost had one of those ducks it looked like.
04:01Yeah.
04:02The ducks have been just playing.
04:04They're not nice this year.
04:05Yeah.
04:06Oh, there's two bees right there.
04:07I'll trade you.
04:08You ran her dry that time, too?
04:10No, I shot two of them before.
04:12I took her first and bolted.
04:16So I'll give you that back.
04:18First goose this morning.
04:19Awesome.
04:20Well, congratulations.
04:21I missed his, but those two we dumped, I got my who knows how many of them.
04:27Caleb got his first out of that one, so.
04:29Congratulations.
04:32Cool morning.
04:33On the other side of Southern Michigan, from where C.O. Woodwike is working, in the
04:36state's District 9, Officer Joe Devon is also checking on hunters pursuing ducks and geese.
04:44How'd you guys do out there?
04:45We're bad.
04:46It's not because we're playing with it now.
04:49You got any ducks?
04:50No, we got none.
04:51Not at all?
04:52No.
04:53Real quick, you got your ID, licenses on you.
04:55I'll just check the firearms and be all set.
04:58All right.
04:59Put that one away.
05:00Perfect.
05:01All right.
05:02I'm going to take a look at your bag real quick.
05:03Just look at your ammo.
05:04All right.
05:05You got a sandwich, huh?
05:06Yeah.
05:07You're not baiting, are you?
05:08No.
05:09I don't know if ducks like bone or anything.
05:10Oh, they might.
05:11No life jackets.
05:12What are you guys going to do if you fall out of the boat?
05:13I didn't realize he had it.
05:14He keeps it on the island here, so.
05:15You're going to fall out of the water on waders?
05:16No.
05:17I don't know if ducks like bone or anything.
05:18I don't know if ducks like bone or anything.
05:19Oh, they might.
05:20No life jackets.
05:33What are you guys going to do if you fall out of the boat?
05:35I didn't realize he had it.
05:38He keeps it on the island here, so.
05:40You ever fall out of the water on waders?
05:42What's that?
05:43Have you ever fallen out of a boat into the water wearing waders?
05:45No.
05:46It is.
05:47It's not fun.
05:48So I want to talk to you about the registration numbers and then the lack of life jackets.
05:51All right.
05:52Unless they're somewhere hidden that I can't find them.
05:55There's the ducks right there.
05:57All right.
05:58Do you have any life jackets for the boat or no?
05:59Yeah, there's life jackets in there.
06:00There's life jackets in there?
06:01Yeah.
06:02Okay.
06:03Now hiding in the bag.
06:04All right.
06:05Yeah.
06:06It's the first time here.
06:07Now you're looking in here.
06:09There's one.
06:10And then there should be four in there.
06:12There's another one.
06:13Two there.
06:14Yep.
06:15Favorite.
06:16Want them all out?
06:17Nope.
06:18Thanks to those two.
06:19You're good to go.
06:20You put it on your hull ID.
06:21You don't need to put all that.
06:22So when you get home, just scratch those off.
06:23Put those new numbers on there and you'll be all set, okay?
06:24I was like, that's way too many numbers, but it's not too big of a deal.
06:27All right.
06:28Thank you, sir.
06:29Yep.
06:30Although C.O. Deppin is primarily keeping an eye on waterfowl hunters on this day, the day before, which was the first Saturday of the state's firearm deer season, he was checking on people chasing deer.
06:40Later in his shift, after the sun had set, Officer Deppin encounters a man who tells him that he shot a deer and is about to go recover it, but hasn't tagged it yet.
06:49Since it's untagged at this point, you've already gutted it and everything, I'm going to go back there with you and just take a look at it.
06:54There's a little bit of concern why the deer's not tagged yet after it's fully gutted.
06:58Well, I know, and then I had it with me, and I said, oh, ****, I'm walking up here to get this, and I'll tag it as soon as I go back.
07:04Okay.
07:05Is the firearm back there with your wife, or is the firearm here?
07:07They're both there.
07:08They're both there.
07:09Okay.
07:10You can just hand me the whole set. I'm going to go back there with you. Just take a look at the deer if you don't mind.
07:17Michigan Conservation Officer Carter Woodwake is working on the last Saturday of November and closely monitoring waterfowl hunters.
07:25He started his morning by checking on hunters on public land and continues to do so.
07:30State Conservation Officer. Just going to check licenses and firearms here a minute.
