"Wardens of the North" The Buck Stops Here

1 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:10,400 We have an untagged deer hanging there. 2 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:12,760 There's three plates I'm gonna run to see. 3 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,060 These two both had the loaded guns. 4 00:00:15,230 --> 00:00:16,200 We're gonna take the deer with us. 5 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:19,160 You're done hunting for the year, too. 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:21,900 -You can't drive a dirt bike? -No, nothing. 7 00:00:22,060 --> 00:00:24,100 Oh, no. Don't tell me that. 8 00:00:25,060 --> 00:00:26,960 This guy's got a fish on, I think. 9 00:00:27,130 --> 00:00:29,960 Tonight at midnight is the walleye opener. 10 00:00:30,130 --> 00:00:32,500 You know what the limit is out here, size? 11 00:00:32,660 --> 00:00:33,800 -13? -15. 12 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:36,660 -[hunter #1] 10, 11. -[hunter #2] We're one over. 13 00:00:36,660 --> 00:00:38,560 [officer] What would you do if you were in my shoes? 14 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:39,700 [Narrator] Wild animals... 15 00:00:40,700 --> 00:00:43,360 and wild places -- they're more than a picture, 16 00:00:43,530 --> 00:00:47,560 They're inspiration, excitement, and adventure. 17 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,260 Patrolling and protecting these natural resources 18 00:00:50,430 --> 00:00:53,700 is a first-class band of peace officers. 19 00:00:53,860 --> 00:00:58,000 These are the wardens, dedicated to the preservation 20 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,100 of our great outdoors. 21 00:01:00,100 --> 00:01:02,660 [theme music plays] 22 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:10,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 23 00:01:22,300 --> 00:01:26,660 The firearm deer season in Michigan is just 16 days long, 24 00:01:26,660 --> 00:01:31,300 but over 1.2 million licenses were sold in 2016, putting it 25 00:01:31,460 --> 00:01:34,000 near the top of all states across the country. 26 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,100 About 5% of those licenses are sold in the Upper Peninsula. 27 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:42,400 In the southern section of District 1... 28 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,860 Conservation Officer Brian Bacon gets a call 29 00:01:46,860 --> 00:01:50,060 to assist on a stop with an illegally tagged deer. 30 00:01:50,230 --> 00:01:52,400 [Bacon] Sounds like they came across a deer that was 31 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:59,160 in a truck and had her tag, a female's tag on it. 32 00:01:59,330 --> 00:02:04,900 And talking to them, they finally got the male, 33 00:02:05,060 --> 00:02:07,460 shot it, and just put the female's tag on it. 34 00:02:07,630 --> 00:02:10,560 This hunter shot a young buck and put his girlfriend's tag 35 00:02:10,730 --> 00:02:13,260 on it so he could keep hunting. -[Pomroy] So what happened? 36 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,900 Obviously, they already know, but just saw a nice deer, and... 37 00:02:24,100 --> 00:02:25,700 I had asked them if they had gotten a deer yet. 38 00:02:25,860 --> 00:02:26,760 They said no. 39 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:28,800 Anybody in the group get a deer? "No." 40 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,000 We pull ahead and there's a deer in the back. 41 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,100 So they just told me that nobody they knew had a deer 42 00:02:34,260 --> 00:02:35,960 and there's one in the back of their truck. 43 00:02:36,130 --> 00:02:39,200 So we went from there, and Jared looked at the tag, and the tag 44 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,960 was just bought a couple hours ago by their girlfriend 45 00:02:43,130 --> 00:02:44,400 who's not with them, so we just started 46 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:46,300 asking questions from there. 47 00:02:46,460 --> 00:02:48,500 Girlfriend didn't have anything to do with it except for 48 00:02:48,660 --> 00:02:50,800 ran quick while she was working to buy a license, 49 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:52,260 gave it to him. 50 00:02:52,430 --> 00:02:54,100 He went back out and put his girlfriend's license 51 00:02:54,260 --> 00:02:55,800 on the deer that he shot. 52 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,500 He's issued a ticket for using someone else's tag. 53 00:02:58,660 --> 00:03:01,560 His rifle, his unused deer tag, and the deer itself 54 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:03,560 are all confiscated. 55 00:03:03,730 --> 00:03:04,600 We're gonna take the deer with us. 56 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,160 You're done hunting for the year, too. 57 00:03:08,330 --> 00:03:11,500 So the tag is ours as well. All right? 58 00:03:11,660 --> 00:03:14,160 His girlfriend was also ticketed for loaning her tag 59 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:18,600 to someone else. They each paid fines of $285. 60 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,460 [upbeat music plays] 61 00:03:23,900 --> 00:03:26,160 Officers in the UP spend a lot of time 62 00:03:26,330 --> 00:03:28,600 investigating illegal blinds. 63 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:30,660 OK, they've picked up some of the garbage. 64 00:03:30,830 --> 00:03:32,900 It looks cleaner than it has in a long time. 65 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:35,660 But there's still... 66 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:38,860 well, they threw most of it over the hill now. 67 00:03:39,860 --> 00:03:42,000 So it is still an active hunting location. 68 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:43,600 I just have to catch them when they're out here. 69 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:46,160 As they're obviously still baiting it, 70 00:03:46,330 --> 00:03:47,700 this corn wouldn't last. 71 00:03:48,660 --> 00:03:50,660 With all the other animals out here, something would eat it, 72 00:03:50,660 --> 00:03:52,600 but I'm sure there's deer coming in here. 73 00:03:54,460 --> 00:03:55,600 Hello, is anybody inside? 74 00:03:58,060 --> 00:03:59,160 Hello? 75 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:06,700 Nobody here again. 76 00:04:08,260 --> 00:04:09,560 OK, well, there's nobody here. 77 00:04:09,730 --> 00:04:11,960 This is the second time we've checked it and it's empty, so... 78 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,560 I'll keep it on the list and continue to check it. 79 00:04:15,730 --> 00:04:19,100 While out checking a couple of spots, CO Mark Leadman 80 00:04:19,260 --> 00:04:21,960 comes across a hunting camp with an untagged deer 81 00:04:22,130 --> 00:04:23,360 hanging out back. 82 00:04:23,530 --> 00:04:25,460 [suspenseful music plays] 83 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:28,260 There's nobody there. 84 00:04:29,660 --> 00:04:31,500 So we have an untagged deer hanging there. 85 00:04:31,660 --> 00:04:33,800 There's three plates I'm gonna run to see -- 86 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:37,760 one from Michigan and two from Wisconsin. 87 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,700 With about an hour until sundown, Officer Leadman 88 00:04:40,860 --> 00:04:42,900 decides to pull off to the side of the cabin 89 00:04:43,060 --> 00:04:44,960 and wait for the hunters to return to camp. 90 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,360 After dark, an ORV drives in. 91 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:51,360 -[Leadman] Hello, how you doing? -[hunter] Good, yourself? 92 00:04:51,530 --> 00:04:54,160 Pretty good. Pretty good, any luck tonight? 93 00:04:54,330 --> 00:04:56,100 -[hunter] No. -[Leadman] No, OK. 94 00:04:56,260 --> 00:04:57,700 -[Leadman] Somebody got lucky? -[hunter] Yep. 95 00:04:57,860 --> 00:04:59,000 -[Leadman] Whose is that? -[hunter] My son's. 96 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:00,700 [Leadman] Your son's? OK. 97 00:05:00,860 --> 00:05:02,700 Awesome. OK. 98 00:05:02,860 --> 00:05:03,860 Is the gun unloaded? 99 00:05:06,100 --> 00:05:07,600 No? OK. It's not? 100 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,060 Just leave it set right there. That's fine. 101 00:05:10,230 --> 00:05:12,000 That's fine. So, your son's still out? 102 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:13,660 Is he on a four-wheeler or is he walking? 