I just don’t understand

I don’t think I’ll ever understand some people! Either they were raised with no sense of right and wrong or they’re just trying to get away with something, hoping no one will notice. Perhaps they’re just too lazy to learn the rules governing what they’re trying to do. Whatever the reason, they deserve whatever punishment is appropriate for their transgression.

I always read the “Police Beat” section of the Frontiersman when the state troopers are featured. The “wildlife violations” rundown is amusing and sad at the same time.

This past Tuesday’s listings included folks fishing in closed waters, fishing without a valid license, and fishing with more than one line, among other specified violations. Those folks were either trying to get away with something or were too lazy to learn the rules. I hope they pay the maximum fines imposed for those violations.

Other news reports stated that a Wasilla hunting guide pleaded guilty last week to several charges stemming from illegally guiding clients on sport fishing and hunting trips, wasting fish, and illegally taking a moose during a closed season. This person had been under investigation since 2012 and took undercover troopers on both fishing and black bear hunting trips over time.

The guide lost his boat, paid a $12,000 fine, is barred from hunting or fishing for two years, and will be on probation until 2020. He was also ordered to pay an additional fine of $1,000 for the illegally taken moose.

I don’t normally use names when writing about these things, but this next person leaves me no choice. Roland Maw — the governor’s first choice to replace Karl Johnstone on the Alaska Board of Fisheries, as well as a candidate for commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game — withdrew his name from the board’s consideration after coming under investigation by Montana authorities for claiming resident status and buying hunting licenses there for cheap.

A media report earlier this week said Maw pleaded no contest to seven counts of hunting license violations in Montana, which occurred from 2008 to 2014. Maw claimed Alaska residency during this same period of time.

The Montana court fined Maw $7,245 and, apparently, didn’t sentence him to any jail time, though he faced the possibility of up to six months in jail for each charge. Maw also lost his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges in Montana, Alaska and any state subscribing to the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact for the next year and a half.

Under Alaska law, any person who claims benefits in another state while filing for and receiving the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend is guilty of a violation carrying a hefty fine and up to one year in prison for each count, if convicted.

As I said above about the folks in the “wildlife violations” section of the Police Beat, regarding penalties, I hope Alaska authorities will now investigate whether Maw filed for and received a PFD between 2008 to 2014. If he did, I expect Alaska authorities to bring appropriate charges against him, considering what happened in Montana.

The sad part with Maw is that he is a well-educated man who should have known what he was doing was wrong. I don’t think he can claim ignorance. I would think, being a little older, like I am, that he was raised with some moral sense. That would leave only the idea that he thought he could get away with something because nobody would check.

This may come as a news flash to Mr. Maw, but one does not live a “public” life — like that of a Board of Fish member, an executive director of a commercial fishing organization, or the writer of a newspaper column — without having some people looking for whatever information they can find to use against you. Sometimes even the appearance of some wrongdoing is enough to ruin a “public” person’s reputation.

Fish and Game rules are in place to protect the resource and to provide as much opportunity to as many folks as possible. For those who think they’re better than the rest of us and don’t have to follow the rules, we have enforcement staff, a court system, and potentially harsh penalties.

It’s easier to just learn and follow the rules. Everybody is better off!

In other news, I think I’ve found my lead bullet load for my Winchester 1885 model replica rifle. I need to do more shooting, but a sub-one-inch group at about 135 yards is a great start!