"Wardens of the North" Hunting with Heritage

1 00:00:09,767 --> 00:00:12,400 Michigan conservation officers in District 3 2 00:00:12,567 --> 00:00:16,100 monitor elk hunters during both the early and late seasons. 3 00:00:16,266 --> 00:00:18,467 [man] You're acting like I'm a stupid, whiny little kid 4 00:00:18,467 --> 00:00:19,767 and I'm not. -Listen, listen -- 5 00:00:19,767 --> 00:00:21,500 I know I'm in trouble, I'm pissed off because 6 00:00:21,667 --> 00:00:24,467 I got five... -OK, just listen for a second. 7 00:00:24,467 --> 00:00:27,166 [narrator] And an organization dedicated to passing along 8 00:00:27,333 --> 00:00:29,467 their heritage to young people and veterans 9 00:00:29,467 --> 00:00:31,367 assist a blind hunter in obtaining 10 00:00:31,533 --> 00:00:33,500 a highly-coveted Michigan bear tag. 11 00:00:33,667 --> 00:00:35,967 [Bob] It's just heartwarming how many generous people 12 00:00:36,133 --> 00:00:37,266 there are out there. 13 00:00:39,100 --> 00:00:41,700 [Judy] He's 144,000 cubic feet, 14 00:00:41,867 --> 00:00:44,467 He is just massive, and he's impressive. 15 00:00:44,467 --> 00:00:45,767 [narrator] And also... 16 00:00:45,934 --> 00:00:47,300 [warden] Are you sure your son's gonna be good? 17 00:00:47,467 --> 00:00:50,567 Conservation officers in both District 4 and District 5... 18 00:00:50,734 --> 00:00:53,100 Sit back down on your sled. What's wrong with you? 19 00:00:53,266 --> 00:00:55,300 You realize you're a felon now? 20 00:00:55,467 --> 00:00:57,600 [narrator]...patrol snowmobilers and ice anglers 21 00:00:57,767 --> 00:01:00,767 during downright frigid conditions. 22 00:01:00,767 --> 00:01:02,967 [narrator] Wild animals... 23 00:01:03,133 --> 00:01:05,667 and wild places. They're more than a picture. 24 00:01:05,834 --> 00:01:09,567 They're inspiration, excitement, and adventure. 25 00:01:09,734 --> 00:01:13,100 Patrolling and protecting these natural resources is 26 00:01:13,100 --> 00:01:15,500 a first-class band of peace officers. 27 00:01:15,667 --> 00:01:20,367 These are the wardens, dedicated to the preservation 28 00:01:20,367 --> 00:01:21,667 of our great outdoors. 29 00:01:21,834 --> 00:01:23,800 [theme music plays] 30 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:31,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 31 00:01:43,166 --> 00:01:46,066 [narrator] It's extremely tough to get an elk tag in Michigan. 32 00:01:46,233 --> 00:01:49,367 Most years, around 10,000 people apply 33 00:01:49,367 --> 00:01:51,567 for roughly 250 tags. 34 00:01:51,734 --> 00:01:55,000 As a result, elk hunters are closely monitored by both 35 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,800 the state's DNR, as well as the general public. 36 00:01:57,967 --> 00:02:00,867 It's a hunt that is unique to this part of Michigan. 37 00:02:00,867 --> 00:02:02,800 It's a pretty tight area. 38 00:02:02,967 --> 00:02:05,467 You know, Montmorency County is pretty much the hub 39 00:02:05,634 --> 00:02:07,567 for all the elk, and there's a lot 40 00:02:07,734 --> 00:02:09,867 over in Otsego County and Sheboygan, 41 00:02:09,867 --> 00:02:13,100 some up in Presque Isle, but it is a very pretty specific 42 00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:15,767 part of the state that they're in, and people come 43 00:02:15,767 --> 00:02:17,200 from all over to view them. 44 00:02:17,367 --> 00:02:18,667 You know, you'll be in the middle of nowhere 45 00:02:18,834 --> 00:02:21,467 and there's very fancy cars driving around, just they come 46 00:02:21,467 --> 00:02:23,266 up from downstate and out of state just trying to look at 47 00:02:23,433 --> 00:02:25,467 the elk, and it is a pretty cool thing that 48 00:02:25,467 --> 00:02:27,100 we get to deal with up here. 49 00:02:27,266 --> 00:02:28,567 [narrator] Most years, the state conducts 50 00:02:28,567 --> 00:02:30,667 an early-season elk hunt in the fall, 51 00:02:30,667 --> 00:02:33,100 and a late-season hunt that starts in December. 52 00:02:33,266 --> 00:02:36,900 The final hunting days of the early season are usually 53 00:02:37,066 --> 00:02:40,166 in early October. In the state's District 3, 54 00:02:42,567 --> 00:02:46,000 Conservation Officer Dan Liestenfeltz is checking 55 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,467 a successful elk hunter. -[Dan] Morning. 56 00:02:49,634 --> 00:02:50,767 -[Dan] Congratulations. -[Jen] Thank you very much. 57 00:02:50,934 --> 00:02:52,667 Very cool. Nice. 58 00:02:52,834 --> 00:02:54,667 [Dan] How many were there altogether? 59 00:02:54,834 --> 00:02:56,100 [Jen] Three, two bulls. 60 00:02:56,266 --> 00:02:58,967 [Dan] Two bulls and just one shot? 61 00:02:59,133 --> 00:03:01,166 -[Jen] Two. -[Dan] Two shots, OK. 62 00:03:01,333 --> 00:03:04,066 -Did you hit it twice? -Yes. 63 00:03:04,233 --> 00:03:06,767 As we were sneaking back here, we could hear them mewing 64 00:03:06,767 --> 00:03:12,300 and stuff, and we noticed that they were mewing towards -- 65 00:03:12,467 --> 00:03:14,867 heading towards these hills, which is away from the field. 66 00:03:15,033 --> 00:03:19,000 So, we hurried up to an opening and peeked around the corner. 67 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:23,100 We could see a big bull and heard some mewing 68 00:03:23,266 --> 00:03:24,367 in these woods. 69 00:03:24,533 --> 00:03:28,400 And my lovely friend, Jeff, made some calls 70 00:03:28,567 --> 00:03:31,967 and they came back out and I saw the cow, 71 00:03:32,133 --> 00:03:34,166 so made the shot. 72 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,100 [narrator] Later in the day, C.O. Liestenfeltz 73 00:03:38,266 --> 00:03:40,600 encounters another successful hunter. 74 00:03:40,767 --> 00:03:43,600 He started coming, started coming, and I'm like, 75 00:03:43,767 --> 00:03:46,500 I'm chilling, and he walked right up into my lap, 76 00:03:46,667 --> 00:03:49,567 .[Dan] Mm-hmm. -...and had about six yards, 77 00:03:49,567 --> 00:03:51,967 he kind of got his head behind a tree. 78 00:03:52,133 --> 00:03:53,800 As soon as he did, I pulled up and walked around the tree 79 00:03:53,967 --> 00:03:55,900 popped his head around like... 80 00:03:56,066 --> 00:03:57,000 So, I hammered him, 81 00:03:57,166 --> 00:03:58,767 he spun around and took off, 82 00:03:58,934 --> 00:04:02,100 and I'm like, I know I just butched it. 83 00:04:02,266 --> 00:04:05,100 So, I racked another one in and put one in his, uh, 84 00:04:05,100 --> 00:04:08,166 in his hind end and he just flopped. 85 00:04:08,166 --> 00:04:09,433 [John] Great experience, 86 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,800 not the biggest bull that we've seen, but an absolute trophy 87 00:04:15,967 --> 00:04:20,700 for the hunt, just an absolute awesome time. 88 00:04:20,867 --> 00:04:22,800 [narrator] Since the last part of the early elk season 89 00:04:22,967 --> 00:04:26,100 takes place during the first few days of October, it is happening 90 00:04:26,266 --> 00:04:29,166 at the same time as the archery deer season. 91 00:04:29,166 --> 00:04:32,166 Michigan conservation officers are usually very busy 92 00:04:32,333 --> 00:04:35,000 during deer season, and having elk hunters to monitor 93 00:04:35,166 --> 00:04:38,066 at the same time just increases the number of calls 94 00:04:38,233 --> 00:04:40,767 to which COs will likely need to respond. 95 00:04:40,767 --> 00:04:43,867 The night before checking these successful elk hunters, 96 00:04:44,033 --> 00:04:47,100 Officer Liestenfeltz headed to an adjacent county to respond 97 00:04:47,100 --> 00:04:49,667 to a report where a caller said they heard a gunshot 98 00:04:49,667 --> 00:04:52,000 from the woods behind their house. 99 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,533 CO Liestenfeltz is joined by Officer Jon Sheppard. 100 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,100 [Dan] There's a blind right there, 101 00:05:02,066 --> 00:05:03,100 it's like, right down there. 102 00:05:03,266 --> 00:05:04,600 I don't want to watch the shooting line. 103 00:05:06,667 --> 00:05:08,000 All right, let's go back in from back here. 104 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,900 There's a blind right there, and we're looking right at it. 105 00:05:12,066 --> 00:05:13,200 I don't want to walk down that. 106 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,467 Hello, conservation officer. 107 00:05:21,634 --> 00:05:23,567 [suspenseful music plays] 108 00:05:31,567 --> 00:05:32,667 Oh, nobody's in the blind. 109 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:35,500 OK. 110 00:05:44,967 --> 00:05:47,500 [narrator] After checking the area and finding corn, 111 00:05:47,667 --> 00:05:50,367 the officers head to the residence of the landowner. 112 00:05:50,533 --> 00:05:52,200 -[Dan] It's OK. -[dog barking] 113 00:05:52,367 --> 00:05:53,400 Shh, it's OK. 114 00:05:53,567 --> 00:05:56,300 -[dog parking] -[distant yelling] 115 00:05:56,467 --> 00:05:58,200 [Dan] Hello, police. Police. 116 00:05:58,367 --> 00:05:59,400 -[Dan] How's it going? -[woman] Police. 