How to deal with game wardens?

[5MilesBack]

I first met one particular GW in 2010. He and his partner were parked on the side of the road with a spotting scope out the window. I was hiking back to my truck after a day of elk hunting during archery season. I had to walk right past their truck so we talked. I asked them what they were doing, they replied that they had been watching this giant pronghorn up in the timber. Then he asked what tag I had and asked where I was camped. He said he'd drop in sometime later in the season.

Several days later he pulled into my camp, I offered him a chair and some coffee, and we sat there talking while drinking coffee. He never did ask to see my license, that year or since. We have become pretty good friends over the years. I told him he's welcome in my camp anytime for food or drink, whether I'm there or not. He's taken me up on it a few times.

 

[Idhunter777]

In another long thread, there was a general consensus to STFU and refuse to answer game wardern's questions.

I see the point but I wonder where to draw the line
M:e hello
GW: Hello, can I see you hunting license?
Me: Sure. Here it is.
GW: Where have you been hunting?
GW: How long have you been hunting today?
GW: Can I check your waterfowl shotgun to make sure you have your plug?
GW: Did you get anything?
GW: Can I see you fish/game?
GW: Do you have permission for this field? From whom?
GW: Etc. Etc

I have had many encounters. I have readily answered all those questions. The GWs always did their jobs and moved on.

It seems that refusing to answer those questions would have immediately escalated the situation.

How do other folks deal with these encounters?

Courteous and polite with minimal added info

 

[gbflyer]

I used to like to take them bird hunting on my farm. NPS Enforcement is a different story, in general.

 

[DuckDawg22]

I try to be polite but every time I've been stopped by a warden in the field or on the water, it was a "training opportunity" and took an unnecessarily long time. Probably 5 or 6 interactions over the years and never once was the guy solo.

 

[glock233]

Different states have different cultures. So it varies. I’ll say that Wardens that blow up hiding spots, stands, and blinds to check licenses are pieces of shit. I’ve watched hundreds of birds fly over my head while learning our spot from a warden.

 

[bucksnbirds]

Our captain in this area was there when my first daughter was born, our local warden is on my speed dial and calls me when they need help with something pertaining to an investigation since I'm usually eyes and ears about everything going on within the confines of hunting. I've only ever ran into one warden outside of my home area up in Colorado and he was super respectful and immensely helpful after checking license.

That being said, I'm not giving out information that isn't asked. If they ask, I'm open to share with them as I know I have nothing to hide. Now Police officers, different story. I'm only answering to let them know I have a concealed weapon, and that I have my insurance and registration. I've found that not often do game wardens pry for information, but local police will to try to find anything and everything. I still have nothing to hide when it comes to local police, but way to many instances where they will take nothing and turn it into something for the sake of being top detective. I have my required documents, I admit to my wrong doing if the situation calls for it, and I'm on my way with a warning or ticket.

 

[dtrkyman]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[betelgeuse]

I have had good and bad.

It does bug me when they want to waste a bunch of time donkeying around.

I have had my truck tossed for absolutely no reason. A ranch hand came buy and told the warden I was a good guy that hunted the ranch often and the warden finally gave up and left.

They go both ways like any other occupation


I live in California, some of them treat hunting and fishing like a crime. The younger they are, the worse they are

 

[HunterGatherer]

 

[akhunter3]

Never had a bad interaction- never had a good interaction. Usually some varying level of confused on the regulations if a Fed in particular is involved.
That said I never offer up more info than needed, especially since GW here is the same as the Staties.

 

[betelgeuse]

They hate it when they get called the fish cops

 

[lightelk]

In my ~10 years of hunting I've never run into a GW once.

 

[rclouse79]

All my interactions have been positive. When I was a lot younger I got stopped in AZ. I forgot to sign my license and all I got was a reminder to do so.

 

[Bluefish]

My only encounter was on community land with a friend who is a member. Warden was respectful and waited until, we were done hunting, then stopped to ask who we were as he didn’t recognize the truck. Once satisfied we could be there, headed on his way. Didn’t even check id or licenses. Older guy with no chip on his shoulder.

