How to deal with game wardens?

[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.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I like to be polite because if I know I had done nothing wrong there's no need to get agitated.

 

[ianpadron]

Dang you guys must have some lame game wardens, or I've just been lucky. Every single one I've run into was super courteous, as was I.

"Here's my license officer, thanks for protecting our resources" goes a long way in establishing mutual respect right out of the gate.

 

[Baddog]

I was on a legal road to ride a 4 wheeler when I got stopped this year in Oregon. Since we have the etag system now I quit carrying my wallet. I showed him my license and tag on my phone, he asked for my drivers license and I told him I didn’t have it on me, since my tags are on my phone. He wrote me a ticket for not having my drivers license on me. I thought it was a dick move oh his part since all my hunting stuff was in order.

 

[KenLee]

They hate it when they get called the fish cops

Rabbit Sherriff in the Carolinas

 

[Erict]

I have had nothing but great interactions.

To those who have had a negative interaction - everyone has a supervisor - file a complaint. I suspect that many/most GWs will be wearing body cameras soon which could go a long way towards proving/disproving negative interactions. NY "GW"s will likely have them within 2 years.

I would like to know where some of y'all got your online law degrees - I'd ask for a refund if I were you.

 

[Laramie]

"Hunter's Friends?"
Is that why they all lie in Court about what actually happened? F'n God complex like a Dr

Maybe don't break the law and you won't find yourself there. Hunting laws are easy to find, understand, and follow if guys put in effort.

 

[pirogue]

I hope all encounters are civil, but some people have a bad taste in their mount from past experiences. Be sure and request the body cam footage of your encounter. You may be surprised at what you see. It’s your FOIA right. Now, for the bad taste reference, I’ve got trail cam pics of possum cops snooping around on my property, so I asked for body cam footage. Was told there was none recorded. I look again and verify time and date, and I notice the possum cop’s hand is on the camera, as if he is thinking, “I’ll just turn it on if I see anything”. So either the possum cop isn’t complying with the law, or the department is not complying by sharing, and covering it up.

 

[KenLee]

I would like to know where some of y'all got your online law degrees - I'd ask for a refund if I were you.

They made us go to actual physical classrooms back in my day.

 

[KenLee]

Maybe don't break the law and you won't find yourself there. Hunting laws are easy to find, understand, and follow if guys put in effort.

I'm normally the only one in the Court room that knows the hunting laws, but the Judge will listen and follow along when shown the written laws and regulations. The Warden can't be bothered when I attempt to educate him/her. They live by "that's how its done" vs what the law actually is. IF they learned the law, maybe I wouldn't end up there.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Only negative encounter was when I had to unload an entire moose from the back of my truck at about 3am so I could show evidence of sex (that quarter bag was at the bottom of the pile), after I provided evidence, they thanked me and walked away, didn’t help put it back. I was absolutely smoked at the time from moving that bull down a river for the past few days.

The worst encounters I’ve had have all been with non-LEO corrupt ADFG and fish and wildlife service employees who think they are game wardens.

 

[TX_Diver]

I’ve mentioned this before but I will never wave to another GW.

Twice I’ve done it and twice they suddenly stopped and I had to answer their questions - for no apparent reasons

The last time was a couple years ago. Early May, I was working out in my place in Wyoming and a truck drives by on the county road.
I waved

It happened to be the GW

He had the audacity to drive through the neighbors property, through the woods and stop in front of my cabin.

I had no gun, no hunting clothes on, just working around my place

Had to answer a bunch of questions and you can bet your ass I wasn’t polite because of it

Will not ever initiate contact again.
I was told that if a person does this it gives them a reason to stop you
Don’t know if it’s true or not, but twice doesn’t seem like it’s random

Buddy waved at a GW a few years ago who was headed the opposite direction on a small road. Guy hit the brakes and kinda waved us down.

First words he said as he walked up were “I wasn’t trying to flag you down”…

 

[Will_m]

I don't talk to any law enforcement, they are not your friend and any questions are to find reason for a citation.

Unfortunately besides the name, license and generic description, this is the correct answer.

Their job is to find violations and they have to do everything to find one. Some are smart; many are not. You speak at your own peril.

 

[Will_m]

Been hunting since the mid 80s all over this country. I haven't had a single negative encounter with a game warden. Know and follow the laws and magically you won't have any issues at all!

You have just been lucky. The bar is low and those guys are underpaid significantly. I’ll let you deduce the consequences.

 

[Billy Goat]

I handle them like mods.


Admit nothing, deny everything, and make counter accusations.

 

[ReddingArcher]

I can’t recall ever having a bad experience with a game warden. In any state I’ve been checked. They’ve all been positive. In fact this year I ran into one and had a great conversation, everything from how dismal our deer populations are to the absurdity of being forced to use lead free ammo and how he gets many more calls about wounded game now that we can’t shoot lead. We talked for probably 20 minutes before I asked if he wanted to check my tags and gun, he said nope we’ve had a good conversation have a good day. I hope I run into him again while hunting.

 

[MallardSX2]

The best game wardens I ever encountered were in New York, of all places. Those guys were good dudes.

 

[Conrad101st]

We shot a nice elk about 30 years ago at first light in a huge bowl that was not too far off a main fire road.

There was a full moon out and snow was deep.

Warden showed up a couple hours later as we were loading the elk into the trailer. At first he was all chummy and congratulatory, but then he started grilling us about what time we shot. He obviously thought we fired before legal shooting time but that wasn’t clear at first.

We honestly had no idea what he was getting at. Furthermore we had no idea what time we shot. Was our first elk hunt and we figured if you can easily see it at 400 yards with your naked eyes it must be shooting light. Honestly had no idea what time it was. He was definitely trying to get us to admit a violation.

We were so oblivious that he just shook his head and walked off.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

I handle them like mods.


Admit nothing, deny everything, and make counter accusations.

 

[Billy Goat]

I actually took a really fun ride with on in CO, probably a dozen or more years ago. I was trying to get back to my truck, he said I can't give anyone a ride, but if you ended up here from your truck @ (where i told him it was) he'll yeah I'll give you a ride. Turns out his brother was actually living in my home area.

Don't think he ever asked me anything much pertaining to hunting.