07:36Do you need the pad farm there?
07:38Yeah, if you got the permit right there.
07:41Cool.
07:43Looks good.
07:45I appreciate it.
07:48There's that.
07:49That one doesn't do you a whole lot of good this year now, does it?
07:54Give you those things.
07:55That all looks good.
07:56Give you that back. I appreciate it.
07:58No problem.
07:59Take care guys. Good luck.
08:01Yep.
08:02That's good.
08:03Nice.
08:04Don't see how many people out here with a 10 gauge.
08:05You don't?
08:06Not anymore?
08:07No, not anymore.
08:08No, not anymore.
08:09Nope.
08:10It's all 12 gauge.
08:12I'll let you load up and we'll get out of your hair.
08:13Thank you very much.
08:14Not a problem. Take care.
08:15Take care guys. Good luck.
08:17Yep.
08:18You too.
08:19Always have a good day out here. Some days just better than others.
08:27Good.
08:28Nice.
08:29Don't see how many people out here with a 10 gauge.
08:31You don't?
08:32No.
08:33Not anymore?
08:34No, not anymore.
08:35Nope.
08:36It's all 12 gauge.
08:37I'll let you load up and we'll get out of your hair.
08:39Thank you very much.
08:40Not a problem. Take care.
08:41Have a good day?
08:42Good luck.
08:43Thank you. You too.
08:44Always have a good day out here. Some days just better than others.
08:46Within the Allegan State game area, which encompasses over 50,000 acres, is the Fenville Farm Unit, a 4,100 acre area that's managed specifically for waterfowl.
09:08There are seven managed waterfowl hunt areas located in southern Michigan.
09:13Another managed waterfowl hunt area is the Neaquin Point State Wildlife Area.
09:18To bring attention to what's available and welcome hunters back prior to the season, the DNR holds open houses at some of its sites, including Neaquin Point.
09:27Neaquin Point State Wildlife Area is a special place in my heart.
09:30I grew up in the area not too far from here and had many opportunities to recreate throughout my teenage years.
09:38And I knew that I always wanted to be a part of this game area.
09:41I just didn't know what part I wanted to play.
09:44So I went to college, went to Michigan Tech.
09:46I came back to the area and started out as a state worker for and then progressed into a seasonal wildlife assistant position and then became the technician.
09:55And I've been the technician for about 15 years now.
09:57We are situated on the western shore of Saginaw Bay in Bay County.
10:09Nice.
10:10With many public areas, the DNR works closely with other agencies to improve the area, including volunteer groups.
10:17We have work days here where their staff are unable to do it.
10:23So we take it over and we'll get a crew of 15 people and we'll work all day on something.
10:30There's different projects where we put up snow fencing.
10:33We put up coyote decoy silhouettes and we move them around.
10:38We do other projects maintenance wise, doing some stuff to the fields and the other areas.
10:44Our main focus is waterfall and waterfall hunting, but we also have spring migration for waterfowl.
10:50So our area is open to bird watching.
10:52Bird watching is probably the second largest activity at Neonquin Point.
10:56We have the largest population of yellow headed blackbirds, which people come from all over the world to see these birds.
11:02They're just spread throughout the area.
11:05They've also migrated into some of our agricultural crops.
11:08So it makes it really easy for people to access those areas to see them.
11:11We provide other recreational opportunities in the way of hunting, deer hunting.
11:16We also allow trapping.
11:18They're great for duck hunting, waterfowling, and they have draw systems, a lottery type system where you come in to hunt.
11:29So you're limited on the amount of hunters and their real quality areas to hunt where you can really have a really good hunt and have a substantial number of birds that you can harvest.
11:43The staff at areas like Neonquin Point works hard to make the area appealing to the game that hunters would like to pursue there.
11:50We do intensive farming on some of our units, and that is to provide a high energy food source for migrating waterfowl.
11:57So we put in all of our own agricultural crops.
12:00We do a mixture of corn, buckwheat, millet, and then the corn serves also a secondary purpose to conceal hunters for hunting in the fall.
12:09So after all of that work gets done in the summer, then we use large volume pumps to flood the area so that they have flooded corn to hunt out of.
12:18These areas here are really unique, especially Neonquin.
12:22It offers a very easy physical hunt.
12:27You don't need a lot of equipment.
12:30You can walk into a lot of areas with just a tub, a dozen decoys, and your gun.
12:36So the access is real, real easy compared to some areas.
