Was out doing maintenance on some deer stands and trimming lanes for the coming season in the area I guide in and as I was about to leave I heard a gun shot. Where I was at is pretty close to private property so I decided to drive down the road a little ways to see if I heard another shot but as I come around a sharp bend in the road there is a white F250 taking up the whole road. I stopped and realized there was a woman standing in front of the truck and thought she might need help so I got out to ask if she was alright and then this guy comes walking out of the woods with a rifle to my right. He says hey man I just shot a coyote and I just said oh cool but do you realize this area is closed and off limits for hunting due to troops being in the area training? He tried to play dumb and said he didn't know he was on Ft Hood property and the coyote was after his dog and blah blah blah. I just said ok and went to my truck where I wrote down his license plate as he left. I waited a few minutes and then went to look in the woods where I found a dead coyote pup so I got the grid coordinates along with the grid coordinates where his truck was parked. Called the GW to report him and he took all the info then said I may get suspended from hunting for 7 days for approaching the guy after he does his report and his boss reads it. I said I didn't intentionally approach the guy but that he came out of the woods right next to me. Either way if I had just called and reported hearing a shot without knowing if it was even on FT Hood property they would have just blew me off and thats why I went to check first. I figured if I seen a truck parked off the road I could just get the license plate and drive by then call the GW so they could get him in the act but it didn't work out like that. The rules he broke were having a weapon on Ft Hood, being in a closed area, no area access pass, poaching, hunting with a rifle in a limited range area (Bow, shotgun and blackpowder) and hunting from a public road. Hopefully the GW can track him down with the info I gathered and hopefully they understand the incident and don't get suspended and possibly lose my guide privileges. I guess for now on ill just call the GW and not try to investigate at all on my own.

Sorry, not understanding. Why would you be suspended for approaching? This is a new one to me.

Apparently its a Ft Hood rule they don't want anyone approaching poachers or anyone doing anything wrong in the training areas I guess. Best I can figure is its just a safety thing they don't want any altercations or incidents bc of someone approaching someone.

Thanks - I understand now.

I feel like as long as I get to tell my side of the story I shouldn't be suspended, I mean its not like I drove up and tried to apprehend him or something. I didn't ever even intend to make contact with the guy but when I seen the woman in front of the truck I figured I should ask if she needed anything.

....keep us updated please sir...

FWIW I'd suggest you look up a guy with a handle on TFF & THF of "SallySue" who is now or has guided on Fort property in the past. Lives very near Temple Lake Park...and get him to help 'splain what's going on with the the GW's attitude....and anything else about this incident that'd be helpful to you. The guy in the Ford truck sounds like you describd him "a poacher" and mebbe the GW's thinking is that you are some how mixed up in those going's on.
Ron

I don't think he thinks I had anything to do with it. I have made reports with this GW before when I caught people dumping on FT Hood property in my area. I think he is just pissed I approached him bc he thinks he would have been able to catch him in the act if I hadn't. I have my areas chief guide and the chief guide of guides who will have my back. I was kind of in the wrong technically for making contact with the guy but once I got out of the truck to check on the woman it was out of my hands and he approached me. I played it cool so he wouldn't know I was gonna report him bc I didn't know his history or how he would act if he thought I was gonna turn him in. I think I have a solid defense for the most part since I didn't go looking for trouble.

I think I'm going to go talk to the chief GW tomorrow just to be proactive about it.

That sounds pretty dumb. Only issue would be looking for the game. Hopefully nothing comes of it.

Knowing nothing of the access there, how do they get on the place in the first place?

Well that would suck...try to do something right and end up getting punished. I hope it works out for you.

No good deed...





This. Is there a back gate that's not monitored, or a fenceless boundary of some sort?

Dang, I hope it turn out ok. The truck was in the middle of the road..period

yes there is a road leading into the training areas that is not monitored. You can't get into the garrison part of Ft Hood without going through a gate or checkpoint but there are multiple roads into the training areas that aren't monitored.

Having a sitdown with the GW Spvr IMO is a great idea...might even take your Guide program Spvr too... or even another "credible witness" kinda person....especially if that GW you've gotten some "feedback" from is also gonna be there.

Lake Belton area was the 1st place we looked at in depth to buy a house almost 5 years ago now. Just couldn't get mine at Texoma sold in a timely manner to make it happen...and the then the ante with the DinL's more pressing needs changed everything. Anyway always thought the Ft Hood guides program was a neat deal to get involved with, after talking with SallySue several times...so I have more than a passing interest in how this works out for you.

IMO the Lake Belton area still fits our needs better than any other area else we looked at now that the DinL's needs are no longer an issue again, and I need to get closer to Temples facilities...and might still be possible if I get tired enough of fixin' on this old house in Palestine....or having to commute to Olin Teague or BS&W or Waco more regularly than I am now.
Ron

"yes there is a road leading into the training areas that is not monitored. You can't get into the garrison part of Ft Hood without going through a gate or checkpoint but there are multiple roads into the training areas that aren't monitored."

I've hunted on Camp Bullis and there is no way you can get onto the property without going through a check point. All perimeter access roads have locked gates.
Makes no sense to leave access to the public during these times post 911 especially.
I'd say the poaching problem is on them....No excuse!
And they want to suspend you?..

Seriously?? Sounds like a recipe for disaster....

Ft Hood was taken from civilians these same people off spring are still using the land for their cattle operations. There are prob 5 or more main roads into the training areas so the ranchers can avoid the Garrison and so people recreating can avoid driving through the garrison as well. Its always been like that.

Gotcha. Was just surprised the access to the land is that easy.

I kinda feel the same way but some of these access points are 45 minute drives from the garrison part of Ft Hood where the soldiers work daily. Also Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area is right across the street from my area and its open to the public. Poaching and stealing of equipment like feeders and game cams has been a major problem in the past and still is. We had a 4x6 deer stand stolen from our area a few months ago. Its a shame and I wish they would either man that entrance or atlas occasionally man it just to catch violators.

If people can get into a property with little fear of being caught they will press their luck.
Only locked gates will slightly deter them.
Ft Hood would do well, and even the cattle guy if they would get together and put a combination lock on the gates to slow the traffic, but sounds like too many people have free access to the property so it is what it is, a poachers paradise.
Good luck with the suspension since it's called CYA in the military.

locks only keep honest people out...

You didnt approach him!! You said it yourself. He blocked the road so what could you do but stop. Then he came out of the woods.

Update???????

I wonder if they will suspend that guys license for approaching you from the woods. You could have been a poacher just as well as him, how are you supposed to know?
And you are correct, the GW probably would not have investigated. We had a guy shoot a deer from the road on my brothers place. He tried to catch up to him but the shooter had a big head start. We had a dead deer and found two others, also near the road. The GW said there was nothing he do if we couldn't identify the vehicle, he wouldn't even come out. So I suppose we are going to have to approach a poacher close enough to identify him/vehicle, a Catch 22.

I didn't go up there bc I was busy today. I may go tomorrow or I may just wait and see what happens. I truly think he only said I could be suspended so that I won't end up in that situation again. I was thinking what I could have done different but there isn't much I could have done different except maybe turn around or back out when I seen the truck and then call the GW but at that point I didn't know the shot I heard came from that truck. This rule kind of puts the guy doing the right thing in a tough spot if he wants to trim someone in. I mean what good can you do if you just report a shot but have no vehicle description, license plate, description of occupants?

Probably a false imprisonment concern thing; If I suspect poaching or poacher I'm backing out to safe distance and making a phone call to authrities. If someone is willing to poach who says they are not willing to shoot someone. That would be my approach on/off my property.