 

[.204smokechaser]

Seems the newer folks in Law Enforcement always have a stick shoved up their ass until they’re put in their place.

Since this is a game warden thread and don’t see them often out of the general areas I go to, they’re always nice and friendly to me. Maybe it’s because I am a snitch and am way too honest? I have a good record of turning people in for poaching or breaking fish and wildlife laws?

My former neighbor and his co workers never have asked for my licenses or checked what I’ve killed unless I needed it legally checked.

 

[Swamp Fox]

Disadvantage? To what? Around here the GWs are seen at the check station opening weekend and at the boat ramp during the spring and summer. Poachers are running rampant because they know the GWs schedule and whereabouts meanwhile some poor dork is getting a ticket for a fish that's 1/2" to short and probably getting his truck searched to boot.

NC game wardens have shiny shoes.

In SC, the wardens at least look like they get out of their trucks.

 

[HvyBeams]

So many people think fish and wildlife law is the same as criminal law, i.e., they think there is no difference between being stopped by a cop-police-sherrif or a fish and wildlife officer. They are completely wrong. Wildlife laws are Prima Facia laws. If you are, have been or are engaged in hunting or fishing, wildlife officers do not need a warrent to search you, your gear, or your vehicle.

This is why people shouldn't read these threads and take advice of people who comment on them.

No where in the 4th Amendment of the United States Constitution is there are carveout for wardens to search a vehicle, a backpack or your person because you were hunting/fishing. Wardens could search your vehicle with PROBABLE CAUSE since it is moveable or if you give them consent. Your tent, cooler, or containers they would need a warrant signed by judge or consent. Searching a person would require a warrant or consent. Obviously they could pat you down for safety reasons without going into your pockets. They could go into your pockets without a warrant, but they better damn good reason, i.e. knife, pistol, 15 squishy things that felt like fish in a 6 fish limit lake.

There is no such things as "Prima Facia laws." There is such a thing called Prima Facie evidence.

 

[svivian]

@mtwarden I always knew you were scum

 

[KenLee]

I have always had pleasant encounters with game wardens until this year. We shot an antelope not too far from the truck, instead of gutting or quartering it at the kill site we decided to drag it to the truck so it didn't get a bunch of dirt and crap in it.

Antelope are obviously small and the drag was easy, wanted to take it home whole so I could take my time processing it to harvest as much as possible. (I typically quarter everything and pack it out)

Get close to the truck and I dump the guts there, game warden pulls up, we show him the permit all is good.

Then he starts badgering me accusing us of shooting in on private and taking it to public land, he states that people that don't gut at kill sites are hiding something. I see his point of view and am sure it happens a fair amount, so I tell him my reasoning of why I did what I did, he proceeds to basically call me a liar 3 more times.

By this time I have already told him multiple times that I would walk him back to the kill site to prove to him where it was shot since there was a lot of blood from the shot, he continues to refuse to walk over there and keeps giving me a bunch of shit.

I finally start matching his assholeness and tell him if he doesn't want to go to the kill site than that's his problem not mine. He finally says I guess you seem like your trustworthy and leaves.

Initially I had no problem with him questioning it because its a fair assessment but the escalation and laziness to go look at the kill site was ridiculous.

He was a whack job.

Typical government employee

 

[Bubblehide]

This is why people shouldn't read these threads and take advice of people who comment on them.

No where in the 4th Amendment of the United States Constitution is there are carveout for wardens to search a vehicle, a backpack or your person because you were hunting/fishing. Wardens could search your vehicle with PROBABLE CAUSE since it is moveable or if you give them consent. Your tent, cooler, or containers they would need a warrant signed by judge or consent. Searching a person would require a warrant or consent. Obviously they could pat you down for safety reasons without going into your pockets. They could go into your pockets without a warrant, but they better damn good reason, i.e. knife, pistol, 15 squishy things that felt like fish in a 6 fish limit lake.

There is no such things as "Prima Facia laws." There is such a thing called Prima Facie evidence.

It's setteled law. I suggest you do your research. You are misinforming people with you misinformed opinion.