117 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:01,100 -[Dan] How are you? -[woman] Good -- Sadie May! 118 00:06:01,100 --> 00:06:03,500 -[Dan] Is she OK? -[woman] Sadie May, come. 119 00:06:03,667 --> 00:06:05,100 -[dark barking] -[woman] Come on, come. 120 00:06:05,100 --> 00:06:06,300 Come. 121 00:06:06,467 --> 00:06:08,367 -[woman] Hi, how are you? -[Dan] Good, how are you? 122 00:06:08,533 --> 00:06:09,567 [woman] Stop, sit. 123 00:06:09,734 --> 00:06:11,567 [Dan] We've been on your property already 124 00:06:11,567 --> 00:06:13,867 because we got a new complaint, OK? 125 00:06:14,033 --> 00:06:15,100 Why are we here? 126 00:06:15,100 --> 00:06:16,467 [man] I don't know. 127 00:06:16,467 --> 00:06:18,266 -[Dan] No idea? -[man] I was feeding. 128 00:06:18,266 --> 00:06:19,900 -[Dan] OK, what else? -[man] That was it. 129 00:06:20,066 --> 00:06:22,667 [Dan] Where were you at tonight? 130 00:06:22,667 --> 00:06:24,000 I was in here. 131 00:06:24,166 --> 00:06:25,333 [Dan] You've been in here the whole night? 132 00:06:25,333 --> 00:06:26,767 -[man] Yeah, we ate dinner and... -[woman] Yeah, we did. 133 00:06:26,934 --> 00:06:28,200 [Dan] OK, you haven't been hunting tonight at all? 134 00:06:28,367 --> 00:06:29,333 [man] No. 135 00:06:29,333 --> 00:06:31,166 Obviously, we have some winter weather that 136 00:06:31,166 --> 00:06:33,500 blew in early this morning. 137 00:06:33,667 --> 00:06:36,000 [narrator] Michigan's late season elk hunt typically has 138 00:06:36,166 --> 00:06:38,467 much different weather conditions than what hunters 139 00:06:38,467 --> 00:06:40,367 and conservation officers experience 140 00:06:40,367 --> 00:06:41,667 during the early season. 141 00:06:41,667 --> 00:06:42,900 We're gonna go out and see if we can 142 00:06:43,066 --> 00:06:44,100 find some elk hunters. 143 00:06:44,100 --> 00:06:45,867 The morning started off a little slow. 144 00:06:46,033 --> 00:06:50,166 We've had a couple elk come in. The snow is good. 145 00:06:50,166 --> 00:06:53,266 It provides some tracking ability for the animals, 146 00:06:53,433 --> 00:06:55,266 for the hunters tracking the animals, I should say, 147 00:06:55,266 --> 00:06:57,567 and also hunters recovering 148 00:06:59,367 --> 00:07:02,200 injured or shot game -- it's easier to find them, 149 00:07:02,367 --> 00:07:05,567 obviously, when there's available snow on the ground. 150 00:07:05,734 --> 00:07:07,967 [narrator] It's the opening weekend of the late elk season 151 00:07:08,133 --> 00:07:09,667 in the state's District 3, 152 00:07:11,567 --> 00:07:14,500 and officers Sidney Collins and Paul Fox are checking on 153 00:07:14,667 --> 00:07:16,767 a hunter who has shot a cow elk. 154 00:07:16,934 --> 00:07:19,367 [Sidney] About what time did you take her at? 155 00:07:19,367 --> 00:07:24,033 -[hunter] I think 9:57. -9:57. 156 00:07:26,500 --> 00:07:28,100 [hunter] We saw the tracks on the dirt. 157 00:07:28,266 --> 00:07:31,066 -Yeah, they were [indistinct]... -You are unit...five. 158 00:07:31,233 --> 00:07:34,000 ...and then we ran into some guys that stopped us on the road. 159 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:39,100 So, a nice cow, one shot, and then we just go in, 160 00:07:39,100 --> 00:07:41,767 seal the animal, take down the hunters' information, 161 00:07:41,934 --> 00:07:46,266 relay that to the check station in Gaylord, and move on 162 00:07:46,266 --> 00:07:47,533 to the next one. 163 00:07:49,467 --> 00:07:52,467 [narrator] After patrolling separately, Officer Fox meets up 164 00:07:52,634 --> 00:07:55,467 with C.O. Collins again while she's checking on an elk hunter 165 00:07:55,634 --> 00:07:56,734 who's shot a bull. 166 00:07:56,734 --> 00:08:00,567 [Sidney] So we do have a little bit of an issue here. 167 00:08:00,567 --> 00:08:02,000 [man] What do you got? 168 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:03,300 [Sidney] So, we -- 169 00:08:03,467 --> 00:08:05,567 in all the packet and the information -- 170 00:08:05,734 --> 00:08:07,767 -[man] Yeah, I got the e-tag. -[Sidney] OK, yep. 171 00:08:07,767 --> 00:08:10,266 You were supposed to hunt in unit H. 172 00:08:10,266 --> 00:08:12,667 -We're actually in unit I right now... -[man] No way. 173 00:08:12,834 --> 00:08:15,166 and we're about a good three quarters. 174 00:08:15,333 --> 00:08:17,500 [man] But it said I could hunt in all units, I -- 175 00:08:17,667 --> 00:08:21,100 I can show I can explain it to you on the map so there's 176 00:08:21,100 --> 00:08:25,100 there's unit H and there's unit I and then there's unit X, OK? 177 00:08:25,100 --> 00:08:29,000 you could H unit H you can hunt in unit H and you can hunt 178 00:08:29,166 --> 00:08:33,700 in unit X so you got H, I -- -[man] I mean I believe you, I just -- 179 00:08:33,867 --> 00:08:36,300 I'm just trying to explain it to you, OK? 180 00:08:36,467 --> 00:08:38,100 So, and why we do that 181 00:08:38,266 --> 00:08:41,467 is so we don't get hunters all in one spot right? 182 00:08:41,634 --> 00:08:43,867 -Gotcha. -OK. 183 00:08:43,867 --> 00:08:48,867 So we are about a good three quarters of a mile to a mile 184 00:08:49,033 --> 00:08:53,900 out of your actual hunt unit, OK, I know I hate to put 185 00:08:54,066 --> 00:08:56,100 the damper on such an awesome experience 186 00:08:57,166 --> 00:08:59,367 but it's laws that I can't change OK? 187 00:08:59,533 --> 00:09:00,700 So, what happens now? 188 00:09:00,867 --> 00:09:03,700 So what's gonna happen is we are gonna let you 189 00:09:03,867 --> 00:09:08,000 keep the bull, which we don't always do. 190 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,200 Don't get me wrong, I understood that I could hunt 191 00:09:10,367 --> 00:09:12,500 I, X, and, H, the way the paperwork 192 00:09:12,667 --> 00:09:13,967 on the map showed me. 193 00:09:13,967 --> 00:09:16,500 It said I could hunt all units, and that's what I was going by. 194 00:09:16,667 --> 00:09:18,867 Sure, sure. 195 00:09:19,033 --> 00:09:21,300 Yeah, unfortunately, it's not, and like I said, 196 00:09:21,467 --> 00:09:22,700 it's a safety issue. 197 00:09:22,867 --> 00:09:25,266 You know, we don't want hunters all in one spot, OK? 198 00:09:25,266 --> 00:09:26,433 I get it, I follow you. 199 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:31,100 So we will let you keep the elk, however, elk is one of 200 00:09:31,266 --> 00:09:32,567 our protected species -- 201 00:09:32,734 --> 00:09:34,567 I do have to submit a complaint and warrant, 202 00:09:35,500 --> 00:09:38,166 but the good news is this can... -[indistinct] 203 00:09:38,333 --> 00:09:41,100 ...so keep the meat and everything to that effect OK? 204 00:09:41,100 --> 00:09:42,967 Again, hate to put the damper on it, 205 00:09:43,133 --> 00:09:45,467 but that's why, you know, we have these certain areas 206 00:09:45,634 --> 00:09:49,367 that you got to stay in, OK, and if I can explain that 207 00:09:49,533 --> 00:09:52,667 any better to you -- -No, I understand, no, no, no, 208 00:09:52,834 --> 00:09:54,900 I was just -- understood the paperwork wrong. 209 00:09:55,066 --> 00:09:57,567 I really did, so, you know. -OK, alright. 210 00:09:57,567 --> 00:10:00,500 Well, like I said, we're -- you'll still keep the elk 211 00:10:00,667 --> 00:10:04,400 so that's -- like I said it's, it's a minor hiccup. 212 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:07,266 So, what do I do after this? 213 00:10:07,433 --> 00:10:09,567 [Sidney] I'll get some information, I can explain it all 214 00:10:09,734 --> 00:10:13,100 to you right now, we'll just have our wildlife tech, 215 00:10:13,100 --> 00:10:16,200 she'll take a look at it, she'll do some of her stuff, and then 216 00:10:16,367 --> 00:10:18,200 I can explain everything to you, OK? 217 00:10:18,367 --> 00:10:19,700 -Fair enough? -[man] Fair enough. 218 00:10:28,467 --> 00:10:32,367 [narrator] Passing Along the Heritage, or PATH, is an organization 219 00:10:32,367 --> 00:10:35,000 that strives to do just what its name indicates -- 220 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:37,900 share their passion and appreciation for 221 00:10:38,066 --> 00:10:40,867 the outdoors with young people and veterans, as well as those 222 00:10:41,033 --> 00:10:42,266 who live with a disability. 223 00:10:42,266 --> 00:10:45,567 Actual Make-A-Wish Foundation doesn't do hunting and fishing 224 00:10:45,734 --> 00:10:48,900 trips anymore, and so we started doing that, 225 00:10:49,066 --> 00:10:51,900 and it's probably our primary focus now. 226 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:56,867 We do -- ourselves, we do... 227 00:10:57,033 --> 00:10:58,867 50 hunts a year, a year or something like that. 228 00:10:59,033 --> 00:11:01,700 We provide, we provide everything for them -- 229 00:11:01,867 --> 00:11:05,166 taxidermy and butchering and a mount. 230 00:11:05,166 --> 00:11:08,500 [narrator] Caleb Geiger is a 15-year-old hunter that is blind. 231 00:11:08,667 --> 00:11:11,600 He and his dad, Tom Geiger, attended a PATH banquet 232 00:11:11,767 --> 00:11:13,667 where they got to meet many of the people involved with 233 00:11:13,834 --> 00:11:15,867 the organization and to interact with some of 234 00:11:16,033 --> 00:11:18,266 the people that are orchestrating the process of 235 00:11:18,433 --> 00:11:19,900 getting Caleb a bear tag. 236 00:11:20,066 --> 00:11:24,266 Every year Michigan hunters apply in a lottery system 237 00:11:24,266 --> 00:11:26,367 for a bear or elk license. 