Does it really matter?

[crawler]

Possesion Law

From the Wyo Game and Fish Regs


"Possession Limit
means the maximum number of game fish that may legally be
in possession at any time and in any form. Game fish in transit
or storage, including home or domicile, shall be considered in
possession. Possession limits apply regardless of how many days an
angler has fished."

 

[DLM]

From the Wyo Game and Fish Regs


"Possession Limit
means the maximum number of game fish that may legally be
in possession at any time and in any form. Game fish in transit
or storage, including home or domicile, shall be considered in
possession. Possession limits apply regardless of how many days an
angler has fished."

This is the way most state regs are written, but the RV is a residence, and cannot be entered and search without probable cause that a crime has been committed and evidence of that crime is inside. Towing a boat down the road with motorhome is not sufficient grounds to believe you are in possession of too many fish, or any fish for that matter.

Trust me, when I was a cop there were lots of times I wanted to look inside of a rig, even a car, but without probable cause, I couldn't even force someone to open the trunk on their car, let alone go into an RV and start searching for fish.

I caught a poacher once, and the only thing that got me inside the trunk was several deer hair on the ball hitch and bumper. Without that, he would have had meat in the freezer.

 

[SilverBullets]

This is the way most state regs are written, but the RV is a residence, and cannot be entered and search without probable cause that a crime has been committed and evidence of that crime is inside. Towing a boat down the road with motorhome is not sufficient grounds to believe you are in possession of too many fish, or any fish for that matter.

Trust me, when I was a cop there were lots of times I wanted to look inside of a rig, even a car, but without probable cause, I couldn't even force someone to open the trunk on their car, let alone go into an RV and start searching for fish.

I caught a poacher once, and the only thing that got me inside the trunk was several deer hair on the ball hitch and bumper. Without that, he would have had meat in the freezer.

The Oregon law reads...
Possession Limit:
"Maximum number of fish that a person may lawfully possess in the field or forest, or in transit to the place of PERMANENT residence. The possession limit is 2 daily limits."
In most instances (unless you live in it full time) rv's up at the lake are not concidered a permanent residence (like your actual house.) The maximum number (2 daily limits) applies to an rv that is in the field, forest, or in transit until that rv arrives back home. At least that's the way I understand it to read. I was curious about it a while back and called Fish and Game. They agreed...unless you live full time in the rv it's not concidered your permanent residence.

 

[Kokaholic]

Then you throw in the fact that you have two states that have to agree with being the same on these proposed reg changes. Just another wrench in the system

 

[DLM]

The Oregon law reads...
Possession Limit:
"Maximum number of fish that a person may lawfully possess in the field or forest, or in transit to the place of PERMANENT residence. The possession limit is 2 daily limits."
In most instances (unless you live in it full time) rv's up at the lake are not concidered a permanent residence (like your actual house.) The maximum number (2 daily limits) applies to an rv that is in the field, forest, or in transit until that rv arrives back home. At least that's the way I understand it to read. I was curious about it a while back and called Fish and Game. They agreed...unless you live full time in the rv it's not concidered your permanent residence.

I understand how the law is written, and F&G interpretation, but in real life, officers will not enter your RV, either in a campground or on the road to search for fish. Now, if your fish are in an ice chest in the back of your pickup, or in your boat, they sure will take a look.

Bottom line is that, at least in Oregon, I have never heard of anyone relating first hand experiences of being stopped at checkpoints or anywhere else to have their fish counted once they have left the lake. On the lake, on the dock, ya, it happens all the time.

 

[SuperD]

I guess that's why laws do nothing more than keep the honest guy honest. Loopholes and probable cause give openings for the rest of the folks out there.

 

[SilverBullets]

I understand how the law is written, and F&G interpretation, but in real life, officers will not enter your RV, either in a campground or on the road to search for fish. Now, if your fish are in an ice chest in the back of your pickup, or in your boat, they sure will take a look.

Bottom line is that, at least in Oregon, I have never heard of anyone relating first hand experiences of being stopped at checkpoints or anywhere else to have their fish counted once they have left the lake. On the lake, on the dock, ya, it happens all the time.

I think it needs to be done more often in the campgrounds too. I've seen and talked with guys from out of town in rv's camping for multiple days going out morning, afternoon, and evening getting limit after limit. I wish Fish and Game were up there more often but with the budget cuts now days they can't be everywhere. I guess all we can do is be good sportsmen ourselfs and set an example for others to follow.

