My deer hunting area is right off of the interstate. The Cleveland National Forest starts about 50 to 150 yards from the freeway and runs for miles along side of it. We had a lot of problems last year with the CHP out here thinking they own everything from the highway to the fence.
But the only legal place to park is a view point about a quarter mile from my jump off point. Last year they took a dim view of me walking down the side of the freeway about 8 OClock at night carrying a 12 GA Shotgun (after our local freeway shooter I understand) and after about an hour of being on the ground, handcuffed etc., verifying that I was indeed hunting in a legal area and just trying to get back to my car which was only another 100 yards up the road, they took the handcuffs off! But brandishing a weapon at the viewpoint is just as frowned apon. I realize they are just doing their job so I can't get too upset about it.
So, I started parking at an entrance gate that the forest service has in case they need to stage equipment for fire etc. It was a good 50 yards from the interstate. We ranged it. But they kept tickiting and threatening to tow our vehicles. All of the tickets were eventually dismissed "in the interest of justice", but it was a big hassle anyway.
So now, I still need to be able to get my game to the car, usually up about 1800' of mountainside and it takes time. Lots of it. To pack the meat out myself, I will have to cut it into at least three pieces, Head and neck, split the body. That's three trips. All day affair even if I take one in the AM. I just dont know what else to do otherwise except try and come up with some method to keep the game cool while all of this is happening. Plus, I'm thinking about getting a Bobcat Tag and Pig Tag and hang out for a little while after the guts hit the ground to see what else might show. Any other ideas are certainly appreciated.
Paul