Good LEO Encounter - VDGIF Conservation Officers
For years I have rehearsed in my head how I should respond when stopped. Nothing went as I rehearsed.
I was standing at the back of my vehicle uncasing the shotgun having just pulled into one of the areas I like to hunt. It is a remote spot in the George Washington National Forest. No sooner than I put on my safety vest a large Suburban goes by on the road and comes to an abrubt slow skid of a stop. The vehicle backs up and pulls up into the access road where I am now standing. Their windows are tinted and I can't see anything. I am uncertain who is in the vehicle or what they want at this point - just strange behavior.
A VDGIF Conservation Officer exits the passenger side which pretty much puts my mind at ease that I am not in harms way at this point. She asks if I am going to hunt. Before responding, I inform her of the CCW permit and that I am carrying. She says that is fine, may I see your license? I respond yes sir, uh, sorry, yes maam. I'm a bit flustered at this point being the first stop, not to mention she is pretty.
I reach into my front pocket (should have told her that is where my wallet is) - with that her partner moved pretty quickly from the drivers seat to the front corner of the vehicle. Guess I made 'em nervous unintentially.
After checking the license, she asks to see my hunting gun. Once she saw the shotgun and #6 shells, I think she pretty much figured I am not poaching deer and things began to relax. She said the shotgun was a nice one. She checked my permit, asked what I was hunting for, then wished me a good day.
All is well that ends well.
BTW, I wish there were more VDGIF officers in the field. Too often I see violations by thoughtless individuals.