12:40And a lot of older sportsmen, water followers like to hunt this because it's a lot easier.
12:47This is a great gem.
12:49It's a rural community, but I think, you know, coming off the beaten path, you know, from your town or your school
12:56or your little subdivision in Pinconning, which is not very big.
13:00But when they come out here, they feel like they're secluded.
13:04They feel like this is like wilderness.
13:06And I think a lot of people don't really know that it's here.
13:10And I feel like that's one of the things we want to focus on, just letting people know that there's more to this area than just waterfall hunting.
13:17Michigan Conservation Officer Carter Woodwyke is checking on waterfowl hunters on the last Saturday of November.
13:25He's been steadily busy throughout the morning as he goes from one hunting party to another to ensure that they have the proper licenses and federal waterfowl stamp,
13:35as well as making sure that their firearms can hold no more than three shells and that their shells do not contain lead.
13:41Hello. State Conservation Officer.
13:44Hello, sir. How are you?
13:45Good. How are you?
13:46Good. How are you?
13:47Good luck.
13:48Having any luck over here?
13:49Shot at some high birds, but no, I haven't anything.
13:51Yep.
13:52We're just going to check licenses and firearms here a minute.
13:56A couple hundred birds just piled up behind us, or right out of the refuge out there.
14:06Yeah, I see that.
14:08I'll give you your firearm back there.
14:12And then do you have any other shots by you in a bag or in your pockets or something?
14:26We have chosen our pockets.
14:27Pockets and double-checked the couples.
14:31Same ones, awesome, same ones.
14:33All the same stuff.
14:34Yep. Looks good. Very good. That works.
14:37We'll leave you guys to it then.
14:39Maybe a couple of these will venture on over, but we'll see. Good luck.
14:43Later in his shift, after checking waterfowl hunters throughout the day,
14:47Officer Woodwyck shifts his focus to monitoring deer hunters.
14:51He's aware of some hunters who utilize boats to head to some public hunting land,
14:55so he waits at the spot where he sees the boat trailers parked to await their return.
15:00How are you?
15:01How's it going?
15:02Good.
15:03Got a little buck?
15:07Yeah.
15:08Nice.
15:11State Conservation Officer.
15:13You guys able to make it quite a ways up?
15:15We made it down.
15:16Down?
15:17Yeah.
15:18Okay.
15:19Start it up and work your way down?
15:20Yep.
15:21Yeah.
15:22Nice.
15:23Very nice.
15:24Very good.
15:25Better seat.
15:26Firearms are all cased up.
15:28Yep.
15:29Wonderful.
15:30I'll start, I guess, with hunting licenses.
15:32Right.
15:33Start from right and go left.
15:35That way I don't get too mixed up.
15:38Whose boat is this?
15:39Mine.
15:40Yours.
15:41Okay.
15:42You said you got a tag on it?
15:46Yeah, it's already on it.
15:47That's the only tag I got right there.
15:49Okay.
15:50You have a doe tag or something that you put on it?
15:51Yeah.
15:52Perfect.
15:53Very good.
15:54Do that.
15:55Who ended up getting this one?
15:56One of the older guys got that.
15:57Oh, he's coming right now?
15:58Yeah.
15:59There's more.
16:00Okay.
16:01Cool.
16:02It's just this boat or then you got another one coming?
16:03Two more.
16:04How you doing?
16:05Good.
16:06Where's the deer in this boat?
16:07Yeah.
16:08Did you guys see anything?
16:09I didn't see one tail.
16:10No?
16:11I'm just pushing.
16:12Yeah.
16:13Okay.
16:14Okay.
16:15Okay.
16:16Cool.
16:17It's just this boat or then you got another one coming?
16:18Two more.
16:19How you doing?
16:20Good.
16:21Where's the deer in this boat?
16:22The deer in this boat?
16:23Yeah.
16:24Did you guys see anything?
16:25I didn't see one tail.
16:26No?
16:27I'm just pushing.
16:28Yep.
16:29Got another deer down there.
16:30We ended up getting this one.
16:31This guy coming in the next boat.
16:32He's still coming.
16:33Two length bucks.
16:34Cool.
16:35Is there just one more boat coming or?
16:37Yeah.
16:38Yeah.
16:39Okay.
16:40Awesome.
16:41Very good.
16:42His dad shot the buck.
16:43Yep.
16:44He shot the buck on the doe.
