The "disappointing sight yesterday" thread got me to wondering again about something that popped into my mind the other day, and I was just curious if anyone else had an opinion.

If a guide is caught knowingly breaking game laws with their clients - keeping a cooler of their clients' Lake Fork slots, having their client shoot a deer out the truck window, whatever - should he/she still be allowed to re-up their guiding license?

I know that in my business, as an investment advisor, doing something intentionally fraudulent (not a mistake) is a surefire way to have my license yanked and I'd be needing a new line of work.

Just wondering if anybody had any thoughts on that.

I believe people can change. As a boy I broke the rules/laws like most because I wasn't suppose to. My father taught me not to but it took getting caught and punished and seeing my friends get locked up for me to change my evil ways.
The law does not teach. But hard times certainly can. Billy the kid is famous because he was an outlaw. I believe he to repented as an adult. Can others not do the same? We should be more wise & not judge so fast. We may be judged the way we judge others. Think thats written somewhere? IMO, NO ONE SHOULD BE ABOVE THE LAW & we should all set better examples.

Should a guide have his licence back after breaking a game law?
That's a tuff one & I don't think I'm worthy to say.

Word ^ I'd never do some of the chit I used to, well maybe some. But anyways haha people change especially if you get punishment

I think if you are getting paid to guide, this makes you a professional and you should act accordingly and set a good example. Intentionally break the law, I'd give you one get out of jail free card (depending on how serious the infraction) the second time you loose your license.

I agree with the first half of Pelican's statement, but the latter part should include some heavy fines and community service.

I agree.

I agree also.

I think the guide (being a professional) should be punished with a pretty hefty fine and put on probation. I know we have all brole some rules and with that comes consequences.

We all know what happens when a "professional" fisherman cheats during a tournament, right?

Not a lot of difference when its a guide/good ol' boy/weekend warrior/ or me! that breaks the law.

RULES ARE RULES
LAWS ARE LAWS

don't do the crime if ya can't do the time.

If a guide knowingly break game laws with their clients, it really shows what kind of integrity that guide has & doesn't say much for his/her character either. IMO I think the guide should lose his/her license for 1-5 yrs depending on the offense, hefty fines & community service. They're professionals & should know better. No excuse to break game laws other than they just have a ginormous ego & the arrogance to think that they won't get caught.

I agree that a guide should set the bar much higher than to do something like that. Of course, the law does not set out a different type of punishment for guides verses other violators.
Unfortunately, guide licenses are as easy to get as a regular fishing license. You pay the $138 at WalMart and they print you a guide license. It is not a professional license like a police officer, nurse, electrician, etc.
It really makes those of us who strive to be guides with good ethics and morals sick when we hear something like this.

Don't know "guide" laws but know of a person who committed a non-jailtime related hunting felony. He is barred for life from getting any kind of hunting or fishing license in the U.S.

Bass Junkie has a good point that there are already some laws in place for serious offenses. If someone has a jury trial then I could see the extra punishment, but not when it is one warden's finding. Also, imagine a scenario where a guide's customers are throwing unders into a live well without him being aware. By preventing the guide from paying that fee the next year it would be less money in the state's coffers too.

If that's true then it was a federal offense and their felonies carry a huge penalty!!! In fact their misdemeanors can be up to a $5000 fine.

I'm both a police officer and a guide. I despise it when either does something to bring shame on the profession!!!

I think the punishment should fit the crime and the only way for that to happen is on a case by case basis. There is already language in the TX laws for License Suspension and Revocation. It is up to a judge to apply them fairly.