238 00:11:26,367 --> 00:11:27,967 The Department of Natural Resources 239 00:11:28,133 --> 00:11:31,367 has a program set up where successful applicants can 240 00:11:31,533 --> 00:11:35,967 choose to donate their license to a, either youth 16 years of 241 00:11:36,133 --> 00:11:39,000 age or younger, or an individual with an advanced illness. 242 00:11:39,166 --> 00:11:43,867 We're connecting those that have points that wish to donate them 243 00:11:43,867 --> 00:11:47,767 with kids that otherwise wouldn't be able to manage 244 00:11:47,934 --> 00:11:50,800 a bear hunt and we have adaptive equipment. 245 00:11:50,967 --> 00:11:55,767 We can take any person with any handicap whatsoever. 246 00:11:55,934 --> 00:12:00,667 We've taken blind people, quadriplegics, paraplegics. 247 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,100 We can handle anybody with a desire to hunt. 248 00:12:05,266 --> 00:12:08,667 So the hunting license transfer program came about from an idea 249 00:12:08,834 --> 00:12:11,567 from a hunter in 2001 who had drawn a bear tag, 250 00:12:11,567 --> 00:12:13,800 but wasn't going to be able to utilize it. 251 00:12:13,967 --> 00:12:16,567 The hunter had contacted the department and asked if 252 00:12:16,567 --> 00:12:18,767 there was a way that they could transfer that license 253 00:12:18,767 --> 00:12:20,066 to another individual. 254 00:12:21,467 --> 00:12:23,867 The department thought it was a wonderful idea, so in 2002, 255 00:12:24,033 --> 00:12:27,867 they formalized the program and set up a system to allow 256 00:12:27,867 --> 00:12:32,066 licenses, either bear or elk, be transferred to individuals 257 00:12:32,233 --> 00:12:35,900 16 years of age or less who have applied for licenses 258 00:12:36,066 --> 00:12:38,000 or an individual with an advanced illness. 259 00:12:38,166 --> 00:12:41,367 [narrator] PATH started as a handful of friends getting together, 260 00:12:41,533 --> 00:12:45,000 selling some of their outdoor gear, and raising around $3,000 261 00:12:45,166 --> 00:12:46,667 over 20 years ago. 262 00:12:46,667 --> 00:12:50,800 Now, PATH typically raises more than $100,000 each year, 263 00:12:50,967 --> 00:12:52,266 with only 1% of their money 264 00:12:52,433 --> 00:12:54,300 going towards administrative costs. 265 00:12:54,467 --> 00:12:57,767 Lieutenant Joe Molnar has been involved with the PATH Foundation 266 00:12:57,767 --> 00:12:59,667 for many years, and really enjoys 267 00:12:59,834 --> 00:13:01,667 helping others through his work with PATH. 268 00:13:01,834 --> 00:13:03,500 One of the greatest organizations that 269 00:13:03,667 --> 00:13:04,967 I've been able to be part of. 270 00:13:05,133 --> 00:13:09,166 It truly has the greatest intent of getting individuals 271 00:13:09,333 --> 00:13:12,166 who have never hunted before, or have limitations that 272 00:13:12,166 --> 00:13:14,367 prohibit them from normally getting out. 273 00:13:14,367 --> 00:13:18,767 PATH has numerous hunting trailers 274 00:13:18,934 --> 00:13:20,967 that have apparatuses that allow individuals 275 00:13:21,133 --> 00:13:23,767 who may be quadriplegic or unable to hold 276 00:13:23,767 --> 00:13:26,800 a firing system, whether it be a crossbow or a rifle, 277 00:13:26,967 --> 00:13:29,000 and give them the opportunity to get hunting. 278 00:13:29,166 --> 00:13:31,767 [narrator] Caleb Geiger hunts with the help from his dad, 279 00:13:31,934 --> 00:13:34,400 who uses an app on his phone to see through the scope 280 00:13:34,567 --> 00:13:35,867 of his son's gun. 281 00:13:35,867 --> 00:13:39,166 Once bear season rolled around, Caleb was successful in bagging 282 00:13:39,333 --> 00:13:41,767 a bear using the tag that had been donated to him 283 00:13:41,767 --> 00:13:43,900 through the Hunting License Transfer Program. 284 00:13:44,066 --> 00:13:47,000 [Bob] It's just heartwarming how many generous people there are 285 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:51,767 out there, and especially now. You know, it's -- it's been 286 00:13:51,767 --> 00:13:56,700 incredible, the outpouring of assistance that we've gotten. 287 00:13:56,867 --> 00:14:00,567 [uplifting music plays] 288 00:14:02,967 --> 00:14:05,100 My dad was a conservation officer. 289 00:14:05,266 --> 00:14:06,900 I've been around it my whole entire life. 290 00:14:07,066 --> 00:14:08,467 It's what I've always wanted to do. 291 00:14:08,467 --> 00:14:10,567 I'm very fortunate to have this job. 292 00:14:10,567 --> 00:14:12,066 It is the greatest job on earth. 293 00:14:12,233 --> 00:14:13,233 I'm not gonna lie about that. 294 00:14:13,233 --> 00:14:14,900 I haven't even felt like I've worked a day yet. 295 00:14:15,066 --> 00:14:17,867 [narrator] Michigan conservation officers, Dan Liestenfeltz 296 00:14:18,033 --> 00:14:20,066 and Jon Sheppard, rushed towards a hunting area 297 00:14:20,233 --> 00:14:22,667 in response to a report that someone heard a gunshot 298 00:14:22,834 --> 00:14:24,867 coming from the woods during bow season. 299 00:14:25,033 --> 00:14:28,367 After arriving at the property, the officers found corn there 300 00:14:28,533 --> 00:14:31,367 and then went to confront the landowner. 301 00:14:31,367 --> 00:14:33,100 [Dan] At the end of the day, it's a deer. 302 00:14:33,266 --> 00:14:36,000 It's not a person that got murdered or anything like that. 303 00:14:36,166 --> 00:14:38,166 OK, that's what we're talking about is a deer, OK? 304 00:14:38,166 --> 00:14:43,000 If you shot one or if you shot at one and missed, 305 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,066 anything along those lines. 306 00:14:45,233 --> 00:14:47,600 It's a hundred and ten percent better to tell us. 307 00:14:47,767 --> 00:14:50,800 [man] Going on like you got me doing something -- I didn't do anything. 308 00:14:50,967 --> 00:14:53,467 -[man] I'm not a little kid either. -[Dan] Just, let me just, 309 00:14:53,467 --> 00:14:55,467 let me finish -- -[man] [indistinct] get for feeding -- 310 00:14:55,467 --> 00:14:57,100 [Dan] We'll get there. We'll get there in a second. 311 00:14:57,100 --> 00:14:58,867 I'm trying to be nice and talk to you here, OK? 312 00:14:58,867 --> 00:15:00,767 [man] Well, you're trying to act like I'm gonna 313 00:15:00,767 --> 00:15:03,467 admit to something that I didn't frickin' do, man. 314 00:15:03,634 --> 00:15:05,367 [Dan] Everybody lies to us, and then we gotta get it 315 00:15:05,367 --> 00:15:07,400 out of people -[man] I'm 58 years old, man. 316 00:15:07,567 --> 00:15:10,066 I have 90-year-old people lie of me all the time. 317 00:15:10,233 --> 00:15:13,166 OK, so I'm sitting here trying to be nice to you, 318 00:15:13,166 --> 00:15:14,667 OK, and I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt 319 00:15:14,667 --> 00:15:16,000 and trying to get you to tell me the truth. 320 00:15:16,166 --> 00:15:18,400 -[man] I didn't shoot a deer. -OK, is that your final story? 321 00:15:18,567 --> 00:15:21,100 -[man] I did not shoot a deer. -OK, did he shoot at a deer and miss? 322 00:15:21,266 --> 00:15:22,467 [woman] He hasn't left. 323 00:15:22,467 --> 00:15:25,800 He came and said, "Let's go get some pallets," and I said, 324 00:15:25,967 --> 00:15:28,667 "I'm finishing dinner, we're gonna be done, 325 00:15:28,667 --> 00:15:31,100 it's gonna be done." I just carried the dishes in 326 00:15:31,100 --> 00:15:33,500 and did them, and just pulled my apple pie out. 327 00:15:33,667 --> 00:15:35,367 -[Dan] OK. -[woman] And yeah, 328 00:15:35,367 --> 00:15:37,400 his dad is in there, he takes his medicine 329 00:15:37,567 --> 00:15:42,300 at 5:00, we ate at 5:30, late, yeah, he said, "Let's go." 330 00:15:42,467 --> 00:15:45,100 I said, just took the tire out of the car, the truck. 331 00:15:45,100 --> 00:15:46,400 We were going to get pallets. 332 00:15:46,567 --> 00:15:49,000 I know it, you have not been able to bait in this part 333 00:15:49,166 --> 00:15:51,500 of the state for, I think about 30 years or so. 334 00:15:51,667 --> 00:15:53,300 It's been a very long time. 335 00:15:53,467 --> 00:15:56,500 So the new recent baiting ban for the lower peninsula is 336 00:15:56,667 --> 00:16:00,066 nothing new for, you know, here in Alpena County 337 00:16:00,066 --> 00:16:02,166 and things like that, so, everybody knows 338 00:16:02,166 --> 00:16:03,767 that they can't do it, especially over there, 339 00:16:03,767 --> 00:16:05,100 and they just take their chances 340 00:16:05,100 --> 00:16:06,467 and he was one that was caught. 341 00:16:06,467 --> 00:16:09,100 [man] You're acting like I'm stupid, lying little kid, and I'm not. 342 00:16:09,266 --> 00:16:10,867 -[Dan] Listen, listen -- -[man] I know I'm in trouble. 343 00:16:10,867 --> 00:16:13,266 [man] I'm pissed off because I got caught feeding frickin' deer. 344 00:16:13,433 --> 00:16:15,500 [Dan] OK, just listen for a second. 345 00:16:15,667 --> 00:16:19,000 -[woman speaking indistinctly] -I'll talk to you in just a second about your duck. 346 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,700 -[man] Don't worry about the duck, it flew south. -[Dan] OK. 347 00:16:21,867 --> 00:16:24,467 If it was even legal, if you could bait down here, 348 00:16:24,634 --> 00:16:26,166 that would still be way over the limit. 