103 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:16,060 They're still out on a four-wheeler? 104 00:05:16,230 --> 00:05:18,360 -[hunter] Yep. -[Leadman] OK, is there somebody with him then? 105 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:20,900 -[hunter] [indistinct] -[Leadman] Right, OK. 106 00:05:21,060 --> 00:05:22,160 He's the only other person out hunting? 107 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,760 -[hunter] Nope, my sister. -[Leadman] OK. 108 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:27,360 -[hunter] And my nephew. -[Leadman] OK. 109 00:05:27,530 --> 00:05:29,260 [Leadman] So you got three more people up from camp? 110 00:05:29,260 --> 00:05:30,260 -[hunter] Yep. -[Leadman] OK. 111 00:05:30,260 --> 00:05:32,560 They go inside to look for a hunting license, 112 00:05:32,730 --> 00:05:35,600 and then a second ORV drives into camp. 113 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,360 This driver also has a loaded rifle in the vehicle. 114 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,160 [Leadman] Is this your son then, or is this one of the others? 115 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,700 Oh, OK. OK. 116 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:46,660 -[Leadman] Hello. -[sister] Hi. 117 00:05:46,660 --> 00:05:48,860 -[Leadman] State conservation officer. -[sister] Hi. 118 00:05:48,860 --> 00:05:51,060 [Leadman] Just checking real quick. Is your gun unloaded in there? 119 00:05:51,230 --> 00:05:54,300 It's not? OK. 120 00:05:54,460 --> 00:05:55,500 Do you have a license with you? 121 00:05:55,500 --> 00:05:57,560 Do you want to make sure that's in park, though? 122 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,560 Do you have a parking brake? Yeah, you might want to... 123 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:03,100 make sure it doesn't roll anymore. 124 00:06:04,060 --> 00:06:06,660 Two more officers arrive at the scene as they wait for 125 00:06:06,830 --> 00:06:09,300 two more hunters to come in from the field. 126 00:06:09,460 --> 00:06:12,160 Conservation Officer Mark Leadman is updating fellow 127 00:06:12,330 --> 00:06:15,700 officers Pete Wright and Brett DeLonge on what he's found, 128 00:06:15,860 --> 00:06:19,460 an untagged deer and so far two hunters driving ORVs 129 00:06:19,630 --> 00:06:20,930 with loaded rifles. 130 00:06:20,930 --> 00:06:24,060 [Leadman] And what did this turn out to be, a six maybe or five? 131 00:06:24,230 --> 00:06:26,400 [sister] Probably a five or four. 132 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:27,800 [Leadman] It's hard to say what you would count. 133 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:32,800 They're not really even top one inch points, but it's yeah. 134 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:35,700 [Leadman] A true four, a true four, yeah. 135 00:06:35,860 --> 00:06:37,100 The other two hunters 136 00:06:37,100 --> 00:06:40,160 eventually made their way back to camp, one with a coyote 137 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:41,360 and a loaded gun. 138 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,760 Michigan has a year-round coyote season 139 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:45,660 Did you see any deer at all, or...? 140 00:06:45,830 --> 00:06:47,160 I seen one spike horn, and that was it. 141 00:06:47,330 --> 00:06:48,300 One spike, huh? 142 00:06:48,460 --> 00:06:49,900 [indistinct]...yeah. 143 00:06:50,060 --> 00:06:53,360 The fourth driver to come in also has a loaded rifle. 144 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,200 He's the one who shot the untagged deer 145 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:57,460 -[Leadman] How you doing, sir? -Good. 146 00:06:57,630 --> 00:06:59,260 -[Leadman] Good. -And he did not by a license. 147 00:06:59,430 --> 00:07:02,300 All four hunters were on ORVs. 148 00:07:02,460 --> 00:07:04,560 Each one of them still had a loaded rifle with them 149 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:05,960 when they came in. 150 00:07:06,130 --> 00:07:10,500 So we dealt with the loaded guns and started questioning 151 00:07:10,660 --> 00:07:12,560 about who shot the deer that was hanging there 152 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:14,060 without a tag. 153 00:07:14,230 --> 00:07:16,700 And we were able to get through the information there 154 00:07:16,860 --> 00:07:19,300 and find out it was the one individual at camp that 155 00:07:19,460 --> 00:07:20,960 did not have a deer license. 156 00:07:21,130 --> 00:07:24,100 He was going to use one of his father's tags to put on 157 00:07:24,100 --> 00:07:26,400 the deer, but they hadn't done that yet. 158 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,460 So we were able to get there before they 159 00:07:29,460 --> 00:07:31,260 put an illegal tag on it. 160 00:07:31,260 --> 00:07:32,600 I know you said you don't have a hunting license, 161 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,260 but do you have any Michigan licenses at all? 162 00:07:35,260 --> 00:07:37,360 [suspenseful music plays] 163 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:43,860 [son] This is my Michigan license from last year. 164 00:07:43,860 --> 00:07:45,060 [Leadman] From last year, OK. 165 00:07:45,230 --> 00:07:48,060 Yep, and this one you want to keep, yep. 166 00:07:48,230 --> 00:07:51,060 And then, of course, this is no good, that's from... 167 00:07:51,230 --> 00:07:53,160 This was my father, we were gonna get the combo. 168 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,160 -And that's what he said. -And we went online. 169 00:07:55,330 --> 00:07:58,700 -Yep. -So he had that information, that's what it is. 170 00:07:58,860 --> 00:08:01,260 Did you have anything for this year, for 2016? 171 00:08:01,260 --> 00:08:03,560 -I do not. -So no base or anything? 172 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:04,900 -I do not, no. -OK. 173 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:10,060 When did you shoot the deer, roughly? 174 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:16,700 About 5:15? 175 00:08:20,860 --> 00:08:22,100 On November 15th. 176 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:26,460 OK, with the same firearm here? 177 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:31,300 OK, been around for a while. 178 00:08:31,460 --> 00:08:32,700 That's cool. 179 00:08:32,860 --> 00:08:33,800 Yeah, it looks... 180 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:37,160 like it's got some history to it, so... 181 00:08:38,100 --> 00:08:41,660 CO Leadman documents the gun used to shoot the deer. 182 00:08:41,830 --> 00:08:44,260 The first three drivers are given tickets for transporting 183 00:08:44,430 --> 00:08:48,800 a loaded firearm in their ORV and fined $200 each. 184 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,700 The hunter who shot the deer and didn't tag it is ticketed 185 00:08:51,860 --> 00:08:54,100 for taking a deer without a license. 186 00:08:54,100 --> 00:08:55,460 It's listed on here. 187 00:08:55,630 --> 00:08:58,500 We seized your gun for now and your deer, so they're both 188 00:08:58,660 --> 00:08:59,700 listed on the front. 189 00:08:59,700 --> 00:09:02,600 He was going to tag it with his father's license, 190 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:05,260 and they didn't even bother to put that one on there. 191 00:09:05,260 --> 00:09:08,500 The deer was shot yesterday at about 5:15 PM, 192 00:09:08,660 --> 00:09:11,360 and here we are after dark on day two, 193 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:12,700 and there's still no tag on it. 194 00:09:12,860 --> 00:09:16,300 So, that's the story we got out of them. 195 00:09:16,460 --> 00:09:19,160 So, we're gonna seize the deer and the rifle, 196 00:09:19,330 --> 00:09:22,260 and I issued everybody a ticket for the loaded firearms. 197 00:09:23,500 --> 00:09:25,800 And I think they'll get away without posting bond 198 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,160 because of the Wildlife Violators Compact. 199 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:31,900 The Wildlife Violators Compact allows out-of-state violators 200 00:09:32,060 --> 00:09:34,100 to accept their ticket and continue on 201 00:09:34,260 --> 00:09:36,000 without posting bond. 202 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,300 Before the compact, out-of-state violators would 203 00:09:38,460 --> 00:09:41,360 have been subject to cash bond before leaving in order to 204 00:09:41,530 --> 00:09:43,360 guarantee their return for court. 