16:45He's coming in there.
16:46Okay.
16:47You got the buck and the doe here?
16:48Yeah.
16:49Awesome.
16:50Very good.
16:51Excuse him.
16:52Yep.
16:53One more boat coming or?
16:54Yeah.
16:55Okay.
16:56Yeah.
16:57Dad shot the buck.
16:58Joe.
16:59He shot the buck on the doe.
17:00He's coming in there.
17:01Okay.
17:02You got the buck and the doe here?
17:03Yeah.
17:04Awesome.
17:05Good.
17:06He's in my way.
17:07Yep.
17:09There's a little doe on here.
17:12That one's yours?
17:13Awesome!
17:14Everything looks good with their life jackets in this boat.
17:17Yep, right here.
17:18Right here.
17:19Right here and the case.
17:20Right here and the case weren't he?
17:21Perfect.
17:22Okay. Very good.
17:24Yeah, you guys got it all squared away.
17:36Officer Woodwyke is in a parking lot for hunters using public land.
17:40You ended up getting this one?
17:41I did.
17:42You did?
17:43Yes, sir.
17:44Nice.
17:45And has a lot of vehicles and hunters.
17:47He stops to check and see if any of them have gotten deer,
17:50and if so, to make sure the deer are properly tagged.
17:54Cool. Very good.
17:56That one's good there.
18:00Yeah, we had a pretty good day so far.
18:02Yeah, no doubt.
18:02I don't know how many deer there were there.
18:04One, two, three, four, five, five or six of them at least.
18:06I believe so.
18:07You did?
18:08Uh-huh.
18:08Nice.
18:11No, very good.
18:14Tagging on there.
18:16What's your last name in the year you were born?
18:1942 on that one.
18:2032 on that one?
18:22Whose tag is this?
18:23It's my dad's.
18:23It's your dad's?
18:24Yeah.
18:25So why'd you put his tag on it?
18:26It's mine sitting on my table.
18:29Okay.
18:29I know why.
18:30Do you have your driver's license with you so I can see if you actually have licenses?
18:34In this case...
18:35I did issue a citation for using the kill tag of another.
18:38It's the Allegan District Court.
18:39It's their address and their phone number.
18:40You've got three to ten business days to get that taken care of.
18:42No problem.
18:42Whether it's pleading guilty, not guilty, setting up a court date, whatever the case is.
18:46Not a problem.
18:46This woman took her citation to a bench trial, and the judge utilized his discretion to dismiss
18:52the charges based on her testimony under oath that she was lying to Officer Woodwyke
18:57in the field when he asked her who shot the deer.
19:00She told the judge that her dad did actually shoot the deer, and she simply had it in the
19:05back of her truck.
19:06All right.
19:07Take care.
19:08Be safe.
19:08Michigan Conservation Officer Joe Dempin is also working during the month of November,
19:13but he's in the state's District 9.
19:18He's located a man who shot a deer and didn't tag it immediately.
19:22He was also hunting over bait.
19:24That's the one you shot a deer with?
19:25It's a 450.
19:27All right.
19:27All right, so, man, this is yours?
19:38That's right.
19:39Okay.
19:40So, when hunting hours are finished up, you've got to unload.
19:43I'll be throwing them in the sled here.
19:48All right.
19:49We can pull back around the blind here, and we'll talk about what's going on.
19:52We've got a couple things going on here, so, initially, you're out there.
19:57You took the deer.
19:58We didn't initially tag it.
19:59Number two, taking the deer over a bait pile.
20:02You know the bait is prohibited.
20:04Yes?
20:05Yeah.
20:06Baiting is prohibited.
20:06Okay.
20:07The fact that you're honest with me, I do appreciate that.
20:12I'm not going to dig into any further as far as if the deer your wife shot was over bait
20:17or not, but as far as this one, this one's got to come with me, okay?
20:21Hey, we shot it.
20:22This one.
20:23Well, you can be waiting for them, but you've just got to be taken legally.
20:27It's legally in motion for a minute.
20:28Yep.
20:29Okay.
20:30And so, like I said, I've got to seize the deer.
20:33I've got to ride over a report.
20:37And, essentially, you're shooting over bait.
20:39It's in legal deer.
20:40It's done by a legal method.
20:41So, I'm going to take the 12-gauge, going to document it as part of it.
20:46What happened to that?
20:47That's going to be up to the court.
