Be Careful in those Woods! That Garbage Could be a Dangerous Meth Lab. As hunters, when we see garbage lying in the woods, it usually causes a sense of anger or frustration. After all, part of the reason we hunt is to get away from it all and enjoy nature. I have often picked up an old bottle or piece of garbage in the woods and thrown it away. But you should be careful! Meth labs are often set up in remote areas to avoid detection, and when they are abandoned, toxic and potentially deadly waste is left behind. Active labs are often defended by strung out "tweekers" who have no problem using guns to defend their territory.
There are many news stories about hunters who have found meth labs in the woods. One story out of Indiana told of several hunters who stumbled across a meth lab, and saw a youg person fleeing the scene. They called local police, who later arrested the juvenile based on the hunter's id of him. In 2003, at least four meth labs were discovered in Arkansas due to tips from hunters. One of the labs was set up in a tree stand. In some areas, police have specifically appealed to hunters to help them look for labs, because they are some of the few people who actually visit the places the labs are run. In 2001, it was reported that about half of all meth raids in Indiana were initiated by people who found suspicious materials in the woods. (And if you are an icefisherman, meth labs have even been found in ice fishing shantys.)
Because meth is made with many typical household products, abandoned labs often look like nothing more than old campsites. Typical garbage left behind includes coolers, Coleman propane stoves, glass beakers, LP tanks, plastic tubing, garden hose, spray cans, respirators, dust masks, weight scales, empty cans of tolune, alcohol or paint thinner, cold tablet blister packs, coffee filters, lithium batteries, muriatic acid, car starting fluid, drain cleaner, HEET cans, and aluminum foil. Meth labs can also have a strong odor of cat urine or fingernail polish remover from the cooking process.
The meth manufacturing process, known as 'cooking', leaves behind extremely hazardous waste. Depending on what type of chemical it is, as well as the concentration and quantity, even short exposure can have adverse health effects. Acute exposure to high levels of contaminants can cause shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, dizziness, lack of cooordination, burns to the skin, eyes, mouth and nose, and in severe cases, death. Chemicals can enter the central nervous system and cause neural damage, and affect the liver and the kidneys. Sadly, these chemicals also threaten the environment for years to come by working their way into groundwater, streams, and animals. Cooking one pound of meth can leave behind five or six pounds of toxic residue.
There is also the danger of fire and explosion. Hunters should never open discarded new looking jugs and coolers, because dangerous fumes can cause burns, lung damage, and even blindness. There have been many stories of people finding a new gas can lying along the road, taking it home, and being injured when the chemicals inside explode. Tanks used for manufacturing meth can be corroded or have rigged valves, which will allow them to spray amonia gas into eyes and lungs. Hunters should not pick up or open backpacks, coolers, cans, or boxes they find lying out in the middle of nowhere.
Active labs can be just as dangerous as abandoned ones. They are often booby trapped, or defended by armed guards. People who use meth are called tweakers, and they can be irrational, irritable, and paranoid. They sometimes have not slept for between 3 to 15 days. Their eyes may move ten times faster than normal, their voice quivers, and they have jerky movements. If you encounter a tweaker, keep your distance. Coming too close can be perceived as threatening. Do not shine bright lights at them. Their paranoia and the bright lights may cause them to react violently. Speak slowly and lower your voice. Slow your movements. In their paranoia, they may misunderstand your movements. Keep your hands visible, or they may feel threatened and become violent. Keep them talking. A tweaker who falls silent can be extremely dangerous, because silence often means that his paranoid thoughts have taken over reality, and anyone present can become part of their paranoid delusions.
In 1995, there were 27 lab busts in Missouri, and two each in Illinois, Georgia, and Florida. In 2002, there were 1039 in Missouri, 321 in Illinois, 85 in Georgia, and 89 in Florida. As you can see, meth labs are a potentially dangerous and growing problem for everyone, but especially hunters, because we tread the same territory as the people who operate the labs. So next time you are out hunting, don't stop picking up those random pieces of garbage. However, be aware of any suspicious activity, and above all, be careful.
Happy Hunting!