205 00:09:43,530 --> 00:09:47,060 The seized deer is donated to a needy family in the area. 206 00:09:47,230 --> 00:09:49,460 [Leadman] And we can just sign the deer over to them and they can 207 00:09:49,630 --> 00:09:52,200 process it and butcher it themselves and utilize it. 208 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:55,160 We don't want the deer to go to waste, so for evidence purposes, 209 00:09:55,330 --> 00:09:57,660 a few photographs will be all we need. 210 00:09:57,830 --> 00:10:00,460 We'll keep the head of the animal, and that'll be 211 00:10:00,630 --> 00:10:01,930 all we need for evidence. 212 00:10:01,930 --> 00:10:05,760 The hunter must pay $2,000 in restitution for the antler deer 213 00:10:05,930 --> 00:10:10,160 and an additional $1,000 in fines for a total of $3,000. 214 00:10:10,330 --> 00:10:12,100 It's pretty pricey. It's a lot cheaper 215 00:10:12,260 --> 00:10:13,860 to buy a license than it is to shoot one 216 00:10:13,860 --> 00:10:17,660 and then try to tag it some way illegally after the fact. 217 00:10:25,900 --> 00:10:29,200 Michigan has more than 60 deer check stations located 218 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:30,630 throughout the state. 219 00:10:30,630 --> 00:10:34,260 DNR biologists get information from hunters who voluntarily 220 00:10:34,430 --> 00:10:35,660 bring their deer in. 221 00:10:35,660 --> 00:10:38,900 They check the age, weight, number of points, and more. 222 00:10:39,060 --> 00:10:41,060 This information is used to judge the health of 223 00:10:41,230 --> 00:10:42,460 the deer herd. 224 00:10:42,460 --> 00:10:46,260 In 2016, almost 27,000 deer were checked in, which gives 225 00:10:46,260 --> 00:10:49,160 biologists like Brian Roll of the Marquette Field Office 226 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:51,560 plenty of chances to hone his weight-guessing skills. 227 00:10:57,300 --> 00:10:58,360 [man] Yeah. 228 00:10:58,360 --> 00:10:59,760 It might be heavier. 229 00:11:00,660 --> 00:11:02,460 He's thicker, but he's not long. 230 00:11:02,460 --> 00:11:05,660 [man] Right, no, it's not the biggest body, but he's solid, 231 00:11:05,660 --> 00:11:07,630 and he's got a nice neck on him. 232 00:11:10,100 --> 00:11:11,060 [man] Oh, boy. 233 00:11:11,230 --> 00:11:13,760 [chuckling] 234 00:11:13,930 --> 00:11:16,100 That was about right on. 235 00:11:17,700 --> 00:11:20,300 [Brian] I was point two pounds off. 236 00:11:25,860 --> 00:11:29,460 In District 1, CO Brian Bacon is patrolling near the end of 237 00:11:29,630 --> 00:11:32,560 shooting hours on the first Sunday of deer season. 238 00:11:32,560 --> 00:11:34,560 On a bumpy dirt road, he comes across 239 00:11:34,560 --> 00:11:36,000 two dirt bike riders. 240 00:11:39,060 --> 00:11:40,260 [Bacon] Hey, guys. 241 00:11:40,430 --> 00:11:41,430 [indistinct greetings] 242 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:44,100 Not too bad. Where are you guys coming from? 243 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:47,860 -OK. -In Michigan, 244 00:11:47,860 --> 00:11:50,260 ORV riders must obey quiet hours 245 00:11:50,260 --> 00:11:52,360 during firearm deer season. 246 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,360 That means no riding between 7 AM and 11 AM 247 00:11:55,530 --> 00:11:58,860 and between 2 PM and 5 PM on any public grounds. 248 00:11:58,860 --> 00:12:01,260 [Bacon] You can't be riding them from 2 to 5 during hunting season. 249 00:12:01,430 --> 00:12:04,300 That's an area that's open to public hunting. 250 00:12:04,460 --> 00:12:06,260 OK, do you have a couple IDs on you? 251 00:12:08,500 --> 00:12:09,600 OK. 252 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:11,300 One of the bikes isn't registered in Michigan, 253 00:12:11,460 --> 00:12:14,400 and one of the drivers has a suspended license. 254 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:16,260 [Bacon] Is everything valid on your driver's license or is it 255 00:12:16,260 --> 00:12:17,560 gonna come back suspended? 256 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:24,460 OK. All right. 257 00:12:24,460 --> 00:12:27,200 So the same difference is for these. 258 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:30,500 It's a motorized vehicle on a roadway, OK? 259 00:12:31,660 --> 00:12:33,400 No. Nothing. 260 00:12:35,660 --> 00:12:37,660 [Bacon] How many times have you been...? 261 00:12:41,700 --> 00:12:42,800 Yeah. 262 00:12:46,660 --> 00:12:47,760 OK. 263 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:53,630 Yeah, well... 264 00:12:56,100 --> 00:12:58,000 [Bacon] OK. Just hang on a second, OK? 265 00:12:59,460 --> 00:13:02,060 In the summer, the Michigan DNR offers 266 00:13:02,230 --> 00:13:05,600 an Academy of Natural Resources to educators. 267 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:07,700 There's two things in the bushes, one right by 268 00:13:07,860 --> 00:13:09,860 the turkey and then there's one farther up. 269 00:13:09,860 --> 00:13:12,860 Teachers spend a week at the Ralph A. McMullen Center 270 00:13:12,860 --> 00:13:15,800 learning skills related to the DNR that may help with 271 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:18,300 lesson plans and class curriculum. 272 00:13:18,460 --> 00:13:20,560 [Koss] It'll be just another, you know, 273 00:13:20,730 --> 00:13:24,100 step in my teaching of teaching about nature 274 00:13:24,260 --> 00:13:27,560 and taking care of our wilderness. 275 00:13:27,560 --> 00:13:30,160 There are many programs offered, including forestry, 276 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:33,000 fisheries, water quality, and forensics. 277 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,760 [Payne] We're giving them skills in the morning of 278 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:40,960 interview techniques, to be able to collect evidence, 279 00:13:41,130 --> 00:13:43,760 and then observation techniques, and those skills 280 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,560 will be put to use in the afternoon where we'll have 281 00:13:47,560 --> 00:13:50,960 put them through some scenarios and try to give them 282 00:13:51,130 --> 00:13:53,760 some real-life experience as a Michigan Conservation Officer 283 00:13:53,930 --> 00:13:56,900 and kind of the things that we see on a daily basis 284 00:13:57,060 --> 00:14:01,060 and just better educate them on our position and what we do. 285 00:14:01,230 --> 00:14:04,360 Education is one of the DNR's top priorities. 286 00:14:04,530 --> 00:14:06,900 Making students aware of the work they do could get them 287 00:14:07,060 --> 00:14:09,560 interested in careers with the department as well. 288 00:14:09,730 --> 00:14:13,000 I think it's important for kids to learn so much more about 289 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:15,100 the DNR and what they do. 290 00:14:15,260 --> 00:14:19,000 Seeing conservation officers really ties together 291 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,160 what the DNR does and what they could possibly do 292 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:23,660 with their future as well. 293 00:14:23,830 --> 00:14:27,100 The week-long academy tries to give teachers ideas on 294 00:14:27,100 --> 00:14:28,900 how to make learning fun. 295 00:14:29,060 --> 00:14:32,460 My favorite part, which I think could apply to a classroom, 296 00:14:32,460 --> 00:14:35,000 was the crime scene investigation. 297 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:36,860 Teaching them to look in different directions 298 00:14:36,860 --> 00:14:38,300 but use the sun in your favor. 299 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:42,600 [Good] Something you could take into the classroom would be maybe 300 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:44,860 a mock investigation where the students could use 301 00:14:45,030 --> 00:14:47,560 their investigation skills to track down 302 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:49,560 the same type of situation. 303 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:52,660 It's an exciting job, it's very rewarding, 304 00:14:52,830 --> 00:14:56,860 and express that to them, and maybe they can take that 305 00:14:57,030 --> 00:14:58,000 back to their communities. 306 00:15:06,260 --> 00:15:08,560 [Bacon] It's a motorized vehicle, on a roadway, OK? 307 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:11,030 Nope, nothing. 308 00:15:13,500 --> 00:15:16,260 Michigan Conservation Officer Brian Bacon pulled over 309 00:15:16,260 --> 00:15:18,760 these two dirt bikes for driving on public land 310 00:15:18,930 --> 00:15:20,860 during the firearm deer season. 