Run in with Park Country Sheriff's department

[bchase75]

I had an interesting experience with a couple officers from the Park County Sheriff's department last Sunday, and I'm curious to see what y'all think.

Some friends and I had planned to spend the day shooting up at Pike National forest. We were at a spot that I've been going to for 10+ years, and it's a popular spot for others as well, based on how much brass/shotgun shells we pick up every time we go there. I was sighting in my AR and 10/22, as both have new glass, and my friends were shooting clay pigeons.

After we'd been there for a few hours, two officers from the Park County Sheriff's department pulled up and demanded our IDs. We happily obliged, and asked if there was a problem. They didn't tell us what the problem was, so I wandered over to my camp chair to grab a drink, and one of the officers said "Stay where you are, sir....we're liable to shoot first and ask questions later." I was a bit surprised at that, but I held my tongue. Eventually they returned our IDs, and they said we should shoot elsewhere. I asked if we were breaking any laws, and they said no, but they stuck around until we started packing up, the understanding being that we were done for the day.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? The area where we were shooting isn't too far from 285....maybe we'll have better luck if we go farther in?

[wctriumph]

Well????

[bchase75]

Sorry....fat fingered my keyboard before I was done typing. Complete post above.

[merl]

So some simple harassment?

edit - As Rucker asked did you get names so you can ask the department for a clarification on their actions?

[Rucker61]

Did you get their names?

[Dave]

About the time they said they might shoot first and ask questions later I would have been recording names, ranks, badge numbers, vehicle numbers and license plate numbers then calling their department to verify and register a complaint.

[bchase75]

Didn't get any names, but I should have. The younger officer was making me nervous....he started talking about how tracers and exploding targets we're illegal (we had neither), and then he got really worked up over it, so I just stood there and let him rant. I may call Park County to get clarification on the issue, as they never did say what the problem was.

[MarkCO]

You most surely should call, and get clarification, as well as report it. If they do not have a record of the contact, I would press it even further.

[bchase75]

Just called and got their names...dispatch said she'd have their supervisor call me.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Maybe some treehuggers from california who happened to be hiking there reported you in.