 

[portofthesea]

Super D
Back in the very early 80's my father and I were coming home from one of our first mack trips to the gorge and about 3-5 miles out of Manila we were stopped at a roadside check station. They asked alot of questions and then checked boat, camper and coolers, I believe they even looked under some boat seats. I have been stopped at big game check points since but not leaving fishing waters. This last weekend at the gorge the wyo. guys did a on the water check for licenses, stamps and safety items on the boat.

 

[platypus]

--we do roadside checks in british columbia... at check point we usually have fisheries, forestry, police and vehicle inspector.
--all vehicles are stopped and often at least one if the agencies will find a probable violation..
--I think it has been stated before the main objective of the check point is to keep people honest and informed.

--from management point of view it is the number of fish leaving the lake so all of the factors including poaching are taken into account when making lake specific regulations.

--I have found that for some areas with strict regulation poaching increases both intentional and a few people who were just confused and actually were trying to follow the regs.. often the confused ask what to do on forums rather than F&G
--Here it is Crown Council that decides if enough evidence to go to court over charges..as officer we like anyone observe, record and report.
--I know we are not supposed to but I always looked at the intent of the law or rule... If the possesion rule was not in place would the number of fish taken from the specific lake be cause for conern.
--That is why I would like law makers to state the management objectives for the lake rather than just make a rule and tell us to live with it.
--I think more people that know the why of the rule the more it will be followed.
--Also think that people would be more willing to report a violation if they felt the violation could cause significant damage or affect the management plan.

 

[halojm]

Yep it's true. Utah fish and game do set up check stations around flaming gorge. The last one I got stopped at was in a little town about 12 miles out of manila call mckinnon. We had two limits in the cooler which was fine, but the guy fishing with me had left his license on the boat which he always does, at least that was his story. The officer was nice enough to let us go back to lucerrne and bring it back to show him while he kept his drivers license and our cooler with the fish. All ended up okay except for taking an extra hour or so out of our day.

 

[DLM]

I guess that's why laws do nothing more than keep the honest guy honest. Loopholes and probable cause give openings for the rest of the folks out there.

I feel the need to make myself clear, I in NO WAY support or promote breaking the law. Our regulations, however silly some are, are in place for a reason.

But it does get confusing with different limits at different lakes. Say the wife and I spend two days at Paulina where the limit is five per person per day. Our two day possession limit would be 20. Then we stop at Odell, a 25 fish limit lake, for two days. Now our two day possession limit is 100 fish. The we get stopped on Highway 58 on the way home. How does the officer know what lake/limit we were fishing???

If we go to Odell first, catch 30 fish, then go to Crescent (5 fish lake) and camp, get inspected in the campground. are we in violation? How is the officer to know where we caught the fish?

What if we are camped at Crescent and fish both lakes???

I just don't see how the possession rules are enforceable, at least in Oregon, when there are different limits on different lakes. Maybe that is why we don't see fish checkpoints here on the roadways.

 

[SuperD]

But it does get confusing with different limits at different lakes. Say the wife and I spend two days at Paulina where the limit is five per person per day. Our two day possession limit would be 20. Then we stop at Odell, a 25 fish limit lake, for two days. Now our two day possession limit is 100 fish

My guess would be that if you went to Odell second, you and your wife could only catch 80 more fish or 40 a piece in the 2 days you were there. Possession limits don't keep increasing by the number of lakes you go to. And if you went to Odell first, you would indeed not be able to fish at Paulina as a second stop.

 

[MMDON]

In Idaho they will enter your RV in a heart beat. While we have no possession limit beyond your front porch, your RV is not your residence.

 

[crawler]

8-10 to 8-14 (More Catch & Release)

Fished Breeze Hill every day. Fishing was good and I used the same (white or orange tail RMT) squids at 70 - 80 ft @ approx. 1.5 mph.

I've been reading the posts about catch and release while staying on the fence about the topic. However, this last trip out I noticed a boat doing nothing but C&R. One day I picked up one of his kills ( a nice 3 lb female ). The next day I noticed another small floater female of his but didn't use it as part of my limit. In two days this guy managed to sway my opinion of C&R. I don't see the need for it when fishing kokes (way to delicate). As for this guy ("Fishing Fool" painted on the side of his boat) I wonder why he doesn't collect his dead. Pretty obvious when you see the gulls pecking at the fish floating on the surface.