Illegal Aliens and Hunting
As some of you know we live in the SE Corner of Arizona and within spitting distance of the US/Mexican border. We all are affected by the masses of illegals coming through our pourous border and with the US governments refusal to do anything substanial about it. It has had a dramatic effect on all of us here on the border and although you don’t probably see it on a daily basis it has had an effect on all the tax paying citizens of America. However now it is really getting personal, and I don’t mean them turning on our water and letting it run all night, or cutting our fences, or even using our backyard as a bathroom. One highlighted sentence in the Arizona Hunting Regulations states: “Homeland security issues along the international border may affect the quality of a person’s hunt.” I recently purchased a new AR, developed some loads for it and got it shooting -1″ MOA at 100 yards. Decided that this morning it would get it’s baptism under fire. Loaded up the truck before daylight and set out for one of my favorite spots. Pulled into the wash, hid the truck best I could and hiked a short way up a little knoll. Set my “improvised” Whirling Woodpecker (www.outfoxedproducts.com) out about 30 yards hurried back up the knoll and turned on the FoxPro. I couldn’t have been there for more than 5 minutes when two Border Patrol Agents came tiptoeing up the dry wash. I stood up and wavd then started walking down to them. They wanted to know what I was doing in the area, don’t know why I said what I did but I was kinda pissed-off that we now have to explain what we (US Citizens) are doing on the border. I told them that as far as I was aware we still lived in a free country and I could do as I well pleased as long as I wasn’t breaking any laws, which I wasn’t. We had a bit of a stare down and they then told me that this was a favorite passage way for illegals and I might be considered in the obstruction of them (Border Patrol) doing their duties. I gave them a smirk and walked back to the truck and left the area. On my next stand, about 5 miles away, I set up same as I had before. After about 10 minutes I spotted a coyote about 500 yards out coming straight into the call. Put the AR up and got ready, at about 300 yards he stopped and sat down. I knew he didn’t smell me as the breeze was coming from him to me. After a minute or two he got up and trotted back the same way he came. It was then that I heard some sounds in the canyon below me, you guessed it — about 6 or 7 illegals making their way down the canyon. I packed everything up and headed home. “Homeland security issues along the international border may affect the quality of a person’s hunt.”
Living in OH, the most contact I seem to have with this issue is via the media. Thanks for your personal perspective…it gives homeland security a more personal feel. I’m sorry to hear that your hunt was ruined this morning.
September 29th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Well going to try it again tomorrow - early AM, gotta be home in time for football, cold beer and hot-wings. PhD you hit a sore point, most folks that don’t live on or near the border have no idea what is happening, just read about in the paper or hear the bias news reports on TV. We have an invasion going on and neither of the political parties are doing a damn thing about it. By the way I grew up in western PA and eastern OH, Youngstown to be exact. Also spent some time in the Akron/Canton area. Good Luck on your Doctorate program, I do know what it takes to get there.
September 30th, 2007 at 1:06 am
Coyote John, when our nut-less politicians get finished molding the U.S. into a Third World Nation, hunting along the borders will be restored to the days of old.
Unfortunately, by then, none of us will be able to afford the luxury of hunting. Our politicians will facilitate Mexico’s effort to reclaim Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, and consequently, only the rich politicians will be able to afford the tariff to hunt here. Folks in the upper states need to wake up to what’s happening down here.
September 30th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
I know where your coming from. One time over by the San Pedro River. I was hunting with a couple of co-workers. On our way out. We got stopped and sorrounded by some of our great Border Patrol agents. They saw some guns in the truck. Drew thier weapons and demanded to know what we were doing. I told them that we were out shooting some coyotes, and what have ya. They wanted to know if we saw any illegals. My buddy next to me asked, If they heard any shots? They told us no. My buddy replied. Then I guess we didn’t! Things were quiet for a moment. Then they let us go. I was born and raise here in Az. I’m getting tired of being treated like the outsider.
October 1st, 2007 at 8:08 pm
hey guys I too had a recent experience with our illustrious border patrol.A buddy and I left I-10 at the red rock exit just north of tucson going west apprx 10 miles. We were intently searching for a likely coyote ambush spot off a very rough trail when we noticed a border patrol vehicle parked under a shade tree with its hood up and engine running about 50 yds off the road.I was concerned that they could be broken down or who knows what. I parked and walked to the vehicle and saw @ officers slumped against the window at their side. Couldnt tell if they were alive or dead.ON closer inspection I saw no blood and they appeared to be breathing. Actually, at 10Am here they are snoring. Our tax $ at work! I woke them up by honking my truck horn and Andy and Barney jumped out trying to draw their guns.At that point I was sure we were gonna get shot or have to fight. They questioned us intently as to why we were out in the middle of nowhere with camo and bushmasters. I told them that like themselves we were hunting coyotes, ours the four legged kind.It seemed to take a tense minute or two for them to get the gist of the joke.They said they were just taking a lunch break(10 A.M.?)They warned us to be alert as this was a well known area for illegal trfficking and that several dead aliens had been found in this area, some shot in the head. My friend and I rechecked our ar 15s and drove away feeling content and safe with such courageous border patrol agents watching our backtrail!
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:57 am
[...] own Coyote John frequently discusses the issue as [...]
December 27th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Well,john know you now how I fell I have a place in mustang corners. and I can not leave my house and God forbid I you leave my wife alone. the Illegeal walk right buy my house,all nite and as for the boarder patrol,I have called them and held illegles in my yard,just to have the patrol show up and LET THE ILLEGELS GO.telling me I can not make a citizens arrest,
As for wild life if the peta nuts wont to save the wild life thay might start by ending the illegeal problem, not only do thay eat the wild life but the junk in the desart is killing off wild life faster then any hunter. and the next wild fire you see on the news and it human started gess ho illgeles start fires so the pitrol can not get in to area.and to cover thair tracks.
I could go on and on but it will do no good.
July 5th, 2008 at 2:50 am
Sure funny how none of our Presidential candidates will touch on this subject. If they have, I’ve sure missed it! I guess all of our Presidential hopefuls believe if they say what the think on immigration reform, it’ll somehow cost them the election? Spineless cowards, all of ‘em! John McCain is from AZ and he should know better than any about what’s going on here in the southwest. I haven’t heard him say squat about his plan on illegal immigration. That’s probably because he doesn’t have one.
C’mon Congress, grow some testes and get our borders secured, before we get a bleeding-heart liberal elected.
July 5th, 2008 at 6:23 am
Now I here of abductions (on the US side of the border)of US citizens by Narcotics traffickers and other groups who find it profitable. The US citizens are taken into Mexico and held for ransom and/or? Believe I saw the story on the Genn Beck Show.
Very scary! I normally hunt predators by myself but no longer in the southern part of Arizona. Hard to find a good partner who has same days off. Oh well.Some great areas down south but just too dangerous anymore to go alone.
September 7th, 2008 at 6:02 pm