Government Screwed Up My Turkey Hunt This Morning

[Stoner]

The county government screwed up my plans to turkey hunt this morning. I get a call from the sheriff's office at 5:45 A.M. saying that they had to cut the locks to our gates for a medi-vac transport by helicopter. They said that I needed to come immediately to secure our lots since the gate was no longer secure.  The padlock that was cut is not your run of the mill padlocks from Wal-Mart, they come a locksmith and are all keyed with a master and several sub-master keys. I asked who is going to pay for the lock they cut, answer "I do not know, are you going to charge us"? My response "if you do not know who is going to pay for the lock, call your sheriff get him out of bed and have him call me".  A few minutes later I get a call from the Fire Department Captain and he ask if he could help me, pleasant fellow, found out he was with the city fire department and not the county. I asked where was the accident, his response in town. Our business is eight miles from town, the emergency rescue had to transport this person pass two helipads (one at the local hospital) to get to our business. I asked why did you not use the other two helipads that were enroute to our place. Dead silence on the phone, finally he answered we just thought of your big lot would be a good place. I said about keeping one of your fellows at the gate to secure thelot, until we open, he response, "oh we cannot do that". The government creates more problems and expects the private citizens to correct their screw ups. I will be sending them a bill for the lock. These kind of people could not hold a job in the private sector. Just had to vent a little.

[hookedspur]

Your right !! Why do you think we are in the shape were in ?

[Stoner]

I do not get mad about many things, but they hit the right note this morning. I cannot think of any one thing the government has gotten involved in that they have done a good job.

[timbrhuntr]

Good post ksgobbler !

[ghillie]

That just doesn't seem right in many ways.....


I don't understand why they thought an unsecured area would trump a heli pad and  would possibly be the "right choice"...

We will ALWAYS take the secure pad...no matter what...at least there you know where the trees, light poles, wires etc etc are...hence they are "secure"

I also do not understand why they would drive PAST a secure LZ...potentially delaying pt care...

As far as landing at the hospital and being forced to bring the pt in so they can bill??  Gonna have to call the BS card on that....we frequently land at local hospitals to meet EMS rigs...because it is a "secure pad"....period...not once have we been told to bring the pt in to their ER...first of all...prolly a Level 3 or 4 trauma facility and they do NOT have the recources to care for said pt...what the pt needs is definitive advanced care at a level 1 trauma center...

We frequently land at scene flights....these are essentially unsecure areas...however...AirCare crew members go out to these county departments at their meetings and WE train them on scene LZ requirements...EMS, Fire and LEO's get this training by our crew....we teach them which freqs to use, how big an area, hazzards, obstructions, hard or soft ground, etc, etc...most land owners do not mind if a fence gets cut or whatever...but your situation is a little extreme..for sure

I would too...send them a bill for the lock and also ask about the safety in landing in an unsecure area....

[WyoHunter]

I hope somebody compensates you for the locks. Not too much common sense when you're dealing with the government.

[chcltlabz]

Well those of us who fight FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT, love giving you the right to complain about a stupid lock and blaming it on the government.  Boo hoo.

AND, saying that MEDEVAC is "the government" is like saying your turkey vest is a hunter.  TECHNICALLY, they are a very small part of a local government, I guess.

I can't think of anything that is good in this world that you shouldn't be THANKING the government for allowing you to enjoy.



Captain, US Army Retired

[hobbes]

Nothing better than a thankless job that lumps you into the "you couldn't make it in the real world" category. Not only do we get to answer to a regular manager, we get daily critiques from the public.  The public can never make the distinction between staff and the politicians they elected that make the policies. 

I love local government.