349 00:16:26,166 --> 00:16:27,867 So it would still be a problem. 350 00:16:28,033 --> 00:16:30,100 [narrator] In this case, for illegally baiting, 351 00:16:30,100 --> 00:16:33,467 this man paid a court-ordered fine of $425. 352 00:16:34,900 --> 00:16:38,166 [Dan] I know you guys are upset, and everything's good, OK? 353 00:16:38,333 --> 00:16:40,266 You are getting a citation for the feeding, OK? 354 00:16:40,266 --> 00:16:41,967 I'll explain that in just a second, OK? 355 00:16:41,967 --> 00:16:45,667 -[man speaking indistinctly] -You have not been able to do that over here in 30 years. 356 00:16:45,667 --> 00:16:47,567 [woman] I'm sorry about that squash. 357 00:16:47,567 --> 00:16:49,867 [Dan] OK, no, it's the corn more than anything. 358 00:16:49,867 --> 00:16:52,767 [woman] OK, the squash, it was because it was too much for me. 359 00:16:52,934 --> 00:16:55,400 -[Dan] It's both, but -- -[man] They seen me haul it back there, 360 00:16:55,567 --> 00:16:58,100 and that's why called you, they didn't hear no gunshot. 361 00:16:58,266 --> 00:16:59,400 [woman] I'm sorry, I -- 362 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:01,200 Well, we actually had, I'm not lying to you when I say 363 00:17:01,367 --> 00:17:03,100 we had multiple people call, so... 364 00:17:03,100 --> 00:17:05,700 [man] Why would that be when this guy over here 365 00:17:05,867 --> 00:17:08,200 shoots a machine gun? [bleep] this guy shoots a shotgun. 366 00:17:08,367 --> 00:17:10,700 -It was a, everyone's just... -[man] They're all around here. 367 00:17:10,867 --> 00:17:12,667 ...everyone's just saying it was clear, clear as day, 368 00:17:12,667 --> 00:17:14,567 one rifle crack from back here. 369 00:17:14,567 --> 00:17:16,600 That's what multiple people heard. 370 00:17:25,567 --> 00:17:28,000 [narrator] Michigan Conservation Officers, Tim Rosochaki 371 00:17:28,166 --> 00:17:30,567 and Nathan Beelman, are performing a necropsy 372 00:17:30,734 --> 00:17:33,500 on an elk that was found dead and reported to the DNR. 373 00:17:33,667 --> 00:17:36,467 [Tim] I wanna know what it hit to kill it. 374 00:17:36,467 --> 00:17:39,400 -[Tim] There it is. -[Nathan] Oh, that's good. 375 00:17:39,567 --> 00:17:42,100 [Tim] There. Nate, get your picture. 376 00:17:42,266 --> 00:17:45,400 [narrator] Eventually, the officers find a bullet in the animal. 377 00:17:45,567 --> 00:17:48,767 [Tim] So the nice thing is that's a unique bullet. 378 00:17:48,767 --> 00:17:51,467 We can start finding our hunters... 379 00:17:51,467 --> 00:17:53,767 -Yeah. -...that might have that. 380 00:17:53,767 --> 00:17:56,667 Earlier today, we got a call of somebody found a deceased elk 381 00:17:56,667 --> 00:18:00,300 out in the woods here in the Pigeon River country. 382 00:18:00,467 --> 00:18:03,266 We were contacted through a tribal biologist, 383 00:18:03,433 --> 00:18:07,467 it was tribal hunters that found it, and the biologist was able 384 00:18:07,467 --> 00:18:08,500 to lead us out to the site. 385 00:18:08,500 --> 00:18:11,467 So when we got out here, we noticed obvious trauma. 386 00:18:11,634 --> 00:18:13,867 There was a bullet hole in the animal. 387 00:18:13,867 --> 00:18:17,767 The animal was shot back in the guts area, where there was 388 00:18:17,934 --> 00:18:22,100 stomach content readily visible in the gunshot hole. 389 00:18:22,266 --> 00:18:24,166 Typically, animals like that don't bleed a whole lot. 390 00:18:24,166 --> 00:18:27,166 So one of my partners walked the animal's trail back, 391 00:18:27,166 --> 00:18:29,467 trying to find out if we could figure out where the animal was 392 00:18:29,634 --> 00:18:33,367 potentially shot at, while myself and Officer Beelman 393 00:18:33,533 --> 00:18:35,000 conducted a necropsy on the animal. 394 00:18:35,166 --> 00:18:38,200 [narrator] In this case, the officers explored a few leads, 395 00:18:38,367 --> 00:18:40,800 but were not able to come to a positive conclusion. 396 00:18:40,967 --> 00:18:44,100 They suspect that whoever shot the bull likely had a valid tag 397 00:18:44,100 --> 00:18:46,300 and simply didn't find the animal that they shot. 398 00:18:46,467 --> 00:18:48,867 The officers also believe that the heavy snow 399 00:18:48,867 --> 00:18:51,667 and shot placement may have made tracking difficult. 400 00:18:51,834 --> 00:18:53,800 This case is considered closed. 401 00:18:58,300 --> 00:19:02,200 Michigan Conservation Officers Sidney Collins and Paul Fox 402 00:19:02,367 --> 00:19:04,500 have encountered a hunter who shot a bull elk 403 00:19:04,667 --> 00:19:05,634 in the wrong unit. 404 00:19:05,634 --> 00:19:08,266 The hunter has been very cooperative and is 405 00:19:08,266 --> 00:19:10,066 very appreciative of the experience he's had 406 00:19:10,233 --> 00:19:12,400 while going on his once-in-a-lifetime hunt. 407 00:19:12,567 --> 00:19:13,800 Everything is great here. 408 00:19:13,967 --> 00:19:16,100 Everybody's on their toes and doing their thing, 409 00:19:16,100 --> 00:19:18,000 and DNR's been great too. 410 00:19:18,166 --> 00:19:22,367 And we hope to get this all quartered up and butchered 411 00:19:22,533 --> 00:19:25,266 and ready for the next round. This is gonna be great. 412 00:19:25,433 --> 00:19:28,000 We love it. Michigan, gotta love Michigan. 413 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:29,367 You got that right. 414 00:19:30,467 --> 00:19:35,700 [Sidney] And then, before I forget, I do, is that your gun here? 415 00:19:35,867 --> 00:19:38,500 OK, I just need the serial number and things, all that. 416 00:19:38,667 --> 00:19:40,400 I mean, technically you couldn't take it, 417 00:19:40,567 --> 00:19:42,166 but I'm not going to do all that for you. 418 00:19:42,333 --> 00:19:44,900 [hunter] I've had this since I've been 18. 419 00:19:48,300 --> 00:19:50,066 Make sure you wipe her down, good. 420 00:19:50,233 --> 00:19:51,967 I know, I can't do all that. 421 00:19:52,133 --> 00:19:54,967 What a beautiful day, though, I mean, besides 422 00:19:55,133 --> 00:19:57,200 the little damper you got going on, I mean, you got 423 00:19:57,367 --> 00:19:59,767 a beautiful bull, beautiful day. -Yeah. 424 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:02,367 -[man #1] Down street. -[man #2] I'll get a leg. 425 00:20:02,533 --> 00:20:04,700 [grunting] 426 00:20:07,166 --> 00:20:09,567 -[man #2] And kick. -[man #1] Thank you. 427 00:20:10,967 --> 00:20:13,000 -You're awesome. -[Sidney] Hey, you're welcome. 428 00:20:14,367 --> 00:20:19,100 So for this gentleman, shot this elk out of his unit, 429 00:20:19,100 --> 00:20:22,000 so what we'll do is we will let him keep the elk, 430 00:20:22,166 --> 00:20:24,667 but we'll go complaint and warrant for 431 00:20:24,834 --> 00:20:26,266 take elk out of his unit. 432 00:20:26,266 --> 00:20:29,367 [narrator] In this case, for shooting a bull in the wrong unit, 433 00:20:29,533 --> 00:20:33,867 this man pled guilty and paid a court-ordered fine of $392. 434 00:20:33,867 --> 00:20:36,000 We are on state land, 435 00:20:37,100 --> 00:20:39,467 but we do have units for hunters, half of them 436 00:20:39,467 --> 00:20:43,400 in Unit I, half of them in Unit H, and because he didn't take it 437 00:20:43,567 --> 00:20:46,266 in his correct unit, technically it's not 438 00:20:46,433 --> 00:20:50,367 a legally taken elk, 439 00:20:50,533 --> 00:20:51,467 so we have to go complaint and warrant 440 00:20:51,634 --> 00:20:54,367 through the prosecutor 441 00:20:54,533 --> 00:20:56,166 and see what they want to do about it. 442 00:20:56,333 --> 00:20:59,367 But the reason that we have those different units is 443 00:20:59,533 --> 00:21:00,634 for safety issues. 444 00:21:00,634 --> 00:21:05,100 We don't want 160 hunters all in the same unit. 445 00:21:06,367 --> 00:21:08,667 [narrator] Michigan's whitetail deer season is typically 446 00:21:08,667 --> 00:21:09,900 the time of the year that gets 447 00:21:10,066 --> 00:21:11,467 the most people outdoors. 448 00:21:11,467 --> 00:21:13,567 When the weather turns even colder in the winter, 449 00:21:13,734 --> 00:21:16,567 however, many Michigan residents, as well as visitors, 450 00:21:16,567 --> 00:21:19,867 still enjoy heading outside for cold weather activities such as 451 00:21:20,033 --> 00:21:21,667 ice fishing and snowmobiling. 452 00:21:21,667 --> 00:21:23,867 In the state's District 5, 453 00:21:25,567 --> 00:21:28,467 Conservation Officer Matt Zultak is stopping by 454 00:21:28,634 --> 00:21:30,900 various fishing shacks to check on individuals 455 00:21:31,066 --> 00:21:32,000 who are ice fishing... 456 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,467 It was -4 this morning, uh, 457 00:21:34,467 --> 00:21:36,200 not counting the wind chill. 458 00:21:36,367 --> 00:21:38,667 [narrator] ...on a frigid January day. 459 00:21:38,834 --> 00:21:40,367 I'm Conservation Officer Zultak. 460 00:21:40,367 --> 00:21:42,700 -[man] How's it going today? -[Officer Zultak] Good, good, nice to meet you. 461 00:21:42,867 --> 00:21:43,967 Just gonna do a real quick fish check. 