311 00:15:20,860 --> 00:15:23,360 One of the drivers has a suspended driver's license 312 00:15:23,530 --> 00:15:26,000 and didn't realize that included ORVs. 313 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:30,760 So right now the restriction time's from 2 to 5 PM 314 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:32,700 for hunting season. 315 00:15:32,860 --> 00:15:34,660 It restricts ATVs from being used on... 316 00:15:34,660 --> 00:15:36,260 [indistinct radio chatter] 317 00:15:36,430 --> 00:15:41,160 ...public roads where it's open to public hunting 318 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:42,860 due to the fact they're so loud, 319 00:15:43,030 --> 00:15:45,060 like these two where you can 320 00:15:45,230 --> 00:15:46,660 hear them coming off the trail. 321 00:15:46,660 --> 00:15:48,360 He's given a warning for driving with 322 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:49,760 a suspended license. 323 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:54,060 Both are ticketed for operating their ORVs during a closed period, 324 00:15:54,230 --> 00:15:57,760 which is a civil infraction and a $175 fine. 325 00:15:59,100 --> 00:16:01,960 To avoid further trouble, both opt to push their bikes 326 00:16:02,130 --> 00:16:03,100 the rest of the way home. 327 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:09,030 In Michigan's District 1... 328 00:16:11,460 --> 00:16:15,300 CO Mark Leadman is checking on a blind on state land. 329 00:16:15,460 --> 00:16:18,260 A grandfather has returned to the woods after not hunting 330 00:16:18,430 --> 00:16:21,500 for 40 years in an effort to get his grandson involved. 331 00:16:21,660 --> 00:16:22,860 There's just one problem. 332 00:16:22,860 --> 00:16:25,300 The grandson forgot to bring his license out with him. 333 00:16:25,460 --> 00:16:28,100 Find your license to bring it, because if you shoot the deer, 334 00:16:28,260 --> 00:16:30,460 you have to tag it with your tag, 335 00:16:30,460 --> 00:16:33,000 and if grandpa shoots it, he uses his tag. 336 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:35,800 So you need your license with you and your hunter safety card 337 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:37,160 with you. Carry that. 338 00:16:37,330 --> 00:16:39,260 You didn't know where that's at still? 339 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:44,600 [Leadman] Did you show it when you bought your license? 340 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:45,960 Did they make you show it? Good, perfect. 341 00:16:46,130 --> 00:16:48,360 They're supposed to, but a lot of places don't. 342 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,160 So just bring your sports card then and your license 343 00:16:51,330 --> 00:16:53,060 and you'll be good. 344 00:16:53,230 --> 00:16:54,160 Great to see you out here. 345 00:16:54,330 --> 00:16:55,700 So I'm gonna give you warnings 346 00:16:55,860 --> 00:16:57,800 on that stuff today. You don't need a ticket. 347 00:16:57,960 --> 00:16:59,200 I like what you're doing, 348 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:01,260 and if you haven't hunted in that many years and you're 349 00:17:01,260 --> 00:17:04,100 doing it to show him, that's what we want to see. 350 00:17:08,460 --> 00:17:10,560 [chuckling] 351 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:17,160 You know how good you can hear? Multiply that by 200. 352 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:18,760 -200? -A lot. 353 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:20,860 I mean, deer can hear anything. 354 00:17:21,030 --> 00:17:23,360 If you wrinkle one wrapper and it's quiet out, 355 00:17:23,360 --> 00:17:24,530 they're gonna hear it. If it's windy, 356 00:17:24,530 --> 00:17:27,560 you get away with some things, but if it's a still night, 357 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:30,560 you cannot cough, you cannot rustle your feet 358 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:32,800 against the leaves, you cannot touch the side of 359 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:36,000 the blind, you can't bump your gun against the rest 360 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:37,500 when you go to set it on there. 361 00:17:37,660 --> 00:17:39,360 any of that will scare a deer away. 362 00:17:39,360 --> 00:17:42,100 They can hear fantastic, and they can see good, too, 363 00:17:42,260 --> 00:17:43,500 so they see movement. 364 00:17:43,660 --> 00:17:46,160 So you have to be quiet and sit still. 365 00:17:46,330 --> 00:17:47,300 It's hard to do. 366 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:50,660 [Leadman] No, let the deer come into view. 367 00:17:50,660 --> 00:17:52,860 Don't stick your head out looking for them. 368 00:17:53,030 --> 00:17:55,360 They will see you way before you see them. 369 00:17:55,360 --> 00:17:58,560 You just have to be patient, OK? 370 00:17:58,730 --> 00:17:59,900 And listen, he knows how to hunt. 371 00:18:05,500 --> 00:18:06,860 Back with CO Bacon, 372 00:18:06,860 --> 00:18:09,060 as the dirt bike drivers walk home, 373 00:18:09,230 --> 00:18:11,860 he encounters a hunter coming out of the field who had heard 374 00:18:11,860 --> 00:18:13,500 the noise from the dirt bikes. 375 00:18:13,660 --> 00:18:15,000 Yeah, I heard you guys from the road. 376 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:16,700 Yeah, I'm sure. 377 00:18:16,860 --> 00:18:19,160 Yeah, these guys were ripping around on their bikes 378 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:20,200 during that quiet period. 379 00:18:20,360 --> 00:18:21,760 Nobody really wants to listen to that all day 380 00:18:21,930 --> 00:18:23,460 when they're sitting. 381 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:28,700 This hunter shot an eight-point buck during archery season 382 00:18:28,860 --> 00:18:31,860 near the exact same spot. But when CO Bacon 383 00:18:31,860 --> 00:18:35,660 checks his licenses, he still has all of his tags. 384 00:18:35,830 --> 00:18:37,000 [Bacon] What date did you shoot your... 385 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:40,260 eight-pointer on? 386 00:18:40,430 --> 00:18:43,200 Oh, yeah, so, I actually lost my tags. 387 00:18:43,360 --> 00:18:47,400 That one tag isn't valid because I had to get new tags. 388 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:51,660 -[Bacon] Why'd you get new tags? -I lost the other ones. 389 00:18:51,830 --> 00:18:53,960 [Bacon] OK, so just a regular... 390 00:18:56,300 --> 00:18:59,260 license check on a subject walking out of the woods, 391 00:18:59,260 --> 00:19:04,660 and during interviewing him, he said he shot an eight-pointer 392 00:19:04,830 --> 00:19:07,000 during bow season, and when he handed me his tags, 393 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:08,200 he still got all his tags. 394 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:12,360 And his story is that he lost his other tags 395 00:19:12,360 --> 00:19:13,660 and got replacement tags 396 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:17,160 for them. So I need to... 397 00:19:18,260 --> 00:19:19,560 just verify that he did. 398 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:25,560 [on phone] First purchased his combo tags 399 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:30,260 August 11th, 2016. 400 00:19:30,260 --> 00:19:33,000 He then purchased... 401 00:19:34,100 --> 00:19:38,300 a replacement November 2nd, 2016. 402 00:19:38,460 --> 00:19:39,860 Looks like he also has 403 00:19:40,030 --> 00:19:42,600 an antlerless deer license purchased. 404 00:19:44,300 --> 00:19:46,000 The hunter's story checks out. 405 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,360 Officer Bacon takes the appropriate tag that was 406 00:19:48,360 --> 00:19:52,000 already used and wishes him luck during the firearm season. 407 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,660 [Bacon] There's these back for you, and I'll destroy 408 00:19:54,830 --> 00:19:57,100 your other one for you. OK? 409 00:19:57,100 --> 00:19:58,700 -Yep. -Sounds good, thanks. 410 00:19:59,860 --> 00:20:01,360 [hunter] Have a good night. 411 00:20:10,100 --> 00:20:13,100 The hook and line walleye season on the inland waters of 412 00:20:13,260 --> 00:20:15,660 Michigan's Lower Peninsula always opens 413 00:20:15,660 --> 00:20:17,830 the last Saturday in April. -[CO #1] Tonight at midnight 414 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:22,930 is the walleye opener, pike and muskie, trout as well. 415 00:20:23,100 --> 00:20:25,000 But we're on a river, the Tittabawassee River. 