20:48I've just got to document it as the weapon that shot the animal.
20:50So, I'll give your wife a warning on the loaded after hours.
20:53I can understand that can be an easy mistake.
20:56You know, people get excited.
20:57But, as far as the deer and the tagging and the bait is concerned, I'm going to deal with that directly with you, okay?
21:02In this case, for illegally taking a deer, since he shot it over bait in an area that's closed to baiting,
21:08this man paid a court-ordered fine of $2,000, which was restitution to the state of Michigan for the buck.
21:14You can continue to hunt as long as all that is cleaned up.
21:17Well, I was going to ask you that.
21:18If I get all that bait out, if I run this out tomorrow, clean up all the bait.
21:22As long as all the bait is gone from all parts of the property, nothing left in this oil, nothing dug in the mud, then you can continue to hunt.
21:30Most Michigan conservation officers usually start out with a plan for what they want to do each day,
21:36both to follow up on information they already have, as well as to gather new information.
21:41However, they are also all too aware that their priorities can shift quickly, and they need to focus on something else.
21:48This holds true even during the last 16 days of November, when the state's firearm deer season is underway,
21:54and when there are typically more hunters in the woods than any other time of the year.
21:58In the state's District 1, Officer Alex Van Wagner is checking deer hunters on the firearm deer opener.
22:07It's the opening day of firearm deer season in the UP here.
22:10It's probably the biggest day of the year up here.
22:12We're in Iron County in the UP of Michigan.
22:16We're at the Crystal Falls Field Office right now, and we've got a couple things lined up,
22:21and we're just going to check what's out there and see what we can find.
22:23There is a guy in this vehicle here, so I'm going to go up and contact him.
22:34Morning, sir.
22:35Morning.
22:35Conservation officer, how are you doing?
22:37Good, how are you?
22:37Good, what are you up to?
22:38Well, just kind of watching the pipeline.
22:41I'm not too serious about getting out and freezing my tail off.
22:45Okay.
22:45I've got my rifle back there, and just, you know, I have a CPL.
22:52Okay.
22:53And my...
22:54What do you carry?
22:57It's a .380.
22:59Okay.
23:00You got your CPL on you?
23:01I do.
23:01Okay.
23:03And it's in my little backpack over there.
23:05Okay.
23:06Okay.
23:10What are you shooting for a rifle?
23:12It's a Remington 30-odd-6.
23:16Okay.
23:18All right, thank you.
23:19Do you mind if I check if it's unloaded?
23:22With the rifle, sure.
23:23Okay.
23:23Is it on that side or right here?
23:25You can open it.
23:25Okay.
23:26But wait.
23:31You got a stand over here or just hanging out?
23:35No, I'm just kind of hanging...
23:36I used to have a stand down this other pipeline.
23:42But my cousin, he hunts all the way down towards the end.
23:47Okay.
23:48And I believe there's a couple of...
23:50I think it was an Indiana plate that went by.
23:53I wasn't sure if it was a big plate, but I think there's some other hunters on there also.
23:59Okay.
24:00Mind if I check your license?
24:02Deer license?
24:03Sure.
24:04Okay.
24:04Just got a single tag?
24:13Yep.
24:13Okay, perfect.
24:15Well, I'll let you keep scoutin'.
24:17Approximately four and a half hours by automobile from where C.O. Venn Wagner is patrolling in the Upper Peninsula,
24:33Officer Jack Gorno is also working on the state's firearm deer opener in the Lower Peninsula, in the state's District 3.
24:43C.O. Gorno is working alongside Sergeant Mark Depew.
24:46They're patrolling an area that's close to baiting and know of a spot with a hunting blind that's overlooking a bait pile.
24:52They want to check to see if the blind is occupied.
24:54Giant pile, yeah.
24:57It was the biggest pile that we picked off.
25:00This is right here's a blind.
25:07Conservation officer, anybody inside?
25:10Yep.
25:11Open the door back here.
25:13How are you?
25:14Good.
25:15Good?
25:16Any idea why I'm here this morning?
25:18A bait pile.
25:19Okay.
25:21Okay.
25:22Do you live here?
25:22Is this your property?
25:23Okay.
25:24When's the last time you put bait out?
25:27Last Saturday.
25:27Last Saturday.
25:29And this is your property?
25:31I don't own this part of it.
25:33My house is right up there.
25:34Okay.
25:34It's my wife's grandpa's property.