462 00:21:44,133 --> 00:21:46,000 -Oh, sure. -Have any -- have any luck yet? 463 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,100 No, I haven't even dropped the line in yet. 464 00:21:48,100 --> 00:21:49,667 OK, OK, cool. 465 00:21:49,834 --> 00:21:51,166 I'm just gonna check your fishing license then. 466 00:21:51,166 --> 00:21:52,400 [man] Sure. 467 00:21:53,567 --> 00:21:54,900 [wind blowing] 468 00:21:56,667 --> 00:21:58,667 -Tryin' to get some crappie? -Yeah, whatever. 469 00:21:58,834 --> 00:22:00,300 -Whatever? -Yeah. 470 00:22:01,300 --> 00:22:03,700 Yeah, normally you get some gills in here and crappie 471 00:22:03,867 --> 00:22:05,100 is normally what people try and get here. 472 00:22:05,100 --> 00:22:07,467 That you'll even get you'll get probably get some 473 00:22:07,634 --> 00:22:11,266 small hammer handle pike hitting your jig lines too. 474 00:22:16,667 --> 00:22:18,400 -There you go. -[Officer Zultak] Oh, cool. 475 00:22:20,266 --> 00:22:21,367 Thank you much. I appreciate it. 476 00:22:21,533 --> 00:22:22,567 Oh, sure. 477 00:22:23,667 --> 00:22:24,867 [Officer Zultak] No fish yet, though, at all? 478 00:22:24,867 --> 00:22:27,266 No, I mean, you can tell I've just cleaned the line. 479 00:22:27,266 --> 00:22:28,867 I just started cleaning the holes. 480 00:22:28,867 --> 00:22:31,200 Yep, were you here yesterday, or did you just dig those? 481 00:22:31,367 --> 00:22:32,700 -No, I just got here. -So you were smart. 482 00:22:32,867 --> 00:22:34,567 You put up your shanty, you turned on your heater, 483 00:22:34,734 --> 00:22:36,667 and then you started digging their holes inside 484 00:22:36,667 --> 00:22:38,867 so -- so you stayed warm while you did it. 485 00:22:38,867 --> 00:22:40,567 Cool I hope you have a good day sir. 486 00:22:40,734 --> 00:22:41,700 Yeah, me too. 487 00:22:42,567 --> 00:22:44,400 Conservation officer, can you open up? 488 00:22:44,567 --> 00:22:45,967 [man] All right, sure, go ahead, help yourself. 489 00:22:46,133 --> 00:22:47,200 [Officer Zultak] OK, thank you. 490 00:22:51,667 --> 00:22:53,367 [zipper unzipping] 491 00:22:53,367 --> 00:22:54,533 [Officer Zultak] How you doing today? 492 00:22:54,533 --> 00:22:56,467 [man 2] Good morning. You guys want to step in or what? 493 00:22:56,467 --> 00:22:58,000 [Officer Zultak] I'm actually good right here. 494 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:00,066 -[man 2] OK. -[Officer Zultak] Um... 495 00:23:00,233 --> 00:23:02,467 -I'm guessing that's your buddy over there. -[man 2] It is. 496 00:23:02,634 --> 00:23:04,567 Cool. Did the flag go up? 497 00:23:04,734 --> 00:23:06,100 [man 2] It did. 498 00:23:07,166 --> 00:23:09,667 [Officer Zultak] Cool. How many tip-ups you guys got out? 499 00:23:09,667 --> 00:23:11,667 [man 2] He's just got his -- I think he's got one or two. 500 00:23:11,667 --> 00:23:13,133 -I don't have any. -[Officer Zultak] OK, OK. 501 00:23:13,300 --> 00:23:15,000 -[man 2] Just got the one stick right here. -OK, that's it? Cool. 502 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:16,266 [man 2] It's all I got. 503 00:23:16,266 --> 00:23:17,867 [Officer Zultak] You guys doing jigging? He jigging too? 504 00:23:17,867 --> 00:23:19,967 -You jigging? -[man 2] Well, he's jigging. 505 00:23:20,133 --> 00:23:21,400 -[Officer Zultak] OK. -[man 2] So he's got two tip-ups. 506 00:23:21,567 --> 00:23:24,300 I think two tip-ups in the jig. I got just one stick. 507 00:23:24,467 --> 00:23:26,567 -[Officer Zultak] OK. -[man 2] That's all I got. 508 00:23:26,567 --> 00:23:29,500 Too lazy to do the tip-up. It's cold. 509 00:23:29,667 --> 00:23:31,867 -[Officer Zultak] OK. -[man 2] Am I light? 510 00:23:31,867 --> 00:23:33,400 Nope, just checking your license. 511 00:23:33,567 --> 00:23:34,767 That's what I'm gonna ask for, yeah. 512 00:23:34,767 --> 00:23:37,467 Is his -- your license in here or over there? 513 00:23:37,634 --> 00:23:38,367 Mine? 514 00:23:38,533 --> 00:23:39,266 Yep. 515 00:23:39,266 --> 00:23:40,367 [speaking indistinctly] 516 00:23:40,533 --> 00:23:42,467 OK, I'm gonna let you -- I'll check yours then when 517 00:23:42,467 --> 00:23:44,467 you get back inside here so that you're not 518 00:23:44,467 --> 00:23:46,000 out here freezing. 519 00:23:46,166 --> 00:23:48,667 -You're just using the one jig line, then? -[indistinct radio chatter] 520 00:23:48,834 --> 00:23:50,367 Yeah, yeah, OK. 521 00:23:50,533 --> 00:23:51,900 I just don't want all your heat to escape. 522 00:23:52,066 --> 00:23:53,567 [indistinct radio chatter] 523 00:23:53,567 --> 00:23:54,667 I'll let you jump in there, dude. 524 00:23:54,667 --> 00:23:56,767 I don't want your hands -- get in the warm. 525 00:23:58,000 --> 00:23:59,900 It's -- it's nasty cold out here. 526 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:06,000 -How many fish you got? -[man 3] Zero. 527 00:24:06,166 --> 00:24:07,667 -[Officer Zultak] Zero? -[man 3] Just started up. 528 00:24:07,834 --> 00:24:10,166 [Officer Zultak] OK. What's your last name, sir? 529 00:24:10,166 --> 00:24:11,367 -... -OK. 530 00:24:11,533 --> 00:24:13,367 [narrator] After checking several ice fishing anglers 531 00:24:13,367 --> 00:24:16,166 and not encountering or observing any violations, 532 00:24:16,166 --> 00:24:18,900 Officer Zultak receives word that he may be needed 533 00:24:19,066 --> 00:24:20,200 to assist another officer. 534 00:24:20,367 --> 00:24:22,567 Right now, I'm going to back up, uh, 535 00:24:23,567 --> 00:24:25,166 one of my partners. 536 00:24:25,166 --> 00:24:27,567 He may -- he attempted to make a snowmobile stop 537 00:24:28,867 --> 00:24:30,767 just on the county line. 538 00:24:30,934 --> 00:24:35,467 And it appears he was trying to stop three sleds. 539 00:24:36,700 --> 00:24:39,000 It appears they all kind of took off in all different directions. 540 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:41,200 It seems like he's got two of them stopped right now. 541 00:24:41,367 --> 00:24:43,967 And I'm headed that way, seeing if he needs any help. 542 00:24:44,133 --> 00:24:46,567 And on the way there, trying to see if I can get 543 00:24:46,567 --> 00:24:48,967 any sign or pick up where that other sled 544 00:24:49,133 --> 00:24:51,066 might have went to that took off from him. 545 00:24:51,233 --> 00:24:52,867 Traveling westbound on Higgins Lake, 546 00:24:52,867 --> 00:24:56,367 they had just blown out of old 27. -OK. 547 00:24:56,367 --> 00:24:58,767 Traveling westbound, 548 00:24:58,934 --> 00:25:00,567 I sped up and followed them because that's the direction 549 00:25:00,567 --> 00:25:02,200 I was going anyway. 550 00:25:02,367 --> 00:25:05,467 -Caught up with them on the west side of 127 here. -Yeah. 551 00:25:05,634 --> 00:25:08,767 Noticed that all three didn't have trail permits, 552 00:25:08,767 --> 00:25:10,667 one registration was expired. 553 00:25:10,834 --> 00:25:14,166 So I turned on my lights, went to go make a stop, 554 00:25:14,166 --> 00:25:17,367 slightly turned onto 120 -- or, uh, the military road... -Yeah. 555 00:25:17,367 --> 00:25:20,867 saw the lead sled here, which just kind of made a U-turn. 556 00:25:20,867 --> 00:25:22,667 -He was making a run for it. -[Officer Zultak] OK. 557 00:25:22,834 --> 00:25:25,567 So I turned around, found him right here, had my lights 558 00:25:25,734 --> 00:25:28,266 and sirens on still, and he finally stopped. 559 00:25:28,433 --> 00:25:31,000 I said, "Why did you run from me?" 560 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:34,000 -And says he didn't have a trail permit on him. -OK. 561 00:25:34,166 --> 00:25:36,767 -So he already admitted to running from you, too. -Yeah. 562 00:25:36,767 --> 00:25:38,567 Do you know, did he tell you where they were headed? 563 00:25:38,734 --> 00:25:41,400 No, they just said that they were, they just 564 00:25:41,567 --> 00:25:42,900 left to go on the trails today. 565 00:25:43,066 --> 00:25:44,266 It's their first time having 'em out. 566 00:25:44,433 --> 00:25:46,400 He owns two of the three sleds. 567 00:25:46,567 --> 00:25:48,700 They're either gonna have gone north up to Fletcher, 568 00:25:48,867 --> 00:25:51,100 where you guys were at earlier, or they're gonna have hit 569 00:25:51,100 --> 00:25:53,000 the Robinson Lake trail system. 570 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:04,400 [narrator] Michigan conservation officers work in a wide variety 571 00:26:04,567 --> 00:26:06,000 of weather conditions. 572 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,600 The summer months typically bring heat and humidity 573 00:26:08,767 --> 00:26:11,900 as COs monitor anglers targeting an extensive array of fish 574 00:26:12,066 --> 00:26:14,166 species, as well as recreational boaters. 575 00:26:14,333 --> 00:26:17,367 Conversely, the winter months can deliver deep snow 576 00:26:17,367 --> 00:26:18,767 and frigid conditions. 577 00:26:19,667 --> 00:26:21,467 In the state's District 4, 578 00:26:23,500 --> 00:26:26,467 it's late February, and Officer Angela Greenway is 579 00:26:26,467 --> 00:26:29,600 starting her shift by trudging through snow on Chippewa Lake 580 00:26:29,767 --> 00:26:32,467 to check ice fishing anglers and monitor snowmobilers. 