416 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:29,600 It's connected to the Saginaw River and the Saginaw Bay. 417 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:32,460 There's a pile of walleye in here. 418 00:20:32,630 --> 00:20:33,960 They've just got done spawning. 419 00:20:34,130 --> 00:20:36,160 In the hours leading up to the start of the season, 420 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:39,260 conservation officers in Michigan's District 6 patrol 421 00:20:39,260 --> 00:20:41,360 the Tittabawassee River to make sure no one is 422 00:20:41,530 --> 00:20:42,760 getting a head start. 423 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:46,660 We're protecting the resource until midnight when 424 00:20:46,660 --> 00:20:48,660 season opens, keeping it fair for everybody. 425 00:20:49,730 --> 00:20:52,930 This CO is primarily looking for people using artificial lures, 426 00:20:53,100 --> 00:20:56,660 as they aren't allowed until the season officially opens. 427 00:20:56,660 --> 00:21:00,100 So in this stretch that we're on, the regulation right now is 428 00:21:00,260 --> 00:21:02,100 a single hook and worm only. 429 00:21:02,260 --> 00:21:04,960 You can't be using minnows or any artificial baits 430 00:21:05,130 --> 00:21:08,260 or spinners or blades or beads, and that's to protect 431 00:21:08,260 --> 00:21:10,000 the spawning walleye. 432 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:15,100 So ultimately, you can be down here sucker, carp, catfishing, 433 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,260 but you can't use any artificial lures. 434 00:21:19,430 --> 00:21:21,860 Just a few minutes into his shift, this CO spots 435 00:21:21,860 --> 00:21:24,030 someone on the bank fishing with a lure. 436 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:25,760 [CO #1] Just got started? 437 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:27,100 [CO #1] OK, fair enough. Where are you from? 438 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:30,960 -[laughter] -[CO #1] OK. 439 00:21:31,130 --> 00:21:32,730 [CO #1] What you fishing for? 440 00:21:32,900 --> 00:21:34,560 [CO #1] Walleye? OK. 441 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:38,260 [CO #1] Are you familiar with the rules and regulations with walleye? 442 00:21:38,260 --> 00:21:39,860 -Yep. -[CO #1] With walleye fishing? 443 00:21:41,660 --> 00:21:42,760 [CO #1] Yep, it's not. 444 00:21:42,930 --> 00:21:44,460 It's not season yet. -[fisherman, groaning] Oh! 445 00:21:44,460 --> 00:21:48,030 The fisherman is using a spoon, which is not allowed. 446 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:49,400 [CO #1] Here's what I'm doing. 447 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,760 I'm issuing a simple citation for attempt to take walleye 448 00:21:51,930 --> 00:21:54,860 close season, OK? -[fisherman] OK, go ahead. 449 00:21:55,030 --> 00:21:57,300 [CO #1] OK, so I'm only gonna seize the lure 450 00:21:57,460 --> 00:22:00,060 because the lure -- well, here's the good thing. 451 00:22:00,060 --> 00:22:02,100 -[CO #1] I'm giving you your rod and reel back. -[fisherman] That is good, yes. 452 00:22:02,260 --> 00:22:03,860 [CO #1] You're not gonna lose that -- I could keep that 453 00:22:04,030 --> 00:22:05,560 as evidence, I don't need to. 454 00:22:05,730 --> 00:22:07,360 You're gonna get your fishing license back tonight, 455 00:22:07,360 --> 00:22:11,460 so if at midnight you want to fish, you can do so, OK? -[fisherman] OK. 456 00:22:11,460 --> 00:22:13,930 [CO #1] And you can continue to fish the rest of the year. 457 00:22:14,100 --> 00:22:16,360 He's ticketed for fishing in a closed season. 458 00:22:16,530 --> 00:22:17,860 [fisherman] Say they caught, you know, 459 00:22:17,860 --> 00:22:19,460 it's catch and release. 460 00:22:19,460 --> 00:22:22,060 [CO #1] OK, so what they're doing -- the only thing you can 461 00:22:22,230 --> 00:22:26,200 use right now is a small, shanked hook with a worm, OK? 462 00:22:26,360 --> 00:22:29,160 You can't have any artificial lures, no minnows, 463 00:22:29,330 --> 00:22:30,760 and you can't be targeting walleye. 464 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:33,660 You can't be targeting muskie, so you have to wait 465 00:22:33,830 --> 00:22:35,360 until the species is open. 466 00:22:35,360 --> 00:22:37,100 [fisherman] So if they were to catch walleye? 467 00:22:37,260 --> 00:22:39,030 [CO #1] They would have to immediately release them. 468 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:40,930 -[fisherman] Catch and release only? -[CO #1] Correct. 469 00:22:41,100 --> 00:22:45,000 Just up the river, this CO spots another shore fisherman with lures. 470 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:48,360 [CO #1] So what can you tell me about the rules and regulations 471 00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:49,860 with the lures? 472 00:22:49,860 --> 00:22:55,260 -Um, no jigheads allowed? -[CO #1] OK, what else? 473 00:22:56,930 --> 00:22:59,100 Catch a walleye, immediate release. 474 00:22:59,260 --> 00:23:00,330 [CO #1] OK. 475 00:23:00,330 --> 00:23:03,260 Well, there's no artificial lures of any kind. 476 00:23:03,260 --> 00:23:06,500 You can't have the Rapala, you can't have the spinner. 477 00:23:06,660 --> 00:23:09,460 Any kind, absolutely. It's single hook and worm only. 478 00:23:10,930 --> 00:23:12,860 -[CO #1] OK? -Is that something that changed? 479 00:23:12,860 --> 00:23:15,660 [CO #1] No, it hasn't changed in forever. 480 00:23:15,830 --> 00:23:16,830 -Really? -[CO #1] Forever. 481 00:23:16,830 --> 00:23:19,460 [CO #1] Yep, absolutely, I've been on 15 years 482 00:23:19,460 --> 00:23:21,460 and it's been that way for 15 years. -Well, I believe you. 483 00:23:21,630 --> 00:23:27,400 -Even last year, sucker fish. -[CO #1] Sucker fish and you're OK. 484 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:31,300 [CO #1] Now you can fish with a single hook and a worm. 485 00:23:31,460 --> 00:23:32,760 -[fisherman] Really? -[CO #1] No blades, beads, 486 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:34,500 spinners, Rapalas, jigheads, 487 00:23:34,660 --> 00:23:37,560 any spoons, twister tails, all that stuff. 488 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:39,860 Can't be using it. And here's the thing, 489 00:23:39,860 --> 00:23:41,660 with the number of people that are out on the banks, 490 00:23:41,830 --> 00:23:44,360 you look upstream right now, you can see all the people, 491 00:23:44,530 --> 00:23:47,400 the boats that are on the river, everybody's waiting 492 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:48,430 until midnight, OK? 493 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:50,160 It's a pretty strict enforcement. 494 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,030 I'm gonna be flat out honest with you. 495 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:54,560 It's something we enforce. 496 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:57,160 We've got miles and miles of river, 497 00:23:58,100 --> 00:24:01,960 and as difficult as that is, it's something 498 00:24:02,130 --> 00:24:04,360 we have to address. 499 00:24:04,360 --> 00:24:05,560 So here's the good news. 500 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:07,200 You've got a couple nice fishing rods. 501 00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:09,360 I'm not gonna take your fishing rods, OK? 502 00:24:09,530 --> 00:24:11,560 I'm gonna take the Rapala off the line, I'm gonna take 503 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,100 the spinner that you just pulled off the other rod. 504 00:24:14,100 --> 00:24:15,760 I'm gonna take those because those are my evidence. 505 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:17,260 I don't need to take your rods and reels. 506 00:24:17,260 --> 00:24:20,100 That way, when midnight hits, you can still fish. 507 00:24:20,260 --> 00:24:22,760 But I've got to take the two lures, OK? 508 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,560 He confiscates the two lures and issues another ticket 509 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:27,100 for fishing a closed season. 510 00:24:27,100 --> 00:24:29,830 [upbeat country rock plays] 511 00:24:32,260 --> 00:24:34,760 Patrolling on land are Sergeant Ron Kimmerly 512 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:37,100 and Officer John Byars. 513 00:24:37,100 --> 00:24:39,360 Just a couple of hours before midnight, they spot 514 00:24:39,360 --> 00:24:41,760 a group fishing and try to get as close as possible 515 00:24:41,930 --> 00:24:43,500 to see what kind of equipment they are using 516 00:24:43,660 --> 00:24:45,860 and what kind of fish they are catching. 