so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
#7204634
03/04/21 08:16 PM
03/04/21 08:16 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,323 se South Dakota
NonPCfed
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Swamp Wolf admitted on another thread that he was a conservation officer (or whatever they're called in GA). Good to know, I always thought he was a county mounty and not a wildlife cop. Swamp Wolf says he doesn't use facebook for his wildlife investigations but other officers do around the country. I've seen it on a couple of the various Animal Planet "game warden" shows where facebook comes into play. Given Swamp Wolf's comments on that other thread and what I've seen on "reality" tv makes me wonder, "how do wildlife officers use social media...?"
I guess one way is to check it out after they get a complaint or tip. Ok, cool, they get a name to search for on say facebook and check out if that person posts about a certain event or just about hunting, fishing, trapping in general. Still, it sort of makes me wonder if officers then assume anything wildlife associated on that social media presence should be checked out to make sure its legit. I think most LEOs have at least some of that mentality, if they are having an interaction with the public in say a non "public relations" sort of event, they assume there may be something to check out on a person or at least always have their ears and eyes open for anything that might be said, heard, or seen. Ok, I guess they can argue that''s their "job", to pay attention for violations for the law. But it also gets on the slippery slope that the public has to "prove" they are innocent instead of the way that the criminal justice is reported to work, "a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty." Perhaps maybe that's why lawyers and LEOs clash quite a bit.
Ok, what if there is no tip or complaint that has come in but the wildlife officers have this "wonderful" dataset of social media? What's prevents them to take their list of licensed hunters or trappers and start doing random searches on them...? Probably nothing. I suspect that the officers would come back with (and non-social media users), "hey, YOU put it out there in the 'public', I can check it out". I suppose just like a lot of guys check out a hot gal after they've found out a name. Ok, so they find some of the hunters or trappers on their lists have posted photos or stories on say facebook, now how do they use that information? So Bill has nailed a big buck with what he says was with his bow, hmmm, must check it out that he has a bow license at the least or do more work; where was it shot, when, was it over bait, etc. etc? We don't have a big game registration check in system in South Dakota but I suppose in the states that do, its a treasure trove of leads to check out. Same thing for trapping. A guy in MN posts that he's caught a tree mink or fisher during that state's short season so hey, because they are such species of interest in Minnesota, the marten and/or fisher trapper is probably going to get more scrutiny then a coon trapper. The wildlife officers only have so much time, so they probably really target the most "juicy" candidate off of social media (assuming that they're not working off a compliant or tip) but I suspect they probably have "potentials" lined up if they had the time to investigate further. Sort of another way to a police state in my opinion. Tell me how wrong I'm for not trusting "my" employees...?
"And God said, Let us make man in our image �and let them have dominion �and all the creatures that move along the ground". Genesis 1:26
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Re: so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
[Re: NonPCfed]
#7204639
03/04/21 08:21 PM
03/04/21 08:21 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,323 se South Dakota
NonPCfed
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And, I know, I now, "if you have nothing to hide, there's no issue!" Yeah, ok, keep on believing that. I don't like that LEOs consider most of their "employers" potential criminals. If that was the actual truth, then the piddly, "gotcha" "crimes" wouldn't be written up as much as they are. To a lot of LEOs, wildlife cops included, its a game and there are two sides, and if they get a "win", then they're up in the game. Call me twisted, I don't really care. Way too many rules, regulations, and "laws" in this country. The United States wasn't found as an administrative state where the civil employees get much of the power...
"And God said, Let us make man in our image �and let them have dominion �and all the creatures that move along the ground". Genesis 1:26
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Re: so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
[Re: NonPCfed]
#7204641
03/04/21 08:27 PM
03/04/21 08:27 PM
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 793 Norborne MO
BBarnes
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There’s a lot of wildlife officers and law enforcement on trapperman. I find your post interesting especially this part And, I know, I now, "if you have nothing to hide, there's no issue!" Yeah, ok, keep on believing that. I don't like that LEOs consider most of their "employers" potential criminals. If that was the actual truth, then the piddly, "gotcha" "crimes" wouldn't be written up as much as they are. To a lot of LEOs, wildlife cops included, its a game and there are two sides, and if they get a "win", then they're up in the game. Call me twisted, I don't really care. Way too many rules, regulations, and "laws" in this country. The United States wasn't found as an administrative state where the civil employees get much of the power...
