Game Wardens

[Baghdad Bob]

I am just wondering if someone were to be pinched by a warden for some violation what is the right game warden etiquette? On the warden shows on TV most of the time they end up shaking hands after he hands out the tickets. So I asked a retired warden the other day at the rifle range, "did anyone ever shake your hand after you gave them a ticket". He just kind of looked at me funny and I said, "that is what I thought"

 

[nortac]

They have a difficult job. I've been ticketed once and deserved it. I was not happy about it. No one is ever happy getting ticketed. Most probably deserve it and there are some you scratch your head on. Sometimes they are arseholes when not needed. Bad apples in every orchard but that doesn't mean the orchard is bad.

 

[tradman]

I got ticketed a few weeks ago fishing. The warden was good about it though. After the citation we chatted for a bit about fishing and hunting. I even had my sidearm on me as well.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’ve been harassed by one or two. Never ticketed. Once during Covid I had one ask me if I just got to town or if I’d been around all winter (insinuating I should be quarantining), talk about over reach….

 

[Baghdad Bob]

I got ticketed a few weeks ago fishing. The warden was good about it though. After the citation we chatted for a bit about fishing and hunting. I even had my sidearm on me as well.

Still wondering for my personal survey, was a handshake exchanged?

 

[nortac]

I did not shake hands with the warden that ticked me for two dove over the limit...yes my bad. I did shake the hands with wardens on the lake a couple of different times as they were doing what they do with no issues.

 

[Wrench]

I've spent a good bit of time with the enforcement guys and they're not the touchy feely type. I've never been ticketed but I have seen some very "entrapment" type situations and some great lessons.

The wardens job is to enforce wildlife and all other laws. They are supposed to know the latest codes inside the 200 pages of sportsman's regulations. I haven't seen a hunter that knows all of the codes by heart. I do wish they'd spend more time grabbing guys like the methow mulie molester than measuring your 396 in/sq vest that was 413 in/sq before it got washed.

 

[Baghdad Bob]

Been checked here in Wisconsin 3 times in 10 years. We've been going to South Dakota for 30 years. WE usually split our license into 2 five day hunts, never have seen a warden out there. Ice fishing in Canada last year we were checked on the ice the first day, checked again on the last day and never saw another human all week.

 

[loganwayne]

I dont think ive ever shook ones hand. But ive hunted with several and meet a pile of them here from being friends with a bunch of guys that work for the wildlife commission.
I have helped them pack deer out, shared some beers... oh and hazed a new recruit when she showed up to check me.

Even meet a NC warden in Yellowstone on a float sight seeing trip... he was more weirded out that I picked him out on the boat as warden without talking to him. But was a nice guy still didnt shake his hand

 

[Pony Soldier]

I don't remember shacking hands with any. Had one give me a miniture double spring trap when I was trapping rats in the 70s. One that hiked a mile to check my license in about 76. And one that checked my license in about 18.

Those are the only years I have ever seen one. And one I took goose hunting in about 1973. He was the one that said the mayor of my little town said I shot all my geese with a rifle.

It's amazing what things go on behind your back.

 

[TXHunt]

I have been checked many times both hunting and fishing. Never got a ticket that I can remember. All good encounters and shook their hands.

In fact at our place here in Texas in Sutton county I have only seen the game warden a couple times in the 13+ years have had that place but when we do, we invite him to stay for breakfast and or come back for dinner. He’s never taken us up on it though.

I have a lot of respect for those guys.

 

[7mm-08]

Candidly, it is tactically unsound and likely an agency suggestion (read that "mandate") that wardens or any other law enforcement officers shake hands with anyone with whom they deal professionally. From a warden's perspective, you can be highly professional and nice as can be without engaging in the shaking hands charade.

 

[dtrkyman]

I generally introduce myself and shake their hand, like anyone else I meet.

 

[Pulleye16]

Can’t answer cause i never got a ticket…but I’ve been stopped and questioned a few times and never shook hands so I don’t see myself doing so if I got a ticket.

Why would you shake hands after getting a ticket? I’ve seen that in shows too and always laughed.

 

[survivalistd]

Tv shows are not realistic. That's why I rarely watch those.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

I forgot to pinch barbs on some newly tied sockeye rigs once. Small boat, solo, kinda nasty weather. No time to shake hands with the warden(s). They didn’t even print the ticket there, just said it’ll come in the mail. Mostly just fought to keep the boats from banging together. I was more disappointed in myself than anything. Deserved the ticket and was just glad they let me keep the one fish.

Been checked 5 times in the last 6 years. No handshakes. I’m always friendly but assume they prefer not to shake hands. If I encountered the same warden more than once I imagine it would be a little different.

 

[IdahoJoe29]

I've spent a good bit of time with the enforcement guys and they're not the touchy feely type. I've never been ticketed but I have seen some very "entrapment" type situations and some great lessons.

The wardens job is to enforce wildlife and all other laws. They are supposed to know the latest codes inside the 200 pages of sportsman's regulations. I haven't seen a hunter that knows all of the codes by heart. I do wish they'd spend more time grabbing guys like the methow mulie molester than measuring your 396 in/sq vest that was 413 in/sq before it got washed.

Or setting up decoys on the side of the road trying to get you to shoot it

 

[survivalistd]

Or setting up decoys on the side of the road trying to get you to shoot it

They look so real.. what a joke

 

[IdahoJoe29]

They look so real.. what a joke

Yeah they move their heads back and forth. It wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t make them masher bucks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[nortac]

Those decoys look very real when new (first hand experience)....LOL not so much after they have been shot 100 times!