Fined for using a legal climbing tree stand

During the 2012 WI deer season I hunted in Lincoln County Forest public hunting area. On Sat. Nov. 24th as I was walking out of the woods I was approached by a Lincoln County Sheriffs Deputy. After identifying himself he then proceeded to ask me if I knew how much damage I was doing to the tree I was climbing by knocking the bark off. (FYI I was climbing a 14" red pine with my two piece API tree stand.). When he encountered me we were about 100-125 yds. from the tree and we never went over to look at it. He had been in there around noon when I was back at the cabin napping and looked at it. After we walked the rest of the way out to my vehicle and he ran my license to make sure I wasn't wanted he said he may or may not issue a citation after speaking with the County Forester on Mon. and we both left. On Tues. Nov. 27th I received a citation in the mail for "Defacing Timber" Lincoln County ordinance #16.07 (1)b or c. $200.50! The tree is worth about $8-10 according to the three loggers I've asked. I'm curious to see what everyone thinks. My position is that if I'm defacing timber by using a legal stand (I even asked the deputy, he said it was legal as long as it doesn't damage the tree. Look at the design of the stands we use, they all have teeth on them that are designed to bite the tree so we don't fall out. The design dictates there will be damage to the tree.) then how come every person that shoots a gun in the County Forest isn't cited. Bird hunters shoots shotguns that spray BB's into several trees at one time causing damage thus defacing timber. Deer and bear hunters shoot bullets that ricochet off god knows how many trees before some become imbedded in those trees. I have plead not guilty and my court date is in about 6 weeks. Give me some feedback for or against me I'm just trying to figure out if I'm crazy or this is just a bad rap!! TS2

i'll snitch on violators any chance i get. and if you don't like it stop violating. or shove it. good decision ts2.

im for ya thats bs.how do they expect you to get in a tree to enjoy you'r sport.

I don't know any of the other individuals. All I did was give them GPS coords. to some tree stands that were supposed to be removed and were left in the woods after hunting season. I was doing some late season bow hunting in a new area (still Lincoln County Forest Unit) but not near where I had hunted during the gun season while using my climber. Actually I was a couple of miles away. In a conversation with the attorney I mentioned that there are actual violations happening so why pick on me for some bark and THEY came back a day later with the deal that if I gave them the locations of the stands that they would dismiss the charges against me. Pretty simple decision for me. Personally I think they were going to have a tough time convicting me so they got what they wanted and I got what I wanted - nothing on my record. TS2

My BS-O-Meter is pegging out on this whole story. You'd be best to quit while your ahead. Either this is some kind of tall tale, or your elbow deep in whatever the other guy was doing. Either way, there no way they just picked you out of a crowd just because of some bark. In either case, if you can sleep at night, so be it.

I think it worked out pretty good. The sheriff got info on the person they where looking for in the first place. He didn't have to take time off work and drive to court. He loss minimum amount of money and made a good impression on the sheriff which might help him out in the long run. Some times you need to make a deal to cut your loss. Because technically he broke the law because he did slight damage to the tree. How much would it cost him to go to a jury trail? More then 25 dollars.

Geez la weez... some of these posts crack me right up.

You weren't found 'Not Guilty!' They agreed not to pursue the charges based on what you could give them. And you did pay them money, regardless of how you want to split hairs about it. Again, glad it worked out, but there's a difference between 'not guilty' and 'cut a deal'.

If you knew the other guy was doing something illegal and you didn't call it in right away you are no better than he is. A criminal breaking a law. The law man used you to find more about the other guy, like who he was. You snitched him out to get yourself in the clear for a mear $25. If you truly were not doing anything wrong you should have stood on your own ground stating that he tree stand was a legal hunting tool. Let them figure out who the other guy was on their own.

As this story evolves, I am smelling more and more male bovine scat! TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!

I didn't get a reduced fine. The $25 were court costs and not part of the fine. A reduced fine would have meant the charges were changed or reduced. They were dismissed. Call it what you will but I never stated that I was out to fight some greater cause for all hunters - the rest of the posters on this thread put that idea out there. When it comes down to it you gotta look out for #1 and the best outcome for me was exactly what happened. Not guilty! No matter how it happened. I don't want this to go any further before someone including myself writes something they shouldn't! TS2

I have no issue with you reporting violators. BUT.. this is kind of a hollow victory. You started out with the idea that your were gonna stand up for your rights, i.e. 'Fined for using a legal climbing stand'. But when given an opportunity, you rolled on someone else in exchange for getting part of the fine dropped. The end result was satisfactory, but not exactly the vindication you were aiming for. Put it this way: if someone asked the Lincoln County Sheriff about the case, he could say "yeah, I nailed the guy, and he was guilty. But he cut a deal and got out of it." And for all intents and purposes, he'd be correct.

First off if there weren't violators there wouldn't be snitches because there wouldn't be anyone to snitch on! No, I'm not worried about anyone watching me. I do my thing and if someone thinks it's wrong they can turn me in as is the case which started all this anyway. I still do believe I did nothing wrong by using my climber the way it was intended to be used. But why spend days of vacation and possibly up to $300 when $25 will do. If I am guilty of anything - not reporting all the violations I see would be it. I would spend an awful lot of time on the phone though as I see a lot of them. As I said before - everyone is entitled to their own opinion so if you want to call me a snitch that's your right but, IN MY OPINION those of you that are upset about my "snitching" are probably the ones doing the violating and don't like the so-called "snitches" who get you in trouble! TS2

And now, the rest of the story!

IF you really feel you didn't do anything wrong I would not have paid the $25. Take it to court, if they still find you guilty then at least you know you did all you could.

he 'snitched' only to get out of paying his fine. he didn't 'snitch' because it was the right thing to do (calling the DNR TipLine on a violator is the right thing to do). he's only interested in himself.