So there I was, fly fishng in my tube on a small mountain lake in a nearby National Forest. The lake is remote and located at the end of a 5 mile gravel road. There were two parties camped at the lake. I was fishing across from the south camp
when one of the campers started screaming at me (I was the only fisherman on the lake) to "get the F--- off my fishing lines." He then grabbed what looked like a pump .22 air rifle and fired 7-10 shots at or near me and my tube. I was able to get away unhit.
What would you have done next?

If I were in that situation I would have got a good discription of the guy got off the water tried to get a vehicle lic number then called the county sherriff.

A pellet gun can count just as much as a reel gun as far as the law goes. Pellet guns can kill and it seems that he had intent to shoot you, (even if he didnt intent to kill you it dosent really mater) with it from what you described. So I would see it as a 2nd degree felony assault. Pretty seriouse charge and Im not jokeing. And obviosly he wasnt either.

Your situation meets the elements of Second Degree assault.

WOW, that makes for a relaxing day of fishing.... sherriff sounds about right cant return fire if theres other folks nearby
mike

Wow. What did you do? Obviously you got off the water, but what did you do after that? Did you call the cops? Kock on wood, nothing like that has ever happened to me, but if I were in your shoes, I'd be inclined to hunt that guy down after I made it off the water...... They'd never find all of him, just a litle piece here and there.

Wow

Always be careful in calling the police. They are just human like any one else and many police officers do not have enough brains or common sense to tie their own shoes.

If you are alone and they have witnesses (meaning friends) it is better to leave without calling the police. The cops will screw you sometimes.

Hey 'Thrower,

What about all of the cops that DO have brains and common sense? I guess those are the ones that YOU should watch out for huh?

p.s. I imagine you're probably in a significant amount of pain right about now. (reference to your signature)

4salt

Are you a police officer because you sure jumped on this one? I am not a lawbreaker. Have had personal experience with the police. I was assaulted and the police took testimony of his friends as witnesses. They all lied; I told the truth and got burned. This really left a bad taste in my mouth.

I was just saying they are like any one else and can make mistakes and they do. Sometimes it is better to let things go then to call a cop and take a chance on getting burned yourself. Those people who shot the BB gun can make up any story they want and the police officer will listen, take his notes and maybe believe it.

When you call the cops it is like rolling the dice, even if you are 100% in the right. The police were not there when the incident occurred and all they have to go by is the word of the two parties.

P.S. That was a cheap shot (reference to your signature)

Lead thrower,

No I'm not a cop. Go back and re-read you first post. You didn't explain any extenuating circumstances, or how this related to you in any way. You made a blanket accusation towards law enforcement. I'm sorry the outcome of your particular case went badly for you. How about presenting some alternatives to the system we have in place now? It's not perfect, but I'd much rather live here than let's say Iraq or someplace like that.

4Salt

In my first post I tried not to make it a blanket statement by saying "Many police officers". I guess I should have said you run the risk of getting a police officer.

Hey I got nothing against cops both my Aunt and Uncle are retired from the Snohomish Sheriffs Department. I just had a bad experience, which I should probably let go.

As for presenting alternatives to the current system, well they are probably as good as they can get with all the variables that are required for a officer in the field. Any alternatives are really above me.

Granted our system is better than Iraq. Even our system at its worst is still probably the fairest in the world.

Thrower -
Try the edit button ...

Always bring a cell phone, and a large handgun.
have you not see deliverance.

If anybody ever shoots at me in the woods they had better kill me.

cops would not be an option.

I dont think i would go with the tough guy response Flyfish. I would have got back to my rig and called the cops and let them go back and antagonize the dumb Sh** that shot at u. If the guy is stupid enough to shoot a pellet gun at you, he's probably not smart enough to make up a good story.

I've had to deal with the Auburn police three times in the past two months, for reasons i will not state.

I have found every police officer I've talked to to be a very light person, never rude and even though I'm only 16, none of them have ever looked down at me. I've recieved respect from all of them, and the people who do not respect the police make me wonder...

If youre on the right side of the law, the Bible even states in proverbs that good will come to you.

Curtis

Me again. I drove out to Trout Lake and called the Skamania Sheriff via 911. As of today, I cannot find out if they responded. On my way out, I spoke with a camper who told me that my "problem person" was shooting up the campground all the previous evening.