25:36Wife's grandpa's, okay.
25:38So family then?
25:39Yeah.
25:40How's the season so far for you?
25:42I haven't killed anything yet.
25:43Haven't killed anything yet?
25:44I just bought my license yesterday.
25:46Obviously that's not a bait pile that you can remove by hand at this time, so this blind's done until it's gone.
25:52Okay.
25:52Okay.
25:53So grab your gun, keep it in a safe direction, and we'll walk you back.
25:58Since the first Michigan conservation officer went on the job in 1887, 16 officers have lost their lives in the line of duty.
26:07The state of Michigan has a memorial to these fallen officers at the Ralph A. McMullen Center in the Northern Lower Peninsula, where all present-day COs regularly attend training exercises.
26:18Two of these 16 fallen officers died during the same incident almost 100 years ago in Marquette County.
26:26When Michigan's DNR held a grand opening for the first shooting range in the Upper Peninsula,
26:31It was the initial opportunity for the public to see the range that was named in honor of two officers that were killed approximately three miles from the site of the range.
26:43Michigan conservation officers were working together on September 29, 1926, when they encountered an unlicensed hunter identified as Roy Nunn.
26:55During the course of the arrest, Nunn pulled a hidden revolver and killed Officer Erickson with two shots in the back of the head.
27:02Officer Skogland raced to the scene to assist and was killed with two shots to the face.
27:08The evidence eventually led to Nunn, who confessed to the crime.
27:12The officers' bodies were recovered, having been weighed down with bricks and dumped into Lake Superior from a pier in the city of Marquette.
27:20Nunn was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
27:25I never knew my grandfather. I knew a lot about him, but not all the details.
27:30I saw Roy Nunn, the guy that shot Arvid and Emil, in prison. He used to play a lot of hockey and softball out there, and one of the guards pointed him out.
27:44He was a small, small guy, but never, no, never. I saw him or had a chance to talk to him.
27:51You've heard the saying that freedom isn't free. Well, conservation isn't either.
27:57Conservation does mean the wise use of a natural resource, but it's the term wise that recognized years and years ago that there had to be regulations, there had to be controls to sustain our natural resources.
28:12And these officers were pioneers back in the day, fighting the same fight that our men and women do today.
28:19Big deal for DNR. It's a huge part of our mission here.
28:23Part of the mission, of course, is having folks be able to use firearms safely, and places like this allow that to happen.
28:30And also, a lot of these places house our hunter safety classes throughout the state, and I'm sure that this one probably will, too, on the field days that we offer for hunter safety.
28:41There are so many reasons that shooting ranges are important to the public, to law enforcement community, to our groups that need to have the ranges to come and shoot.
28:51So, for us, shooting ranges is an opportunity to give back to the community of archers, firearms purchasers, folks that go out and purchase ammunition.
29:01Give back to that community and give them a place to come and recreate and enjoy a safe spot to target shoot.
29:08Relatives of the fallen officers were the first ones to utilize the pistol and rifle ranges at the new facility.
29:16Well, I think it's a beautiful range. It'll be used for many years, many generations, and a great way to honor these two great men.
29:25I was born and raised in Marquette, so I always knew this was a place where people came to shoot, not legally.
29:31So, the amount of garbage out here that you could find was more than you could ever imagine.
29:36So, then being able to team up with local organizations to get it cleaned up and get it a safe place for people to shoot.
29:42Speaking with DNR representatives, it's taken over 10 years to finally get this to kind of come to terms.
29:48So, it's really cool to see this project completed.
29:52It's nice to see a facility like this and a turnout like this.
29:56Yeah, something that Marquette County has needed for a long time.
30:00And I think they did an awesome job.
30:03It's been quite cool to work in the same county that he did.
30:07Although I didn't know him, it's played a large role in my career choice.
30:11Thank you to the DNR for getting this going.
30:12I know it's been a long time coming, so big shout out to you guys.
30:16So, I appreciate it. Thank you very much.
30:18It's hard to explain what that means to us.
30:20It's a very cool way of honoring the family, tradition of law enforcement, and honoring the fallen officers.
30:26Michigan Conservation Officer Alex Van Wagner is working on the opening day of the state's firearm deer season.
30:50I can slowly move up and see.
30:53I know where Stan is, so he obviously drove in here and made his own trail in here on the state land.
31:00So, we're just going to see what's up and see and maybe back out and wait for him.
