Wilson Bandits

[Trout,myster]

iFishers- After reading Osprey's bum luck at getting ripped off and seeing the note about a theft on the Wilson River, here's another warning on the Wilson. I saw a note at Lee's Camp warning everyone fishing or hunting along the river to beware. Some low-life individuals are apparently "patrolling" the river and hitting vehicles at random. The gal at the store mentioned several rigs that had been broken into and these turds are still patrolling. Watch your stuff. By the way, all the offers to help Osprey out were a real sign of a great group of people. Hope he is able to recover.

[Deleted User]

I sure would like to hear about some guys setting up a bait and nab operation on these lowlifes. The police don't have the time or priority. Guys that fish the Wilson a lot could get a crew of 3, rotating one guy fishing so the thieves think that the target is clear (the guy fishing is legal to carry a concealed handgun too). The other 2 can hide and watch the baited car or truck with valuables visable in a locked vehicle with a camcorder and a long lens still cam ready to film a breakin. Call the police immediately with a cell that works in the canyon or at one of the nearby stores. Get a license number if possible. Do a "get your hands behing your head" citizens arrest with your handgun from behind a tree at your own risk; carefully and with camcorder evidence. Better to call the police. - RT - Edit: Another idea would to be to make a large orange or yellow with black ink sign to tape inside your window that says "We have a rotating surveilance crew watching fishermen's cars at random the rest of this season. I hope you are on film right now."

[This message has been edited by RT (edited 11-22-2000).]

[Bait O' Eggs]

I volunteer to work a shift. It would be interesting to bust these lowlifes. And a concealed weapons permit wouldnt be needed because the guns will be in full sight at all times (though I have a concealed permit). I also have the camcorder with 30 power zoom which could film the event. That is if you dont mind a blood and guts western type home movie. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif Even got some cool gear we could use as bait. The bait ban initiative didnt include electronics and cameras did it?

It is only legal to shoot another individual when you "fear for your life". When these lowlifes so much as twitched I would fear for my life, being it would be a tense situation taking down the bandits. And I wouldnt even need to lie about the being afraid for my life as I watched some pond scum thru the rifle scope.

[Hookset]

How about we setup a IFish sting operation? We could contact the local sheriff and state police and ask about setting up surveillance crews at popular parking areas known for breakins. We could monitor in shifts for one or two days during the upcoming peak bank fishing season. As Rt suggested, camcorders would help along with a liscense plate number. After we tape these low lifes we could gather later for a IFish late lunch or dinner at a local eatery. It'd be nice to work in some fishing too. But first things first. Lets once and for all nab these thiefs so we can all rest easy.

This could be a third opportunity for a IFish gathering this year. What do you think? Anyone willing to spend a day or maybe two on surveillance?

hook

[Shannon]

Don't be blowing steam. I would love to hear that you guys bust there behinds. Do it.

Shannon

[Penn]

I have no problem with setting up a sting. Me and a friend of mine will be fishing the Wilson soon and hard. We both have Concealed permits and I was taught to shoot by my father whom was a sniper in Korea. You guys figure out a time and place and I'm sure we can set something up. Need to figure out what part of the river they are hitting or is just all up and down? When it's time to get serious about this pond scum, email me and lets get down to business.

[Moby Catcher]

Well, I can always volunteer my other set of waders as some bait...heh

[Hottamale1]

RT...

If your cell phone doesn't work in the canyon, try this...

Grab your closest Graphite rod, put "it" and the cell phone somewhat together, and dial.

You will see that the Rod acts as a pretty good whip antenna. Hopefully it does NOT amplify the radiation!!!

Scott

[Trout,myster]

Hey Penn, and everyone else. The word I got from the gal at Lee's Camp was that rigs were being hit randomly all the way from the summit (hunters and ATV riders) to the mouth. I've been pretty careful about where I park and how far down the river I stagger away from my rig. I'm going to start packing my revolver just in case (never know what these people are armed with or how many). I've even considered taking a "nap", so to speak in the back of my extended cab and waiting. Being greeted by a pistol barrel may alter these pilfering punks' thought pattern. RT has a good point, though, especially if you're fishing alone. Be careful...nobody wants to become a statistic or get into a situation where you'll end up on "Cops" on TV as the person who gets sued by a wrongdoer just because you fouled up. Eventually, now that iFishers know about this, we'll either catch'em or scare hell out of'em!

[Scarecrow]

I own and shoot several guns. A word of caution, Please don't get TOO trigger happy out there. All we need is for the anti's to hear of one of us shooting some scum bag for "only walking by this guy's pickup and these bambi killers shot me". We do need to catch these jerks, but is a human life (yours or even a dirty low-down thieving excuse for a human life) worth it? Lets not get too carried away with the vigilante thing that we loose sight of the other things in life that we value, like wives, kids, moms and dads, jobs, cars, and fishing. We can sure help to catch these guys, but do we need to be judge, jury and executioner? Just putting in a little caution, which in no way diminishes my desire to get these guys caught and punished!

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Bob G.

[Osprey]

Catch Scum bag pieces of maggott crap...I'm in, http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I"ve got an old 38 with the sights filed off,that way it won't chip their teeth http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gifand we can check their gag reflex
at about this point I feel they'll coperate,
Does it sound like I'm a tad bit torqued .... Good luck as the
Assistant Director of Animal Husbandy for IFISH, http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gifI hearby Deputize all Interested members to perform the mission of the interest of Sportsman ,pubic saftey and Garbage patrol...may the Force be with you
be careful out there.........Os http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif

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Row quietly and fish a Cataraft !!-------<'))>><
Release all Wild Fish
arrest all thievin scum bags

[This message has been edited by Osprey (edited 11-23-2000).]