Silly question, but not Palin related

[mtmiller]

Bird season has started here in MT and I am getting lots of hunters stopping in to pick up maps and ask me where they should be hunting. I am not much into uplands at this point in my life, so I am generous with any info I have. Big game hunters will be in next month with the same questions. What do you feel my obligations are to steer them in the right direction? Give them good information and compete with locals that hunt the same area? Send them all to a mediocre place? Tell them I have no idea and why would anyone kill a pretty deer or elk?

 

[Bambistew]

I'd show them 10 diffrent spots and say, these are good, let them find out on their own.

 

[drahthaar]

Tell them I have no idea and why would anyone kill a pretty deer or elk?

I would love to say something like that, but I just couldn't even bring myself to say the words. The look on their face would be priceless.

 

[mdcrossbow]

So these are customers who are not regulars ? If so I would give them a map and say thses are public lands, Your guess is as good as mine. Now for your regulars who are reciprocal I would share as would with a good friend.

 

[ERSS]

Just give them the facts....Harvest info, and other relevant stats published by the Dept of Game and Fish, that they could find on thier own if they knew where to look. I don't think you have any obligation to give away any secrets or specifics.

I am sure you get a few folks who think ( or act like ) you "owe" them an animal

 

[Whiskers]

WE have them come in the tackle shop and ask the same questions (related to fish) I never give up a honey hole. But I do give generic directions, off the 113 buoy, by the Osprey nest, etc. I give up honey holes, I loose my year round customers.

 

[Nemont]

Tell them that all the birds died during the cold spring and that there is far better bird hunting in North Dakota.

JK

I think the only thing you have to say is that here is likely habitat and the rest is up to them.

Nemont

 

[JoseCuervo]

Give them maps to South Dakota.

 

[T Bone]

vague generalities that are just enough to spark hope.

 

[smalls]

Whenever the question is asked, I'd just pick up the nearest phone whether it was ringing or not and start having a conversation.

Either that or give them great info...but talk in a robot voice, that way there's no way they'll think your legit.

 

[Tom]

... Big game hunters will be in next month with the same questions. What do you feel my obligations are to steer them in the right direction? Give them good information and compete with locals that hunt the same area? Send them all to a mediocre place? Tell them I have no idea and why would anyone kill a pretty deer or elk?

Say, I'm reluctant to give you information to compete with the locals, but I will send you to a mediocre area. Then tell them what you mean by mediocre.

 

[schmalts]

depends on if it was a hot chick asking or not

 

[sreekers]

Lead them to the BLM and forest service maps and tell them this is how the locals do it. If they can read a map and will confirm their location with a GPS you have given them more than enough help. It's not your responsibility to give them their animals, its public land that everyone can work with and find their own animals in.

 

[DRAFTSTUD]

Get ya a PETA Button and wear it at work! John

 

[Calif. Hunter]

I believe you work for the government in a wildlife capacity, don't you? If so, that is different than working in a sporting goods store. If I were asked by a taxpayer and I was a government worker, I would help them out. I would consider part of what I am paid for. I would find out what they have done already - do they have maps, harvest info, etc. PRobably, most of the guys are working stiffs who can't afford a guided hunt. If they have done some homework, though, I'd have to say I'd probably help them more than if they just showed up and expected me to give them directions to a honey hole.

In any case, I would try to direct them to a general area where they would have a reasonable chance (or at least as much chance as anyone else) to bag something unless they acted like assholes and were demanding or demeaning.

 

[Moosie]

Tell them you hunt so to take what you say with a grain of salt

Does your Job description say you need to tell people were the birds/big game are ? Or just help out a little? Give general info.

 

[TLC]

miller, look at them and say, with a straight face - " no habla ingles."

 

[JoseCuervo]

If you gained the knowledge of where the birds are while working, can I file a FOIA request and get every bit of knowledge???

 

[Moosie]

Sure.. TYou can File a FOIA.. but it's FOI not to tell you accurate info

 

[1_pointer]

That is a tough one... Though I think many of the public would have the same opinion CH does, you are not in the business of managing wildlife populations or hunting opportunity (for the most part). You are in charge of helping manage habitat on specific lands. In this light, I think general location information for the lands that you help manage are more than sufficient. The UTMs for where you saw a 4pt buck are bit much to ask IMO...

PS- Jose, you can't FOIA my thoughts/experiences unless they were recorded as part of a professional capacity and even then some of them do not have to be shared (ie locations of certain types of resources, projects, etc).