31:06But we'll see what we can find.
31:16He's sitting, so I'm just going to back out.
31:20He's hunting in there, so we'll contact him when he comes out.
31:25CO Van Wagner has located an off-road vehicle in an area where ORV use is prohibited.
31:32He intends to catch up with this hunter later to address several potential violations.
31:37While Officer Van Wagner is waiting for this hunter to emerge from the woods,
31:41he receives a call to respond to a more pressing issue.
31:44So, we got requested by the local dispatch, there's a traffic crash on one of the county roads.
31:50And all the other units are tied up in the county,
31:53so myself and my partner in my county are heading to this traffic crash together.
31:57They were coming this way?
32:13Yeah.
32:14Okay.
32:15He was driving.
32:18She's complaining of back pain.
32:20There's an infant in the car as well.
32:22They don't think the infant was hurt.
32:24Who's in the driver's seat?
32:25This is, that is a passerby who saw the accident or saw that you were up there, so.
32:35You need to go in.
32:37Darling, you get car insurance.
32:39That's what that's for.
32:40You were driving?
32:41Yes, sir.
32:42Okay.
32:42Did you already give her your information?
32:44No, she said one of you guys or one of the cops are going to come grab it for me.
32:47Okay.
32:48License and registration and insurance is all here.
32:51Okay.
32:52All right, so you're coming this way?
32:53Yes, we were coming this way.
32:55I was slowing down for the corners because the roads beforehand was all slushing and everything before.
33:01Okay.
33:02Step back here with me.
33:03Okay.
33:03So, I was going about 15, 20, coming around the corner.
33:08I hit one of these slushy spots, started going in the opposite lane.
33:12I seen the truck way down there.
33:14I didn't know if it was parked or coming towards me, so I was trying to get back into my lane safely.
33:19And as you can see, I obviously didn't manage the safely part.
33:22Okay.
33:23But.
33:24And you have an infant in the vehicle, I understand?
33:25Yes, we had my little baby.
33:27Is that your wife, girlfriend?
33:30That's my wife and my daughter.
33:32Have you had anything to drink or smoked any marijuana today?
33:35Any other drugs?
33:36No, sir.
33:37Okay.
33:37Of course, with my baby, when I smoke, it's all at home.
33:41I don't drive when I'm smoking, and I definitely don't drink unless it's after work.
33:44And I have my one drink, go home, and that's it.
33:47All right.
33:47You haven't smoked today?
33:49I smoked this morning, and I was like, what time is it now?
33:54Like 9?
33:5610.36.
33:57Yeah, I smoked at like 8.30 this morning.
33:598.30?
33:59And what time is it right now?
34:0010.36.
34:0110.36?
34:02Okay.
34:03All right.
34:04Do you feel any effects of the marijuana anymore?
34:07No, sir.
34:07I don't.
34:08Okay.
34:19And then from the number 86, you're going to count backwards from 86 to 68.
34:3786 to 68?
34:38Yeah.
34:38Maybe, yeah.
34:3986.
34:3985, 84, 83, 82, 81, 80, 79, 78, 77, 76, 77.
34:4885, 74, 73, 72, 71, 70, 69, 68.
34:56Okay.
34:58All right.
34:58I don't think you're impaired, but I would definitely recommend not smoking before you drive.
35:04I know it was at this point, like four hours ago, that you said you smoked.
35:08Yeah.
35:08But it could still be in your system.
35:11So I just left a traffic crash over on Coney Road 424.
35:14What happened was a male driver was in the car with his wife and infant, and he took a corner
35:22too fast over there and ended up rolling his vehicle into the ditch.
35:27And me and my partners arrived, and we checked to see that the guy was sober, ran him through sobriety.
35:34And my partner ended up taking the report, and the driver's going to be issued a citation related
35:43to the incident there.
35:45In this case, for violating basic speed law, this man was found responsible and paid a court-ordered
35:51fine of $115.
35:53His wife and infant child did not incur any major injuries.
35:56Michigan Conservation Officer Jack Gorno is also working on the firearm opener for white-tailed
36:18deer season in the state's District 3.
36:20He's contacted a hunter who is hunting over bait.
36:27That bait pile, you can see from space.
36:30It's a big one.
36:32Just contacting a hunter over bait in an area closed to baiting, so.
36:37And it's still closed in the whole lower peninsula, right?
36:39Yep, yep, closed in the whole lower.