581 00:26:32,467 --> 00:26:34,967 Today, we're gonna focus on ice fishing activity 582 00:26:35,133 --> 00:26:36,200 in our inland lakes. 583 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:38,467 We've had a lot of activity in the last few weeks, 584 00:26:38,634 --> 00:26:41,066 and so we're gonna go check out and see 585 00:26:41,233 --> 00:26:42,367 what kind of activity we have today. 586 00:26:42,367 --> 00:26:44,166 I think it's gonna be really good, and we're gonna have 587 00:26:44,166 --> 00:26:46,300 a lot of positive contacts. It's sunny out. 588 00:26:46,467 --> 00:26:47,667 It isn't too cold, 589 00:26:47,834 --> 00:26:50,200 and people just like to get outdoors and recreate. 590 00:26:50,367 --> 00:26:52,367 So we're gonna go, we're gonna go check it out. 591 00:26:52,533 --> 00:26:53,767 Are you by yourself in the -- ? 592 00:26:53,934 --> 00:26:55,166 -[man] No, my son's in there... -OK. 593 00:26:55,333 --> 00:26:57,400 my 13-year-old son. -OK. 594 00:26:57,567 --> 00:26:59,667 He's staying warm, because he decided to 595 00:26:59,667 --> 00:27:01,400 step through a hole. -[Officer Greenway] Oh, no. 596 00:27:01,567 --> 00:27:02,900 [man laughing] 597 00:27:03,066 --> 00:27:04,967 I mean, did he get too wet? Is he all right? 598 00:27:05,133 --> 00:27:07,266 -Yeah, he up -- we got a heater in there, so. -OK. 599 00:27:07,266 --> 00:27:08,867 -He's good. -OK. 600 00:27:08,867 --> 00:27:10,166 What am I looking at? 601 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:14,400 [inaudible] All right, very good. 602 00:27:14,567 --> 00:27:16,367 -So no fish? -No fish yet. 603 00:27:16,533 --> 00:27:19,600 We got out here maybe 45 minutes ago. 604 00:27:19,767 --> 00:27:21,400 -We haven't even had a bite yet. -OK. 605 00:27:21,567 --> 00:27:22,967 Are you local here, or? 606 00:27:23,133 --> 00:27:25,066 -Uh, Stanwood. -OK. 607 00:27:25,233 --> 00:27:28,667 But, we come up here because a buddy of mine came here from 608 00:27:28,834 --> 00:27:32,700 work two days ago, skipped out on work and limited out. 609 00:27:32,867 --> 00:27:33,800 -Oh, really? -Yeah. 610 00:27:33,967 --> 00:27:35,767 And then we haven't seen any since. 611 00:27:35,767 --> 00:27:37,100 [man laughing] 612 00:27:37,100 --> 00:27:38,600 They're very fickle here. 613 00:27:38,767 --> 00:27:41,200 That's -- that's kind of the story of this place. 614 00:27:41,367 --> 00:27:44,667 -I mean, they can be -- -[man] Well, I know they move around a little bit, too. 615 00:27:44,667 --> 00:27:47,767 -Yeah. -[man] Unfortunately, we can't move around for a minute or two 616 00:27:47,934 --> 00:27:49,367 until he's, uh, back. 617 00:27:49,533 --> 00:27:52,600 We set the thing up and put it over the top of the holes 618 00:27:52,767 --> 00:27:53,867 and he stepped right in it. 619 00:27:54,033 --> 00:27:55,800 -[man laughing] -[Officer Greenway] Oh, man. 620 00:27:56,700 --> 00:27:58,100 Well, all right. 621 00:27:58,100 --> 00:27:59,567 Are you sure your son's gonna be good? 622 00:27:59,734 --> 00:28:01,166 -[man] Yeah, he's good -Does he -- 623 00:28:01,166 --> 00:28:03,066 -OK, you don't need anything from me? -[man] You can check on him 624 00:28:03,233 --> 00:28:04,400 if you want to. He's in there, but. 625 00:28:04,567 --> 00:28:05,967 -I'm gonna go talk to him. -[man laughing] 626 00:28:06,133 --> 00:28:08,567 -How you doing? -[boy] Good, not feeling well. 627 00:28:08,567 --> 00:28:10,000 -[Officer Greenway] I heard you went swimming, huh? -[boy] Yeah. 628 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:11,533 -[Officer Greenway] You doing alright? -[boy] Yeah. 629 00:28:11,700 --> 00:28:14,467 -[Officer Greenway] You getting warmed up? -[boy] Yeah, getting there. 630 00:28:14,467 --> 00:28:16,467 [Officer Greenway] Yeah, you're steaming. 631 00:28:16,467 --> 00:28:17,667 -All right. -[boy] Yeah. 632 00:28:17,667 --> 00:28:19,000 [Officer Greenway] Yeah, so lesson learned, bring extra 633 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:20,400 pants next time, right? -[boy] Yeah. 634 00:28:20,567 --> 00:28:22,000 [Officer Greenway] Yeah, all right. 635 00:28:22,166 --> 00:28:23,967 [boy] The tarp was like, the bottom of it was over, 636 00:28:24,133 --> 00:28:26,300 and I couldn't see it. -[Officer Greenway] Yeah. 637 00:28:28,767 --> 00:28:30,266 [snowmobile engines revving] 638 00:28:30,433 --> 00:28:31,367 [dog barking] 639 00:28:31,533 --> 00:28:32,600 [woman] [indistinct], come. 640 00:28:32,767 --> 00:28:33,867 Come here. 641 00:28:34,033 --> 00:28:35,000 Come here. 642 00:28:35,867 --> 00:28:37,166 -[dog barking] -Come. 643 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,166 [Officer Greenway] Did you set the tip-up or did you leave it? 644 00:28:40,333 --> 00:28:42,467 -You don't want to use it? -[man 2] Yeah... [inaudible] 645 00:28:42,634 --> 00:28:44,467 See that tip up there? 646 00:28:44,634 --> 00:28:47,166 Um, do you want to put your name and address on that one? 647 00:28:47,333 --> 00:28:49,100 I didn't see it on there. Maybe I missed it. 648 00:28:49,266 --> 00:28:52,166 Oh, no -- it's on that one, right? 649 00:28:52,333 --> 00:28:53,567 -[Officer Greenway] It is on that one, yep. -[man] OK. 650 00:28:53,734 --> 00:28:55,000 [Officer Greenway] I didn't see it on this one. 651 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:02,400 -When did you set that? -Uh, within a half-hour. 652 00:29:02,567 --> 00:29:04,600 I mean, I literally just started setting stuff up. 653 00:29:04,767 --> 00:29:07,367 -OK, it filled up that fast? -A half-hour, 45 minutes ago. 654 00:29:07,367 --> 00:29:08,967 [Officer Greenway inaudible] 655 00:29:09,133 --> 00:29:11,800 I'll get a piece of tape and get it on there. 656 00:29:11,967 --> 00:29:14,100 -It's not on there. -Yeah, it's not, I saw it. 657 00:29:15,367 --> 00:29:17,200 -Thank you, ma'am, I appreciate it. -Yep, you too. 658 00:29:17,367 --> 00:29:19,066 -You have a good one. -You too. 659 00:29:19,233 --> 00:29:21,667 -[man 2] I thought I did, but... -[Officer Greenway] Yeah, you're right here. 660 00:29:21,834 --> 00:29:23,066 -I'm not gonna... -OK. 661 00:29:23,233 --> 00:29:24,667 -Thank you. -I'm not too concerned about it. 662 00:29:24,667 --> 00:29:27,000 I mean, if you were sitting in the house and you guys weren't 663 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:28,867 out here with it, it would be a different story. -Right. 664 00:29:28,867 --> 00:29:31,000 Now, how does that work, as far as, 665 00:29:31,166 --> 00:29:34,000 because you're allowed two lines per person? 666 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:36,266 You're actually allowed three lines per person. 667 00:29:36,266 --> 00:29:38,667 -Oh, OK, no problem. -Sorry about that, let me turn this off. 668 00:29:38,834 --> 00:29:40,467 And that includes the tip-up, though? 669 00:29:40,467 --> 00:29:41,667 -Yes, it includes it. -OK, I thought so. 670 00:29:41,834 --> 00:29:42,667 I just want to make sure. 671 00:29:42,834 --> 00:29:44,166 I thought it was just two lines. 672 00:29:44,166 --> 00:29:46,100 No, so you can have, you could have two tip-ups out, 673 00:29:46,266 --> 00:29:47,634 and you could have a line in your hand. -OK. 674 00:29:47,634 --> 00:29:51,467 -Yep. -And then, as far as the kids go, is it one kid per license, 675 00:29:51,467 --> 00:29:54,166 or like, would my license cover all of them? 676 00:29:54,333 --> 00:29:58,567 Well, anybody under 17 doesn't have to have a fishing license. 677 00:29:58,567 --> 00:30:00,500 -OK, OK. -So, I mean. 678 00:30:00,667 --> 00:30:01,533 I just thought I had to be, 679 00:30:01,533 --> 00:30:03,567 I mean somebody had to be licensed for 680 00:30:03,734 --> 00:30:06,200 them to fish under you I thought that's how that worked, but. 681 00:30:06,367 --> 00:30:08,166 Um, no, it doesn't -- 682 00:30:08,333 --> 00:30:10,266 it doesn't really work necessarily that way. 683 00:30:10,433 --> 00:30:14,200 If you didn't have a license, but you're helping them fish... 684 00:30:14,367 --> 00:30:17,100 -OK as long as I don't have -- -If you're casting and you're 685 00:30:17,266 --> 00:30:21,266 helping, you're baiting, like you're participating a lot, 686 00:30:21,266 --> 00:30:23,500 then you would be required to have a license. -Right. 687 00:30:23,667 --> 00:30:28,367 But if the child under 17 is fishing on their own, 688 00:30:28,367 --> 00:30:31,567 then they're not required to have a license. -OK, good to know 689 00:30:31,734 --> 00:30:33,000 -Yeah, perfect. -Yep. 690 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:36,367 So, your son in there? Right? 691 00:30:36,533 --> 00:30:38,467 -It's her nephew. -Your nephew. 692 00:30:38,467 --> 00:30:40,567 OK, so he can have three lines. 