Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2023 - 15

NOTES
The one that got away
While on patrol in Medix Run,
Elk County, I stopped to talk to
a few gentlemen who had their
kids out fishing during Mentored
Youth Trout Day. Near the end of
our conversation, I asked to see
their fishing licenses. The kids were
proud to have their Voluntary Youth
Fishing Licenses on display for me
to see.
One kid was trying for a nicesized
Rainbow Trout that was being
picky about what it wanted to eat
that day. The whole time, the kid
was trying to get this particular
trout to take his lure. Then, I heard
a loud " splash " upstream. I looked
upstream and saw a kid jump into
the water after this huge Rainbow
Trout he hooked but lost on shore.
After the vigorous splashing and
losing the trout, this kid turned
around, took his hat off, and threw
it on the ground in utter disbelief
that he lost the fish that may have
been the biggest one he would have
caught to date.
The kid then picked up his hat
and fishing pole, realized that's
why it's called " fishing " and not
" catching " , and laughed it off with
his dad. The young man couldn't get
over the " one that got away " . -WCO
Darrell L. Miller II, Cameron County.
Flower thief
In the fall, I have the privilege of
partnering with the Pennsylvania
Game Commission to assist with
calls and other activities. While
working with a neighboring officer,
we responded to a complaint in
which a deer had a metal flower
pot stuck around its body. The deer
was in a property owner's backyard,
but when we arrived, it moved into
thicker brush. We couldn't assist
the deer while it was in the thick
brush, so I began to move the deer
in the direction of the Game Officer
to safely sedate the deer. Then, we
were able to remove the thick metal
wire of the flower pot from the deer's
neck and body using bolt cutters.
We watched as the deer recovered
from the sedative and looked much
more comfortable now that it wasn't
tangled up in a metal flowerpot.
Another happy customer and a
great day at the office.-WCO
Daniel J. Wilson, Southern
Westmoreland and Northern
Fayette counties.
Memorable
encounter
While on patrol, I was
illustration-Andrea Feeney
approached by a man asking if
I recognized him. Throughout
a given year, we have
encountered and interacted
with hundreds of people.
While our appearance and
uniform may be memorable
for them, it is sometimes
difficult for us to recall a single
interaction from several years
ago. I admitted that I was drawing
a blank and asked him to give me
some details to help me recall the
circumstances of our encounter.
He explained that I had stopped
his pontoon boat, because he was
not displaying a current registration
sticker. He just bought the used
boat and was still waiting for the
stickers to arrive from Harrisburg.
While I was waiting for the
results of the registration inquiry,
I performed a boarding on the
boat to ensure that he had all the
required safety equipment.
I identified many issues including
not having the required number of
serviceable life jackets on the boat.
I could have written him several
tickets for violations, but I gave
him one citation for the life jacket
violation. He thanked me not only
for the discretion used in writing
only one citation but also for the
time I took to explain how to fix all
the issues I found that day. He was
thankful to me for making sure his
family and anyone else who rode on
his pontoon boat would be safer.
I asked if he still had the pontoon
boat, and he said he sold it and now
had a bass boat, which he enjoyed
spending time on with his family. He
mentioned that he didn't forget the
lessons learned that day on the water
with me and has a Pennsylvania
Boating Handbook to reference.
Interactions like this are
important. Our intention as
Waterways Conservation Officers
is never to " ruin someone's day " .
To the contrary, our mission is to
make sure you never have to endure
tragedy while spending what is
supposed to be a fun day on the
water.-WCO John R. Cummings,
Northern Luzerne County.
May/June 2023
15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2023

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