517 00:24:45,860 --> 00:24:47,360 [Byars] This guy's got a fish on, I think. 518 00:24:47,360 --> 00:24:49,460 [suspenseful music plays] 519 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:00,730 He's got a fish. Guy on the far right. 520 00:25:00,900 --> 00:25:03,100 [suspenseful music plays] 521 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:06,960 [Byars, whispering] Do you see him? 522 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:11,500 [Kimmerly] Yeah. That's a catfish. 523 00:25:13,060 --> 00:25:15,830 Yeah, they're bottom fishing. 524 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:18,260 The group is OK, so the officers move on 525 00:25:18,260 --> 00:25:20,000 and get ready for the next day. 526 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:21,860 [Byars] It would appear to be a treble hook, so that means 527 00:25:21,860 --> 00:25:24,160 they're bottom fishing, but they had a strange weight above 528 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:26,560 the hook, and it was yellow, so I couldn't really tell if that 529 00:25:26,730 --> 00:25:28,830 was, you know, if it was silver, then it'd be a weight, 530 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:31,000 but it was yellow, so that kind of drew my attention to it, 531 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:32,560 and we saw them pull a catfish out, and then 532 00:25:32,730 --> 00:25:34,030 they immediately released it. 533 00:25:44,260 --> 00:25:46,500 After a long day and night of patrolling the day before 534 00:25:46,660 --> 00:25:50,000 the walleye season opens in Michigan's District 6... 535 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:52,900 a group of officers is back out opening day. 536 00:25:54,860 --> 00:25:56,960 [motor whirring] 537 00:26:04,500 --> 00:26:07,360 Officers Quincy Gowenlock and Ken Lowell are on 538 00:26:07,360 --> 00:26:10,300 the Tittabawassee River working amongst the thousands 539 00:26:10,460 --> 00:26:13,460 of anglers making sure everyone is legal and safe. 540 00:26:13,630 --> 00:26:16,160 Check licenses for anyone fishing and then life jackets, 541 00:26:16,330 --> 00:26:17,660 and we'll let you get back to it. 542 00:26:17,830 --> 00:26:19,800 [Lowell] Did you measure them or just eyeball them? 543 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:21,560 [Gowenlock] How we doing, guys? 544 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:22,730 Good. 545 00:26:24,100 --> 00:26:27,160 Five, six, seven... thank you. 546 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:28,260 Any luck? 547 00:26:28,430 --> 00:26:31,500 We'll come alongside you if you can reel up for us. 548 00:26:31,660 --> 00:26:33,360 I just need to see a license for everybody, guys. 549 00:26:33,530 --> 00:26:35,000 -Four life jackets. -[fisherman] Nothing. 550 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:36,400 [Lowell] All right. You got a little work to do. 551 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:37,660 -Yeah. -A little work to do. 552 00:26:37,660 --> 00:26:39,300 -[fisherman #2] A lot of work. -A lot of work. 553 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:41,660 -[motor revving] -[splashing] 554 00:26:41,830 --> 00:26:43,160 You can bend the rod, too, right? 555 00:26:44,660 --> 00:26:46,660 What'd you buy, one of everything? 556 00:26:46,660 --> 00:26:47,760 Yeah, I got them all. 557 00:26:49,260 --> 00:26:50,560 [Lowell] What's the smallest fish you got? 558 00:26:52,300 --> 00:26:55,400 -[fisherman] Like, [indistinct]. -[Lowell] Good deal. 559 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:56,530 [Lowell] Thank you. 560 00:26:56,530 --> 00:26:58,660 Thanks for enforcing, you know, the laws of 561 00:26:58,830 --> 00:27:00,460 the great outdoors, man. -[Lowell] Right on. 562 00:27:00,630 --> 00:27:01,660 -[Lowell] Appreciate it. -I love it too much 563 00:27:01,660 --> 00:27:03,160 to see people abuse it. 564 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:06,200 It is an uncharacteristically slow start, as most boats 565 00:27:06,360 --> 00:27:07,960 only have a fish or two. 566 00:27:08,130 --> 00:27:11,060 On land, working the boat launches, officers Will Brickel 567 00:27:11,230 --> 00:27:14,860 and Joe Myers are seeing a small increase in activity. 568 00:27:14,860 --> 00:27:16,560 You guys do pretty well right at midnight, then? 569 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:20,960 That's not bad. 570 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,760 You know how big they have to be when you're around here? 571 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:26,060 -[fisherman] 15. -Oh, yeah. 572 00:27:26,230 --> 00:27:27,260 Yeah, you're good. 573 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:29,960 [Brickel] So you guys had a pretty good day. 574 00:27:30,130 --> 00:27:31,360 [Myers] Yeah, that's the one I'm probably gonna want to 575 00:27:31,530 --> 00:27:32,760 take a look at. 576 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:35,600 I'll use my ruler just because I'm comfortable with it. 577 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:37,600 I guess you guys are right there, aren't you? 578 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:39,460 -[laughing] -Man. 579 00:27:39,630 --> 00:27:41,660 -All right, we've checked it. -Yeah. 580 00:27:41,660 --> 00:27:44,460 -Yeah, he's 15. -That's a good one. 581 00:27:44,460 --> 00:27:45,760 That's what they look like. 582 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:54,760 OK, that's one, two, and three. 583 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:56,000 Thank you, sir. 584 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:59,000 [fisherman] Yeah, check that one right there and this one. 585 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:04,160 -[fisherman] 15, just like I said. -[Brickel] Oh, yeah, you got it. 586 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:06,160 -[fisherman] I know. -Oh, man. 587 00:28:06,330 --> 00:28:07,900 Y'all did good. 588 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:10,800 [Brickel] Yeah, he's good. 589 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:14,000 -He's past the 15, he's past the 15, so. -Yep. 590 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:16,500 Back on the boat, Officers Gowenlock and Lowell 591 00:28:16,660 --> 00:28:18,860 are still out on the river, where the daily possession 592 00:28:19,030 --> 00:28:20,800 limit is five, and they must all be 593 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:22,860 at least 15 inches in length. 594 00:28:22,860 --> 00:28:24,260 [Lowell] Can I see those fish real quick? 595 00:28:24,430 --> 00:28:26,760 Are they in that cooler? All right, pull them right over here. 596 00:28:26,930 --> 00:28:28,960 What's the smallest one you got? 597 00:28:30,460 --> 00:28:33,160 [fisherman #1] It was probably, what, 13 and a half, 14 and a half? 598 00:28:33,330 --> 00:28:35,960 -[fisherman #2] Yeah, 13. -[Lowell] OK. 599 00:28:36,130 --> 00:28:38,100 [fisherman #2] What do you have to do by the water? 600 00:28:38,260 --> 00:28:40,660 [Lowell] So the other two are legal, I assume, and then 601 00:28:40,660 --> 00:28:43,100 the other ones you say is a 13-incher. -[fisherman #1] Yeah. 602 00:28:43,100 --> 00:28:46,460 -[Lowell] Where did you put in -- where did you launch at? -[fisherman #2] Right at... 603 00:28:48,060 --> 00:28:50,360 right at Mount Marina. -[Lowell] Mount Marina. 604 00:28:50,530 --> 00:28:51,530 -[Lowell] On the Saginaw? -[fisherman #2] Yeah. 605 00:28:51,530 --> 00:28:53,760 OK, so you come from there, it came down here. 606 00:28:53,930 --> 00:28:55,760 [fisherman #2] Yeah, we drifted all the way down, yeah. 607 00:28:55,930 --> 00:28:57,660 -[Lowell] OK. -The fishermen say 608 00:28:57,830 --> 00:28:59,730 they caught this fish on the Saginaw River, 609 00:28:59,900 --> 00:29:01,460 which has different restrictions. 610 00:29:01,630 --> 00:29:04,260 There, the daily possession limit is eight, and they must 611 00:29:04,430 --> 00:29:05,900 be 13 inches in length, 612 00:29:05,900 --> 00:29:08,960 but you can't keep a fish less than 15 inches on the Saginaw River 613 00:29:09,130 --> 00:29:11,600 and go immediately fish on the Tittabawassee. 614 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:13,730 [motor whirring] 615 00:29:17,300 --> 00:29:20,260 [Gowenlock] So we're right at 14, 14 and a quarter? 