693 00:30:40,734 --> 00:30:42,100 -You can have three lines. -OK. 694 00:30:42,100 --> 00:30:44,367 -And you can have three lines. -We're definitely not gonna do that. 695 00:30:44,367 --> 00:30:46,867 -That's a little too much. -That's a lot to manage, but, you know, legally, 696 00:30:47,033 --> 00:30:48,700 yes, you can do that. -OK, cool. 697 00:31:03,567 --> 00:31:05,867 [narrator] Michigan Conservation Officer Matt Zultak 698 00:31:05,867 --> 00:31:08,266 is assisting CO Jeremy Cantrell 699 00:31:08,433 --> 00:31:10,767 after Officer Cantrell attempted to stop 700 00:31:10,934 --> 00:31:13,600 some snowmobilers, and they didn't stop for him. 701 00:31:13,767 --> 00:31:20,400 I just made contact with 5118, who had -- who was with one of 702 00:31:20,567 --> 00:31:24,266 the subjects, one individual that wasn't the lead trail, 703 00:31:24,266 --> 00:31:26,500 or, the lead snowmobile that ran from him. 704 00:31:26,667 --> 00:31:31,000 He was getting some information from him, and it appears that 705 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:32,166 two more sleds took off. 706 00:31:32,166 --> 00:31:34,767 So right now we have some sleds out checking 707 00:31:34,934 --> 00:31:37,900 the trail system that they were last seen headed to, 708 00:31:38,066 --> 00:31:40,300 and I'm checking some of the main roads 709 00:31:40,467 --> 00:31:42,166 that they might be popping out back on 710 00:31:42,166 --> 00:31:43,600 to get back to their cabin. 711 00:31:49,266 --> 00:31:51,900 If you knew you didn't have this stuff on the sled, 712 00:31:52,066 --> 00:31:53,567 did you tell them that -- did you tell them, 713 00:31:53,734 --> 00:31:56,367 "Hey, I don't have stuff on the sled." 714 00:31:56,533 --> 00:31:57,900 Are they aware of that or not? 715 00:31:58,066 --> 00:32:00,066 -Not my daughter, but my -- -Your son-in-law is? 716 00:32:00,233 --> 00:32:01,367 OK. 717 00:32:01,367 --> 00:32:04,266 And your daughter's probably gonna follow your nephew? 718 00:32:04,433 --> 00:32:05,800 -Yeah. -OK. 719 00:32:05,967 --> 00:32:10,266 So I can go up to the military road and look for him there. 720 00:32:10,433 --> 00:32:11,900 Does -- has he -- well. 721 00:32:12,066 --> 00:32:14,266 Does he have the apps and stuff on his phone that are gonna 722 00:32:14,266 --> 00:32:16,100 show him the trails? -No, I don't think. 723 00:32:16,100 --> 00:32:17,400 I don't even know if they have their phones. 724 00:32:17,567 --> 00:32:19,667 -I don't carry a phone. -OK. 725 00:32:19,834 --> 00:32:21,900 So I don't have a phone. 726 00:32:22,066 --> 00:32:24,367 -But I can go up to -- -You good with him having 727 00:32:24,367 --> 00:32:26,567 to try and get him a call? -[Officer Cantrell] Yeah. 728 00:32:26,567 --> 00:32:29,166 OK, go ahead and try to get a hold of him, OK? 729 00:32:29,333 --> 00:32:31,700 Do you have any firearms inside your cabin? 730 00:32:31,867 --> 00:32:33,133 No, sir, I don't even own a gun. 731 00:32:33,133 --> 00:32:35,266 [Officer Zultak] OK, I'm just, I have to ask for my own safety. 732 00:32:35,266 --> 00:32:36,400 That's just it, man. 733 00:32:36,567 --> 00:32:37,433 You know, he admitted that 734 00:32:37,433 --> 00:32:39,266 he didn't stop because he knew why, so. 735 00:32:39,433 --> 00:32:41,400 [Officer Cantrell] He's not a -- he's not a felon. 736 00:32:41,567 --> 00:32:44,667 -No, makes sense. -I mean, he is, but he's not. 737 00:32:44,667 --> 00:32:46,900 [Officer Zultak] Well, yeah, that's, that's what I was explaining is that, 738 00:32:47,066 --> 00:32:49,266 did you -- you explained it to him that... -Yeah, I said -- 739 00:32:49,266 --> 00:32:51,500 -Once he hit that pavement -- -Oh, I, when I got out, 740 00:32:51,667 --> 00:32:53,300 he got off his sled, I screamed at him. 741 00:32:53,467 --> 00:32:54,634 I said, "Sit back down on your sled. 742 00:32:54,634 --> 00:32:57,200 What's wrong with you? You realize you're a felon now?" 743 00:32:57,367 --> 00:32:59,567 -Yep. -And he started to tear up a little bit, 744 00:32:59,734 --> 00:33:03,000 so I toned it down a minute, sat him in my truck 745 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:04,100 and warmed him up. 746 00:33:05,166 --> 00:33:07,567 -[man] Neither answered. -[Officer Zultak] OK. 747 00:33:07,734 --> 00:33:10,200 [man] But they're not gonna hear it on... 748 00:33:10,367 --> 00:33:11,667 [Officer Zultak] OK. 749 00:33:11,667 --> 00:33:13,367 Are they -- do you think they're just gonna be going out 750 00:33:13,533 --> 00:33:15,166 for a ride then? Or what's -- what's up? 751 00:33:15,166 --> 00:33:16,266 [man] I don't know. 752 00:33:16,266 --> 00:33:18,100 [Officer Zultak] He doesn't know the area at all? 753 00:33:18,100 --> 00:33:21,266 [man] Yeah, he does, I mean, he does some, he just is newer at it. 754 00:33:21,433 --> 00:33:24,266 -[Officer Zultak] OK. -[man] I think this is only the second season. 755 00:33:24,433 --> 00:33:25,567 Neither of them answered. 756 00:33:26,467 --> 00:33:28,166 [Officer Zultak] The issue is this, man. 757 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:32,867 So, as soon as, for something this small, I know he told you, 758 00:33:32,867 --> 00:33:35,200 for something as small as a trail sticker, once they hit 759 00:33:35,367 --> 00:33:38,400 that road and they kept running and they didn't stop, 760 00:33:38,567 --> 00:33:40,266 that's a felony, you know? 761 00:33:40,266 --> 00:33:43,066 And so, of course, you're gonna see officers out here, 762 00:33:43,233 --> 00:33:45,467 because they just committed a felony, you know what I mean? 763 00:33:45,467 --> 00:33:46,700 [man] They didn't know any better and I -- 764 00:33:46,700 --> 00:33:48,567 -I understand that. -[man] I was acting out of stupidity. 765 00:33:48,567 --> 00:33:49,667 I mean, it was just... 766 00:33:49,834 --> 00:33:51,867 the dumbest thing, if you looked at my record, 767 00:33:52,033 --> 00:33:53,266 I've never -- I haven't had a -- 768 00:33:53,266 --> 00:33:54,367 [Officer Zultak] No, I understand. 769 00:33:54,533 --> 00:33:56,200 [man] In 35 years, I haven't, you know? 770 00:33:57,400 --> 00:33:59,367 We just got these up here the other day. 771 00:33:59,367 --> 00:34:00,900 [Officer Zultak] What I'm gonna ask you to do, keep trying 772 00:34:01,066 --> 00:34:02,066 to give 'em a call here, OK? 773 00:34:02,066 --> 00:34:04,767 Because we're not going anywhere until we can, 774 00:34:04,767 --> 00:34:06,967 you know, we got about four trucks trying to look for 775 00:34:07,133 --> 00:34:09,100 'em now. -[man] Can I go up to military or not? 776 00:34:09,266 --> 00:34:11,567 Uh, hang -- I'm gonna let the investigating officer 777 00:34:11,734 --> 00:34:12,767 make that decision here. -[man] OK. 778 00:34:12,934 --> 00:34:14,767 But keep trying to give 'em a call, OK? 779 00:34:14,934 --> 00:34:15,834 Just keep trying. 780 00:34:15,834 --> 00:34:16,800 Because eventually, they're gonna stop. 781 00:34:16,967 --> 00:34:18,567 Because normally when -- when 782 00:34:18,567 --> 00:34:20,700 somebody from your party stops, 783 00:34:20,867 --> 00:34:22,900 and you're on a -- and there's a bunch of you, 784 00:34:23,066 --> 00:34:25,967 normally you stop at the next intersection and wait. -[man] Yeah. 785 00:34:26,133 --> 00:34:27,367 So, are they gonna have kept going? 786 00:34:27,367 --> 00:34:29,266 -Are they gonna stop there? -[man] I don't know. 787 00:34:29,433 --> 00:34:31,166 They may come up off of the lake, too. 788 00:34:31,166 --> 00:34:32,867 -You know, I don't know. -Is that them? 789 00:34:32,867 --> 00:34:33,867 -They're right there. -OK. 790 00:34:34,033 --> 00:34:35,066 -That's them? -Yep. 791 00:34:36,066 --> 00:34:37,166 [man] Here... 792 00:34:39,567 --> 00:34:41,467 [Officer Zultak] You sure that's gonna be them? 793 00:34:54,367 --> 00:34:56,900 [narrator] The Michigan DNR, as well as several 794 00:34:57,066 --> 00:34:59,600 other agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, 795 00:34:59,767 --> 00:35:02,300 are frequently reminding the public to do their part 796 00:35:02,467 --> 00:35:04,066 to prevent forest fires. 797 00:35:04,233 --> 00:35:06,767 Wildfires in the western U.S. are frequently 798 00:35:06,767 --> 00:35:09,000 heavily covered in the media, which is fitting 799 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:12,066 given the scope of the fires and the large areas of land 800 00:35:12,233 --> 00:35:13,400 that have been affected. 801 00:35:13,567 --> 00:35:15,967 Unfortunately, though, wildfires are an issue 802 00:35:16,133 --> 00:35:17,400 throughout the United States. 803 00:35:17,567 --> 00:35:19,900 One of the biggest responses we get when we go out 804 00:35:20,066 --> 00:35:22,500 and suppress a fire is the fact that "I just didn't think it 805 00:35:22,667 --> 00:35:24,567 would move that fast. I didn't think it would escape." 806 00:35:24,567 --> 00:35:27,100 [narrator] Most wildfires are started by humans. 807 00:35:27,100 --> 00:35:31,967 [Eric] Across the country, we found that 90% of the fires 808 00:35:32,133 --> 00:35:35,000 annually have been started by humans. 809 00:35:35,166 --> 00:35:38,200 You know, some of the largest fires out west that are burning 810 00:35:38,367 --> 00:35:42,266 out of control are, some of them are lightning caused, 811 00:35:42,266 --> 00:35:45,367 but 90% of them are human caused. 812 00:35:45,533 --> 00:35:48,100 So that's why we want to hammer home our message 813 00:35:48,100 --> 00:35:50,867 of fire prevention and fire safety. 814 00:35:51,033 --> 00:35:54,367 [narrator] The most well-known campaign to make people cognizant of how 815 00:35:54,367 --> 00:35:57,567 their actions can make a huge impact on natural resources 816 00:35:57,567 --> 00:35:59,266 features Smokey Bear. 817 00:35:59,433 --> 00:36:03,467 Smokey Bear was created in 1944 through a joint effort 818 00:36:03,634 --> 00:36:06,266 by the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council. 