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Re: so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
[Re: NonPCfed]
#7204653
03/04/21 08:34 PM
03/04/21 08:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751 Central, SD
Law Dog
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Without proof what power do we have really and if your giving the proof away then your “ employees” should look the other way then? Sounds like no matter what is done a argument could be made. LOL
A kid texted me the other day he caught a mink while trapping rats I told him to turn it in and he would be OK, that’s what “employees” should do. IMO
Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!
Jerry Herbst
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Re: so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
[Re: charles]
#7204666
03/04/21 08:40 PM
03/04/21 08:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,165 Central NC
traprjohn
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I bet some people show off their illegal kills on FB. Correct.
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Re: so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
[Re: NonPCfed]
#7204669
03/04/21 08:42 PM
03/04/21 08:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,323 se South Dakota
NonPCfed
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A kid texted me the other day he caught a mink while trapping rats I told him to turn it in and he would be OK, that’s what “employees” should do. IMO And Law Dog that was the right thing to do but I suspect that there are wildlife officers that would fine that kid even though muskrat seasin is still open and how does one truly keep all now-closed season mink out of a rat trap...? I bet some people show off their illegal kills on FB Charles, I'm sure there are plenty of poachers and less flagrant illegal wildlife activity shown on fb. So, what's your point, that criminals DO exist?
"And God said, Let us make man in our image �and let them have dominion �and all the creatures that move along the ground". Genesis 1:26
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Re: so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
[Re: NonPCfed]
#7204678
03/04/21 08:47 PM
03/04/21 08:47 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751 Central, SD
Law Dog
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More going on here then this post I’m guessing?
Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!
Jerry Herbst
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Re: so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
[Re: NonPCfed]
#7204687
03/04/21 08:53 PM
03/04/21 08:53 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,323 se South Dakota
NonPCfed
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See Law Dog, old habits die hard.
Nope, if I was so inclined, you could check out my LEO record or have your friends do it. I haven't been arrested since I was a juive and haven't paid a fine for a long time as well, I think it would have been a vehicle related. I just like maximum personal freedom and the administrative state clashes with that idea. Given the size of the U.S. and individual state population, there is a need for some administrative state but it can quickly get out of control or at least has the potential. I work for an enitity that writes bad checks all the time but can cover it by printing its own money. However, I don't work for a regulatory agency or law enforcement so my ability to use the administrative state is pretty limited. Not so with other parts of government.
"And God said, Let us make man in our image �and let them have dominion �and all the creatures that move along the ground". Genesis 1:26
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Re: so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
[Re: NonPCfed]
#7204691
03/04/21 08:56 PM
03/04/21 08:56 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,323 se South Dakota
NonPCfed
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I work for an entity that writes bad checks all the time but can cover it by printing its own money. at least for a while (covering it by printing their own "money") I'm going to go watch Tucker Carlson while I skin out tow old big coons that finally thawed out. Later.........
"And God said, Let us make man in our image �and let them have dominion �and all the creatures that move along the ground". Genesis 1:26
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Re: so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
[Re: NonPCfed]
#7204714
03/04/21 09:09 PM
03/04/21 09:09 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751 Central, SD
Law Dog
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See Law Dog, old habits die hard.
Nope, if I was so inclined, you could check out my LEO record or have your friends do it. I haven't been arrested since I was a juive and haven't paid a fine for a long time as well, I think it would have been a vehicle related. I just like maximum personal freedom and the administrative state clashes with that idea. Given the size of the U.S. and individual state population, there is a need for some administrative state but it can quickly get out of control or at least has the potential. I work for an enitity that writes bad checks all the time but can cover it by printing its own money. However, I don't work for a regulatory agency or law enforcement so my ability to use the administrative state is pretty limited. Not so with other parts of government. Never said anything criminal just said something going on was all I said. I’d start over tomorrow if I was you but you do what you think works the best for you. I’m avoiding dog and pony shows in 2021 nothing personal just what works best for me.
Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!
Jerry Herbst
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Re: so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
[Re: NonPCfed]
#7204754
03/04/21 09:45 PM
03/04/21 09:45 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 12,100 South Ga - Almost Florida
Swamp Wolf
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NonPCFed, You come very close to understanding the role that social media plays in modern wildlife violation investigations.