616 00:29:20,430 --> 00:29:22,460 [fisherman #1] We knew he was over 13, that's why I came out. 617 00:29:22,630 --> 00:29:24,200 -[Gowenlock] Right on. -[Lowell] Yeah. 618 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:25,760 [Lowell] Do you understand where I'm coming from with the fish? 619 00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:27,400 -[fisherman #1] I understand now. -[Lowell] OK. 620 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:31,900 And then the rule's been in place for a little while now. 621 00:29:32,060 --> 00:29:35,000 -[fisherman #1] But -- -I understand where you're coming from. 622 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:36,730 -[fisherman #1] I know. -But... 623 00:29:36,900 --> 00:29:40,260 -[fisherman #1] We fish both sides of it all the time. -I know. 624 00:29:40,430 --> 00:29:42,100 The thing is, you can't have this fish up here. 625 00:29:42,260 --> 00:29:44,660 [fisherman #1] You're saying we should put that fish to the car? 626 00:29:44,660 --> 00:29:46,460 -Yeah, you can't have it here. -[fisherman #1] OK. 627 00:29:46,630 --> 00:29:47,800 -This is what I'm saying. -[fisherman #1] OK. 628 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:50,100 If you would have launched up off of the Tittabawassee, 629 00:29:50,260 --> 00:29:54,600 came down and fished, got your limit or whatever, and you just 630 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:56,900 motor straight on back through, you're fine because you're not 631 00:29:57,060 --> 00:29:59,660 fishing in a closed area. That's acceptable. 632 00:29:59,660 --> 00:30:02,660 But once you drop a line in the closed area, now you have 633 00:30:02,830 --> 00:30:04,360 to follow these regulations. 634 00:30:04,530 --> 00:30:06,600 Measured out 14 and a quarter inches. 635 00:30:07,500 --> 00:30:09,100 We're in an area where it's restricted. 636 00:30:09,100 --> 00:30:10,660 The minimum limit is 15 inches. 637 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:16,160 Unfortunately for him, he said he was fishing down 638 00:30:16,330 --> 00:30:18,800 off of the Saginaw River where it's legal to have 639 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:23,960 a 13-inch walleye with a limit of eight, but in this area 640 00:30:24,130 --> 00:30:25,660 it's closed to that size limit. 641 00:30:25,830 --> 00:30:28,600 So he ended up being issued a citation for having 642 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:31,460 unsized fish in a restricted area. 643 00:30:31,630 --> 00:30:34,100 The fish is confiscated and the angler is ticketed for 644 00:30:34,100 --> 00:30:36,000 possessing an undersized walleye. 645 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:39,160 The officers think they have the same situation 646 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:42,100 a few minutes later while checking this boat of three. 647 00:30:42,260 --> 00:30:43,060 How you doing, guys? 648 00:30:43,060 --> 00:30:44,260 [fisherman #1] Good. How about you? 649 00:30:44,430 --> 00:30:45,400 Good. 650 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:49,000 -[Lowell] Any luck? -Maybe -- 651 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:55,360 All right, so you got a fish on board or not? 652 00:30:55,530 --> 00:30:56,800 -Yeah. -OK, let me take a look at that. 653 00:30:56,960 --> 00:31:01,730 Don't let him out of there. How big is it? 654 00:31:03,660 --> 00:31:04,960 13? 655 00:31:07,100 --> 00:31:09,600 -Where'd you catch him? -Right up there. 656 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:11,200 All right. 657 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:13,100 Do you know what the limit is out here, size? 658 00:31:13,260 --> 00:31:15,360 -13? -15. 659 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:17,630 [ominous music plays] 660 00:31:20,100 --> 00:31:21,400 Did you think that this Center Street 661 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:22,360 was the Center Street 662 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:24,160 where you can fish up from? -Yeah. 663 00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:26,560 No, it's not. It's the Saginaw River. 664 00:31:26,730 --> 00:31:28,500 What's the Center Street where you can fish up from? 665 00:31:28,660 --> 00:31:30,760 On the Saginaw River. On the Saginaw River. 666 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:33,060 -You're on the Tittabawassee. -Yep. 667 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:37,660 -You got, who caught the fish? -I did. 668 00:31:37,830 --> 00:31:38,660 You did? OK, take a look 669 00:31:38,830 --> 00:31:40,100 at licenses real quick. 670 00:31:40,100 --> 00:31:42,000 You guys? 16? 671 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:43,960 -OK. -While CO Lowell 672 00:31:44,130 --> 00:31:46,760 ran the fisherman's information, CO Gowenlock 673 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:49,000 remeasured the fish and found the short fish 674 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:50,460 wasn't short after all. 675 00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:55,000 -Hey Adam. -What? 676 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:57,200 It's a little [indistinct] 677 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:06,760 This is the only fish they have? 678 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:10,260 -Yeah. -That's 15 and a half, right? 679 00:32:10,260 --> 00:32:11,960 It's 15 and a half inches. 680 00:32:15,900 --> 00:32:17,260 Littlest we could find. 681 00:32:17,260 --> 00:32:19,260 [Gowenlock] Yep, what do you know? 682 00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:22,900 [Lowell] Which one of you fellas measured that fish? 683 00:32:27,460 --> 00:32:28,800 We forgot our tape measure. 684 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:31,100 How wide is the bottom of a bucket? 685 00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:35,100 You know, would you believe me if I told you that fish 686 00:32:35,100 --> 00:32:37,400 is over 15 inches? 687 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:39,200 -I hope so. -[fisherman #2] I thought it was, yeah. 688 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:40,400 OK. Well, it is. 689 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:44,000 So you're not in trouble. which is good, right? 690 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:46,730 But make sure you realize that you've got to have them 691 00:32:46,900 --> 00:32:48,060 15 here. -[fisherman #2] OK. 692 00:32:48,230 --> 00:32:49,200 [Gowenlock] Know before you go. 693 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:51,400 [Lowell] And don't measure with a bucket. 694 00:32:51,560 --> 00:32:52,730 [Gowenlock] Yeah, don't measure with your foot. 695 00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:58,160 Have a good day, fellas. All right. 696 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:00,060 Take care of the license, all right? 697 00:33:00,060 --> 00:33:02,000 [Gowenlock] Take it easy, be careful. 698 00:33:10,260 --> 00:33:12,960 The start of Michigan's walleye season means a lot 699 00:33:13,130 --> 00:33:15,400 to the cities and areas around the heavily fished rivers. 700 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:18,460 [CO #1] People fish in this water system right now that have 701 00:33:18,630 --> 00:33:20,360 come from all over the state. 702 00:33:20,530 --> 00:33:23,860 They come here and support the local businesses, 703 00:33:23,860 --> 00:33:26,660 the local economy, the marinas, the party stores, 704 00:33:26,830 --> 00:33:30,060 the restaurants, the hotels, the city of Freeland 705 00:33:30,230 --> 00:33:32,100 that hosts the Walleye Festival. 706 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:37,660 The resource of our walleye is huge to our local economy. 707 00:33:37,830 --> 00:33:41,000 It is a heavily patrolled time of year in Michigan's District 6. 708 00:33:48,730 --> 00:33:51,400 This conservation officer is on the Tittabawassee River, 709 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:54,360 making sure everyone is playing by the rules. 710 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:56,560 [CO #1] OK, and how many fish have you caught? 711 00:33:56,730 --> 00:33:58,860 And how many have you caught? 712 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:03,460 OK. And how many did you keep? 713 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:09,500 OK, and what are you guys fishing for right now? 714 00:34:09,660 --> 00:34:11,200 OK. 715 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:13,600 So somebody has a limit on the boat, and somebody doesn't. 716 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:16,560 we've got both of you fishing, right? 