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cb1000rider wrote:I'm curious, what was he reasonably suspicious of that he needed to stop you? IE - why did he tell you that you were stopped?

He started following me when I left the Stillwell store, about 10 miles outside the Park. I had driven back there after my first stop at the closed Persimmon Gap entry station, because I knew Stillwell's had camping spots available. When I got to Stillwell's I found it also totally blacked out, so headed back to the Park. Never even got out of my vehicle at Stillwell's. I saw a vehicle pull out a few hundred yards behind me, and like I said, just thought it was another late traveler. When that vehicle's lights disappeared, I just thought they had turned off somewhere. It was actually him turning off his lights.

So he followed me back to the Persimmon Gap station in the park, where he lit me up in the empty parking lot after I had stopped to call the family to let them know I had gotten to Big Bend okay. He followed me 10 miles with no lights on. Surprised he didn't hit any of the javelina I encountered a few times on the way.

Out conversation was very short. All he asked me was if I was a US citizen. Twice. His first, and last questions. I was tired (400 miles of driving plus another 100 after I got there trying to find a place to sleep until morning. I had also driven past Stillwell's earlier to Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, but found it closed due to a hunt), and irked about being lit up, so right after I told him "Yes, I'm a US citizen" I told him all I was doing was trying to find a place to sleep until morning. I didn't ask why he had followed me, or why he lit me up. I just wanted the situation over. I was damned tired of driving, and wanted to contact my family, who was expecting to hear from me.

It was dark, and I never got out of my vehicle, so I don't know for a fact he wasn't a canine unit and he could have had a dog sniffing the car.

I will say that he was polite, professional, and not aggressive in any way.

Why, who knows? Later I did wish I had asked.

This is the first time in 30 years of going to the Big Bend area I've ever been lit up by the Border Patrol, so can't get too worked up about it. I'm glad they are on the job actually.


Thanks for the answers.

On a recent trip to Big Bend National Park I got followed by a Border Patrol vehicle for about 10 miles. From outside the Park to a visitor center inside the Park. It was after sunset, and pretty much pitch black. I knew he was back there, but didn't know he was Border Patrol, or following me. I thought it was just another late arriver to the Park.

He pulled in close behind me as I stopped at the (closed) visitor center and turned on his red and blue lights. I rolled down the window, kept my hands on the wheel, and waited. He approached cautiously, identified himself as US Border Patrol, and asked if I was a US citizen. I said "Yes" and waited for him to ask for ID.

He never did. I was waiting for it, and was debating about presenting the CHL, as that is Texas, and he is Federal. I was carrying a .357 mag revolver in a gunpack at 12:00, a .38 snub in my left front pants pocket, and had another .357 in a tote on the passenger front seat.

We had a short conversation about me looking for a place to spend the night, until Park visitor centers opened next mornng, and he again asked me if I was a US citizen, to which I again said "Yes".

He left, and I made my way to a campground in the Park with after hours self-registration, (46 miles away).

I'm still not sure what I'd have done if he asked for ID. If I had decided to present CHL, I'd have definitely volunteered that I had the firearms, and their locations.

My question is, "Would YOU have presented your CHL along with other Identification, if asked by a Federal, not state or local law enforcement officer, such as this Border Patrol officer?"