36:45Did you park at the house here, or?
36:47I lived right there.
36:48Okay, okay, follow you, okay, follow you back, then.
36:52What's the reason you put bait down?
36:54That's the way I've always hunted.
36:56Okay.
37:02And now I'm going to have to put a feed plot in there, but.
37:04Yeah.
37:05That was my plan behind brush hogging it off.
37:08Okay.
37:12You do what you've got to do to pick all that bait up.
37:15Yep.
37:15Okay.
37:15Okay, so that blind's done until you pick all the bait up, okay?
37:19Okay.
37:20It's going to be a baiting ticket today, so I'm not going to.
37:23Yeah, I figured you figured, and I'm not going to tell you something that.
37:27Wait, make you wait around and think what's coming, so.
37:32In this case for using bait for a deer in an area that's closed to baiting, this man pled guilty
37:38and paid a court-ordered fine of $327.
37:41Names, driver's license stuff's on the top, middle section's where we are.
37:45I just wrote you for baiting in a closed area.
37:48It becomes an issue if you don't contact them, and then you can advise what you want to do over the phone.
37:53So, okay?
37:54Yep.
37:54You have any questions?
37:55Any other questions?
37:55Okay.
37:57Later in the day, Officer Gorno is called to respond to a scene where a hunter has fallen in the woods.
38:03He meets the wife of the hunter and other responders at the hunter's residence.
38:12I just got up here.
38:13He's in the woods.
38:14Let me put the gun in.
38:15Okay.
38:15Is it loaded?
38:16Yeah.
38:16Okay.
38:17I can hold on to it.
38:18Or do you want to put it in the house?
38:19I'm just going to just put it in the house right here.
38:21Okay.
38:22Did they say a name on the residence?
38:24I'll come up with it.
38:27This is what I don't think you'll get to trust her.
38:30It's right here.
38:31Oh, yeah.
38:31Does it get any narrower than this?
38:34A little at one spot, but I cut, you can see, I cut a lot of stuff back.
38:39We can get over this one.
38:41And I don't, even, I take it down trees.
38:44And it's, it's this way?
38:45Oh, yeah.
38:46Let's, let's try it.
38:47You want me to just drive back there?
38:48You can try, yeah.
38:49If you think you can make it.
38:50Do you want to just hop on the, the, the back?
38:55Yeah, we'll get it.
38:57It doesn't get any tighter than this, right?
38:59They are?
39:03I can just drive back there.
39:06It's wide.
39:06Yeah.
39:07And put them on the tailgate?
39:09Yeah.
39:10Okay.
39:11I'll walk with her.
39:11Okay.
39:12Yep.
39:12So, we're going to try to drive back there.
39:15It's all right.
39:16Do you guys think the truck's going to be okay?
39:46To lay him down in?
39:47We're just going to take it nice and slow.
39:48Okay.
39:49Okay.
39:50Okay.
39:51Yeah, he crawled to hear from the blind.
39:54Okay.
39:55Yep.
39:56Yes, he is.
39:57Okay.
39:57Although the EMS team does not believe their ambulance can make it through the woods and
40:02to the injured man.
40:03They do treat him at the scene and attend to his injuries as best they can before the team
40:08attempts to bring him out of the woods in the bed of C.O. Gorno's patrol truck.
40:12He's in good hands, man.
40:13We'll get him loaded up and right to the ambulance, okay?
40:16Okay.
40:17These guys are the best around, so.
40:18Appreciate you trying to help.
40:19Get y'all ready here.
40:21Yep.
40:22I'm just going to grab where he's grabbing right here.
40:27Yep.
40:28We got you.
40:29Right there, guys.
40:30Right there.
40:31Going down.
40:32Going down.
40:33I'm good.
40:34Breathe.
40:35Yep.
40:36One of you guys want to hold this.
40:37It's just in case.
40:38You guys want to stay up there with him?
40:39Yeah.
40:40Oh!
40:41Oh!
40:42Oh!
40:43Oh!
40:44Oh!
40:45Oh!
40:46Oh!
40:47Oh!
40:48Oh!
40:49Oh!
40:50Oh!
40:51Oh!
40:52Oh!
40:53Oh!
40:54Oh!
40:55Oh!
40:56Oh!
40:57Oh!
41:05Okay.
41:06Thank you so much.
41:07Yep.
41:08And then he's going.
Be the first to comment