717 00:34:16,730 --> 00:34:18,930 With nine fish, that means one of them had five 718 00:34:19,100 --> 00:34:20,660 and one of them had four. 719 00:34:20,830 --> 00:34:23,400 I asked them which individual had five, which had four, 720 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:24,860 and they were unable to answer me, 721 00:34:26,460 --> 00:34:28,960 showing the lack of responsibility to know 722 00:34:29,130 --> 00:34:31,500 who caught what and who possessed what. 723 00:34:31,660 --> 00:34:34,500 OK, so let's take a look at the fish and... 724 00:34:34,660 --> 00:34:36,660 [ominous music plays] 725 00:34:41,100 --> 00:34:42,260 [indistinct radio chatter] 726 00:34:42,260 --> 00:34:48,660 Five, six, seven, eight, nine, 727 00:34:48,830 --> 00:34:53,360 10, 11. 728 00:34:53,530 --> 00:34:55,760 [indistinct radio chatter] 729 00:34:55,930 --> 00:34:57,260 I got in the cooler, counted the fish, 730 00:34:57,260 --> 00:34:58,600 and they ended up having 11 fish, 731 00:34:58,760 --> 00:35:00,500 which went on to show the... 732 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:05,000 maybe the excitement they had or the lack of responsibility 733 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:10,460 to know who was keeping what and how many fish they had total. 734 00:35:10,460 --> 00:35:13,360 [CO #1] So in fairness, I have a job to do, right? 735 00:35:13,530 --> 00:35:15,100 And you guys have a responsibility 736 00:35:15,260 --> 00:35:18,460 as anglers, right? So in fairness, what do I do? 737 00:35:18,630 --> 00:35:21,360 What would you do, if you're in my shoes? 738 00:35:21,360 --> 00:35:22,460 [scoffs] 739 00:35:22,460 --> 00:35:24,560 [upbeat bassline plays] 740 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:32,760 The Michigan DNR works extremely hard to keep 741 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:34,660 a healthy walleye population. 742 00:35:34,830 --> 00:35:36,660 [Pearce] The reasons we plant walleye is we're trying 743 00:35:36,830 --> 00:35:40,760 to restore lost populations, so that's number one goal. 744 00:35:41,660 --> 00:35:43,000 We'd like to rehabilitate 745 00:35:43,160 --> 00:35:46,960 degraded populations, and other places we'll stock to 746 00:35:47,130 --> 00:35:49,760 provide an additional recreation opportunity or to 747 00:35:49,930 --> 00:35:51,360 improve a fishery. 748 00:35:51,360 --> 00:35:53,760 In late spring, biologists and volunteers 749 00:35:53,930 --> 00:35:56,960 electrofish the Muskegon River to collect walleye. 750 00:35:57,130 --> 00:35:59,000 Ripe walleyes are kept for spawning. 751 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:01,360 So we'll strip all the eggs out of the girl. 752 00:36:01,530 --> 00:36:04,160 We'll fertilize with the male immediately after. 753 00:36:04,330 --> 00:36:07,000 From there, the eggs go to a hatchery 754 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:08,500 for about three weeks. 755 00:36:08,660 --> 00:36:11,930 Once hatched, they are moved to one of 98 rearing ponds 756 00:36:12,100 --> 00:36:13,660 the state manages. 757 00:36:13,660 --> 00:36:16,360 A quarter-inch fish, we put a million of those 758 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:19,760 in here today and they're gonna be in here for 759 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:24,400 about 38 to 42 days before we harvest them. 760 00:36:24,560 --> 00:36:28,100 Volunteers from clubs like White Lake Area Sport Fishing Association 761 00:36:28,100 --> 00:36:30,660 assist with fertilizing the pond. 762 00:36:30,660 --> 00:36:34,660 We wanted to improve the fishing in this area, 763 00:36:34,660 --> 00:36:38,360 and so the club was actually formed for this purpose. 764 00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:40,160 Help from the clubs is essential for us 765 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:42,460 because they're local, and they can help us with 766 00:36:42,460 --> 00:36:44,160 the weekly activities here. 767 00:36:44,330 --> 00:36:46,500 From the rearing ponds, the walleye are eventually 768 00:36:46,660 --> 00:36:48,860 moved to lakes and rivers throughout the state. 769 00:36:49,030 --> 00:36:51,200 It takes two to four years for them to grow to be 770 00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:53,060 about 15 inches in length. 771 00:36:54,300 --> 00:36:58,000 Working the walleye opener in Michigan's District 6, 772 00:36:58,160 --> 00:37:00,300 this conservation officer has two fishermen 773 00:37:00,460 --> 00:37:02,560 with 11 fish in their boat. 774 00:37:02,730 --> 00:37:05,100 The daily limit for walleye is five, so these guys have 775 00:37:05,100 --> 00:37:06,460 one too many. 776 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:13,730 They were both issued citations for possessing an over-limited 777 00:37:13,900 --> 00:37:17,660 of walleye, and they got to keep their fishing gear 778 00:37:17,830 --> 00:37:20,260 and their fishing privileges, 779 00:37:20,430 --> 00:37:22,930 and hopefully it was an honest mistake. 780 00:37:23,100 --> 00:37:25,100 Each was ticketed, as neither angler knew 781 00:37:25,260 --> 00:37:26,760 who caught the 11th walleye. 782 00:37:26,930 --> 00:37:29,460 The fish were seized for evidence and later donated to 783 00:37:29,460 --> 00:37:30,600 a local food bank. 784 00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:33,400 [upbeat rock music plays] 785 00:37:35,860 --> 00:37:38,000 -Later in the evening... -[CO #1] Well, how many? 786 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:39,600 -[fisherman] Just one. -[CO #1] Just one? 787 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:40,930 -[fisherman] Yeah. -[CO #1] OK. 788 00:37:41,100 --> 00:37:43,400 The guys in this boat say they have just one fish, 789 00:37:44,360 --> 00:37:46,960 but this officer doesn't buy their story. 790 00:37:47,130 --> 00:37:50,100 He thinks this is their second trip out on opening day. 791 00:37:50,260 --> 00:37:53,260 It can be very common for some of the guys go out at midnight, 792 00:37:53,260 --> 00:37:55,500 catch a limit or close to a limit of fish, and then come 793 00:37:55,660 --> 00:37:59,000 back out during the daytime hours, late in the day, 794 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:02,260 and attempt another limit of fish, which would be 795 00:38:02,260 --> 00:38:03,830 a double limit. 796 00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:05,660 [CO #1] I'm gonna ask you a question, OK? 797 00:38:06,730 --> 00:38:08,930 And how you answer me is gonna determine how we're gonna 798 00:38:09,100 --> 00:38:11,460 move forward on this whole situation, OK? 799 00:38:11,630 --> 00:38:12,830 Let's talk about the other fish... 800 00:38:14,260 --> 00:38:15,860 from last night. 801 00:38:16,030 --> 00:38:18,000 Guys, I'm not gonna play games. 802 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:20,000 You shoot me straight, I'm gonna shoot you straight. 803 00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:22,000 If not, we're dealing with boats and gear 804 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:23,500 and a bunch of other stuff. 805 00:38:24,500 --> 00:38:25,860 OK? 806 00:38:26,030 --> 00:38:27,260 How many? 807 00:38:27,260 --> 00:38:28,500 [fisherman] Five. 808 00:38:28,660 --> 00:38:30,860 [CO #1] No, five for you, and how many for you? 809 00:38:31,030 --> 00:38:32,060 [fisherman #2] Four. 810 00:38:33,260 --> 00:38:35,460 At first, they say they have nine total, 811 00:38:35,460 --> 00:38:37,830 but after rethinking their answer... 812 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:42,000 -[fisherman #2] What did we do last night? -[fisher #1] We had ten. 813 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:45,000 [fisherman #2] We got ten last night, we didn't have nine. 814 00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:48,100 We had ten. 815 00:38:48,100 --> 00:38:54,060 If we got ten last night, Then I had five last night, 816 00:38:55,260 --> 00:38:57,600 and then I got the one today. 817 00:38:58,660 --> 00:39:00,600 So that would make six. 818 00:39:00,760 --> 00:39:03,760 They ended up having 11 fish after I questioned them about 819 00:39:03,930 --> 00:39:06,860 fishing last evening and who was still fishing 820 00:39:07,030 --> 00:39:10,160 even though they had a limit. 821 00:39:10,330 --> 00:39:13,360 This officer goes with them to confiscate their fish. 822 00:39:13,360 --> 00:39:15,760 Tickets are issued for taking and possessing 823 00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:17,560 an over-limited walleye. 824 00:39:17,560 --> 00:39:20,000 The fish are taken to an evidence freezer and later 825 00:39:20,160 --> 00:39:22,460 will be donated to a local food bank. 825 00:39:23,305 --> 00:40:23,551