Not for two old men on their annual journey to the Glade in search of elk.
Having driven down a well-traveled road, with no prohibitive signage, through two open gates to the hunting area, parking, gearing up, walking into the timber and returning after a couple of hours, I was approached by a Parks and Wildlife officer who informed me that we should not be there. We were to be ticketed.
Retrieving a map from his truck, he asked me repeatedly how much education I have and if I can read.
It became apparent that our crime was not where we were hunting, but that we had driven on a prohibited road with no signage to that effect.
My 81-year-old hunting partner was issued a citation, his first in over 65 years of hunting and fishing.
Thankfully, we do not live in a town or country where such draconian enforcement practice as once applied in the “King’s Forest” were necessary. Officers are hired that can be trusted to make good judgment decisions in the field. The district manager did say that he had instituted a “zero tolerance” policy, but when visiting the forest; if people behave, they have nothing to fear.
That is, if they don’t commit a human mistake ...
Earl Charles Moore
Dolores