But there are legal aspects that you didnt mention......its called reasonable suspicion and probable cause.
RS is the terminology that describes facts and/or circumstances that the officer discovered/observed that leads him to believe a crime MAY HAVE BEEN committed. RS is short of the level that probable cause reaches. RS is needed to start an investigation or to conduct a stop.
PC is a set of facts and circumstances that goes beyond RS that causes the officer to believe that a crime HAS BEEN or IS ABOUT TO BE committed. PC is required for an arrest or a charge to be made.
Ex) Seeing pics and comments on social media of three bucks that was posted days before the season legally opened would be RS. The GW takes a closer look at the poster's public FB page. Maybe a name is learned and a location. The guy's info is looked at to see if has a hunting license. He has no valid hunting license...which is PC for a lic charge that may be coming. The officer uses the info (pics and comments) thus far to apply for a search warrant from FB. A judge agrees there is PC for the warrant based on the PC that the pics and comments provided showing the posting date and the comments related to the pics. FB responds to the warrant a few weeks later and provides 1000 pages of the guy's FB page. More PC is obtained from the guy's page related to the deer poaching including the geolocation of where the buck pics were taken. The officer visits these locations and documents more evidence...blood, drag marks, etc. The guy is located and an interview is attempted, but he refuses to admit to anything and tells the GW to leave his property. The officer applies for a search warrant of the guy's residence and outbuildings to locate the deer meat and antlers. An arrest warrant is applied for also. A judge agrees and issues both warrants. Three GWs serve the search warrant, find the deer thats in the pics and secure them. A county deputy stands by to transport the poacher after he is arrested. He is assigned a bond at arrest & booking for three counts of hunting deer out of season. The GW didnt charge him for the lic violation.He dont have anyone to sign his bond so he sits in jail until his buddy drives over the next morning and bonds him out.
That is a fictional story, with extra details, but shows how a GW can use social media. The poacher provided the best evidence in this case....., especially to start the ball rolling.
Last edited by Swamp Wolf; 03/04/21 09:50 PM.
Thank God For Your Blessings! Never Half-Arse Anything!
Resource Protection Service
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Re: so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
[Re: NonPCfed]
#7204756
03/04/21 09:46 PM
03/04/21 09:46 PM
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,497 Southern NJ
maintenanceguy
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CO in our area got 6 months off from work using social media - or at least Craigslist. He couldn't get a search warrant for a property he suspected was growing pot. So he put an add on Craigslist for free firewood or free scrap metal or something similar at the suspects address. He then responded to his own add and looked around for the scrap metal or firewood or whatever it was.
We only have a few COs that serve our part of the state. I've met a few, maybe all of them. The rest have been polite, professional, and reasonable. He stood out from the crowd.
-Ryan
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Re: so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
[Re: charles]
#7204758
03/04/21 09:47 PM
03/04/21 09:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,589 Ohio
newtoga
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Ohio
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I bet some people show off their illegal kills on FB. Bobcats are protected in Ohio and people post pictures on FB that they caught and killed. Dumb a~~ es
Last edited by newtoga; 03/04/21 09:47 PM.
lifetime member NTA, OSTA, GTA
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Re: so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
[Re: maintenanceguy]
#7204768
03/04/21 09:53 PM
03/04/21 09:53 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 12,100 South Ga - Almost Florida
Swamp Wolf
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CO in our area got 6 months off from work using social media - or at least Craigslist. He couldn't get a search warrant for a property he suspected was growing pot. So he put an add on Craigslist for free firewood or free scrap metal or something similar at the suspects address. He then responded to his own add and looked around for the scrap metal or firewood or whatever it was.
We only have a few COs that serve our part of the state. I've met a few, maybe all of them. The rest have been polite, professional, and reasonable. He stood out from the crowd.
This was "crossing the line". I agree, he should have been reprimanded..if not terminated. He made up his own PC....not good.
Thank God For Your Blessings! Never Half-Arse Anything!
Resource Protection Service
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Re: so how do wildlife officers use social media...?
[Re: NonPCfed]
#7204777
03/04/21 10:03 PM
03/04/21 10:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,023 ND
grumley701
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ND
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Poachers are boasters, bragging within their circle just ain't good enough for some and that makes a CO's job a bit easier.
Pure Blood
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