819 00:36:06,266 --> 00:36:10,500 Smokey Bear is a iconic symbol for fire prevention 820 00:36:10,667 --> 00:36:12,667 across the United States, 821 00:36:12,834 --> 00:36:16,867 more so in the west, but we're really excited to get 822 00:36:16,867 --> 00:36:18,567 it up here in the Upper Peninsula. 823 00:36:18,734 --> 00:36:21,767 [narrator] At the Upper Peninsula State Fair in northern Michigan, 824 00:36:21,767 --> 00:36:24,400 a huge Smokey Bear hot-air balloon was present 825 00:36:24,567 --> 00:36:26,700 to continue to spread his message. 826 00:36:26,867 --> 00:36:29,266 Smokey is bigger than most hot-air balloons. 827 00:36:29,266 --> 00:36:31,867 [Judy] He's 144,000 cubic feet, 828 00:36:31,867 --> 00:36:34,867 and if you think of a basketball being one cubic foot, 829 00:36:34,867 --> 00:36:39,367 that means 144,000 basketballs could fit inside of Smokey. 830 00:36:39,367 --> 00:36:42,266 The average balloon that people fly around the country is 831 00:36:42,433 --> 00:36:44,867 probably about 77 cubic feet to 90,000, 832 00:36:44,867 --> 00:36:46,800 so you just see how massive he is. 833 00:36:46,967 --> 00:36:51,700 Additionally, the envelope alone weighs about 750 pounds, 834 00:36:51,867 --> 00:36:54,767 compared to the average balloon, 250 pounds or less. 835 00:36:54,767 --> 00:36:57,467 He is just massive and he's impressive. 836 00:36:57,634 --> 00:37:01,266 [narrator] The Smokey Bear balloon is operated by an all-volunteer team 837 00:37:01,266 --> 00:37:03,667 that is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 838 00:37:03,834 --> 00:37:05,900 They travel the country to get Smokey off the ground 839 00:37:06,066 --> 00:37:08,767 and to share important information with the public. 840 00:37:08,767 --> 00:37:10,867 [Judy] A group of former Forest Service employees 841 00:37:11,033 --> 00:37:14,266 got together to begin this nonprofit organization, 842 00:37:14,433 --> 00:37:17,367 and we know that Smokey Bear, the original Smokey Bear, 843 00:37:17,367 --> 00:37:19,400 was found in a forest in New Mexico, 844 00:37:19,567 --> 00:37:22,667 and has become the symbol of fire prevention. 845 00:37:22,834 --> 00:37:25,166 So we take him around to educate not only 846 00:37:25,166 --> 00:37:26,266 kids, but adults. 847 00:37:26,266 --> 00:37:28,600 [narrator] Smokey's message isn't complicated, 848 00:37:28,767 --> 00:37:30,467 but it is important. 849 00:37:30,467 --> 00:37:32,000 [fire whooshing] 850 00:37:32,166 --> 00:37:33,567 [Eric] A lot of times, it's the kids that remind 851 00:37:33,734 --> 00:37:34,600 the parents to be safe. 852 00:37:34,767 --> 00:37:38,000 -He's...a bear. -Bear...that... 853 00:37:38,166 --> 00:37:39,800 And he represents the -- 854 00:37:39,967 --> 00:37:43,100 Need to not have fire in the woods. 855 00:37:43,266 --> 00:37:46,166 The age-old message is, you know, when 856 00:37:46,166 --> 00:37:48,266 you're out camping, you're recreating, 857 00:37:49,166 --> 00:37:51,700 take care of your fires, take care of your campfires, 858 00:37:51,867 --> 00:37:55,467 make sure that, you know, they're out before you leave. 859 00:37:55,634 --> 00:37:59,266 And then when you're in the backyard burning your debris, 860 00:37:59,266 --> 00:38:01,100 make sure you're there watching it. 861 00:38:01,266 --> 00:38:02,567 "Be careful" is the biggest thing. 862 00:38:02,567 --> 00:38:03,634 Just take the precautions, 863 00:38:03,634 --> 00:38:05,700 and always have a bucket of water and a shovel handy. 864 00:38:05,867 --> 00:38:09,000 It just takes a few minutes that you can quickly put out 865 00:38:09,166 --> 00:38:11,166 something that jumps out of a fire and put it out, 866 00:38:11,166 --> 00:38:13,567 so we don't have to show up and help everybody. 867 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:17,100 [narrator] Officers Matt Zultak and Jeremy Cantrell 868 00:38:17,100 --> 00:38:19,367 are working a case where three snowmobilers 869 00:38:19,367 --> 00:38:22,500 didn't stop when CO Cantrell attempted to stop them. 870 00:38:22,667 --> 00:38:24,767 After having some difficulty locating all of them, 871 00:38:24,767 --> 00:38:28,000 the officers now have all of the riders in one place. 872 00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:29,567 What -- what happened, man? 873 00:38:29,734 --> 00:38:33,567 Honestly, I saw my uncle bolt, and I just didn't really know 874 00:38:33,567 --> 00:38:34,600 what was going on. 875 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:37,000 So we just kind of figured we'd just keep riding. 876 00:38:37,166 --> 00:38:38,600 OK. 877 00:38:38,767 --> 00:38:40,567 Did you see him activate his lights and stuff? 878 00:38:40,734 --> 00:38:43,300 -I saw the first -- yes. Yes, I did. -OK. 879 00:38:43,467 --> 00:38:44,867 Why didn't you stop, man? 880 00:38:44,867 --> 00:38:47,166 Well, you know, that is my uncle. 881 00:38:47,166 --> 00:38:49,600 I respect him a lot, and I didn't really understand. 882 00:38:49,767 --> 00:38:51,500 You know, he's not a bad guy, 883 00:38:51,667 --> 00:38:54,500 neither are we, and we messed up, so. 884 00:38:54,667 --> 00:38:56,300 OK, what's the issue with your sled? 885 00:38:56,467 --> 00:38:57,767 Why did you guys want to keep going? 886 00:38:57,934 --> 00:38:59,467 Do you not have stuff? 887 00:38:59,467 --> 00:39:03,266 I know -- I know that I don't have -- my insurance expire, 888 00:39:03,266 --> 00:39:05,266 expired in September 2018. 889 00:39:05,433 --> 00:39:07,100 Oh, your registration, did you mean? 890 00:39:07,266 --> 00:39:09,266 -Your insurance or what? -Yes, yes, sir. 891 00:39:09,266 --> 00:39:12,500 -You wanted my registration. -Do you have a snow sticker? 892 00:39:12,667 --> 00:39:13,567 Yes, I do, but that's -- 893 00:39:13,734 --> 00:39:15,300 I believe that's out of date as well. 894 00:39:15,467 --> 00:39:16,400 Gonna be collecting it from you. 895 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:18,166 He's gonna give you a receipt for that OK? 896 00:39:18,166 --> 00:39:19,967 And so I'm not gonna take any of that. 897 00:39:20,133 --> 00:39:21,200 I can't even touch that money. 898 00:39:21,200 --> 00:39:23,266 He's the one who's gonna be dealing with all that, 899 00:39:23,266 --> 00:39:25,600 just because he's the one that's gonna give you that receipt. 900 00:39:25,767 --> 00:39:27,166 [narrator] Since one of the snowmobilers 901 00:39:27,333 --> 00:39:29,600 is from out of state, they must collect bond from him 902 00:39:29,767 --> 00:39:31,066 to avoid taking him to jail. 903 00:39:31,233 --> 00:39:34,900 This is gonna actually come off your fine. 904 00:39:35,066 --> 00:39:37,767 So whatever your fine ends up being is gonna be minus 905 00:39:37,767 --> 00:39:38,900 50 bucks. -OK. 906 00:39:39,066 --> 00:39:40,467 All right? But this is just to ensure 907 00:39:40,467 --> 00:39:42,567 that you take care of it. -Yes, sir. 908 00:39:42,734 --> 00:39:43,967 Alright, which I have no doubt that you will. 909 00:39:44,133 --> 00:39:46,000 I'm not gonna tie you guys up with any felonies. 910 00:39:46,166 --> 00:39:48,266 So I'm gonna do the same thing that I did with your uncle. 911 00:39:48,266 --> 00:39:50,900 All right? I'm gonna write you a misdemeanor charge 912 00:39:51,066 --> 00:39:53,300 to fail to stop for an officer. All right? 913 00:39:53,467 --> 00:39:55,767 I'm gonna cut you a warning on all the other stuff that 914 00:39:55,934 --> 00:39:57,667 you have wrong with your sled, your trail permit, 915 00:39:57,667 --> 00:40:00,500 your registration, and so on and so forth, OK? -[man 2] Yes, sir. 916 00:40:00,667 --> 00:40:03,500 [narrator] In this case, the man was charged with a misdemeanor for 917 00:40:03,667 --> 00:40:06,166 failing to stop for an officer, but pled responsible for 918 00:40:06,166 --> 00:40:08,767 a civil infraction of failing to bring his snowmobile to 919 00:40:08,767 --> 00:40:11,000 a stop before entering a roadway and paid 920 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:13,467 a court-ordered fine of $240. 921 00:40:13,467 --> 00:40:16,300 His nephew pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of 922 00:40:16,467 --> 00:40:18,867 failing to stop on the command of a peace officer 923 00:40:18,867 --> 00:40:22,467 and paid a court-ordered fine of $225. 924 00:40:22,467 --> 00:40:24,667 [Officer Cantrell] We wrote him for failure to stop for an officer, 925 00:40:24,667 --> 00:40:27,200 him and his nephew, and then we gave them 926 00:40:27,367 --> 00:40:29,367 verbal warnings on the trail permits and the registration. 927 00:40:29,367 --> 00:40:31,767 There are two misdemeanor charges, 928 00:40:31,767 --> 00:40:33,266 a set of felony charges. 929 00:40:33,266 --> 00:40:37,300 They were good people, it was an honest mistake, so we didn't 930 00:40:37,467 --> 00:40:38,700 want to jam them up with felonies. 931 00:40:38,867 --> 00:40:40,867 Moral of the story is, 932 00:40:41,033 --> 00:40:42,700 "Don't run from the game warden." 932 00:40:43,305 --> 00:41:43,180 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm