How to deal with game wardens?

[Turkeytider]

Unless somebody gives me a reason not to, I pretty much try to treat everybody else, game wardens included, the way I myself would wish to be treated. Been checked several times, never had a problem. One thing I do, though, is set my firearm down.

 

[LongWayAround]

I tell them whatever they ask me. Chat them up a bit and usually thank them for being out there.

No problems ever.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

The same way I talk to all LEO, as little as possible while being respectful. They are trained to trap you.

 

[WA209]

I’ll just leave this right here.

 

[survivalistd]

" do you have any drugs or weapons "

Me: what do you need?

 

[taskswap]

The mentality of some you guys is surprising to me. Game wardens are absolutely hunters friends unless said hunters are breaking the rules. They are there to protect what we value so much as hunters.

If some guys would invest the time to truly know the rules and regulations, it would eliminate so much stress and change perspectives. It's a great feeling for me to see a game warden while I'm hunting. I know I'm doing everything right and I'm happy they are out there trying to make others to do the same.

This is true while it's true, but when it's not, it's absolutely not. I personally have never had a bad encounter with one. But I'm a nice guy and courteous by default, and have rarely had a bad encounter with anyone, badge or no.

Never forget that there is always a fundamental imbalance of power between you and any LEO. A law enforcement officer is allowed to lie to you. You are not allowed to lie to them.

Bad eggs are rare, but that doesn't mean they aren't out there. Be courteous, be respectful, and if you care to, even share your appreciation of what they do for all of us. But they're wearing a badge and you're not. They may be friendly and they do perform a valuable service. That doesn't automatically make them "your friends." And it doesn't have to be malicious. Humans make mistakes and LEO's are humans, too. They could just misinterpret the situation, be having a bad day, or any number of other reasons.

Former ‘Lone Star Law’ game warden faces additional charges in East Texas credit case

Former "Lone Star Law" star Justin Charles Eddins faces new felony charges in Sabine County.

www.12newsnow.com

 

[kfili]

Had a bad experience, my brother in law and I got tickets fishing. I was totally honest and open, (was not a clear violation and very minor). I went to court to fight it and it was thrown out, my brother in law was visiting and just paid his for simplicity. I think that is what the GW was expecting- simple tickets no fight and he shows he's 'doing his job'.

 

[TheGDog]

IN GENERAL: Towards ALL LEO's ... ONLY!!!... directly answer questions that you legally HAVE to answer. when you answer a question? ONLY!!!... give jsut the bare minimum needed to directly answer their question. DO NOT offer-up any extra information... ever.

Anything else? Is just them fishing for some kind of actionable offense/infraction.

Also know that GW's? They have thee most unrestrictive Carte Blanche of any LEO org to rifle thru ALL your isht right there on the spot. They don't need any warrant at all, their warrant is you recreating on those public lands. Or you looking like you're participating in hunting or fishing.

 

[longrangelead]

I've had good and bad experiences. I start out respectful and match GW's attitude and I'm ready to start recording if they get stupid.

One i still laugh about...
I boated into a remote archery elk hunt on Labor Day weekend. Wife n I had a rough morning so we were packing the boat in a hurry to leave before the wind kicked up. Just as I turned the boat around for open water, a boat came ripping straight up to us. Two young sheriffs. One boarded my boat because it was choppy enough we had to separate the boats.

They checked my lic and life vests, all good.

Then he started fishing by asking "anything in the boat that shouldn't be?"

Without thinking I said "just you"

I thought "oh shit..."

he chuckled and said "fair enough", got in their boat and left.

 

[tyrenlds]

I usually chat them up and ask for tips on recent takes and herd behavior... they're usually hunters as well so this helps break the ice and get them liking you. It's worked for me so far - no issues with game wardens.

 

[cnelk]

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

 

[LostArra]

Mandatory check station in Wyoming. We had 5 cow elk in game bags/coolers with tags. GWs checked one cooler and said we were good to go and we could keep all the tags in the cab of the truck.
GW asks "did you see any big bulls?"
"Yes"
"Where about?"
One of my hunting buddies: "if we tell you we have to kill you".
Both GWs busted out laughing. "Fair enough. Have a safe trip"

 

[Laramie]

This is true while it's true, but when it's not, it's absolutely not. I personally have never had a bad encounter with one. But I'm a nice guy and courteous by default, and have rarely had a bad encounter with anyone, badge or no.

Never forget that there is always a fundamental imbalance of power between you and any LEO. A law enforcement officer is allowed to lie to you. You are not allowed to lie to them.

Bad eggs are rare, but that doesn't mean they aren't out there. Be courteous, be respectful, and if you care to, even share your appreciation of what they do for all of us. But they're wearing a badge and you're not. They may be friendly and they do perform a valuable service. That doesn't automatically make them "your friends." And it doesn't have to be malicious. Humans make mistakes and LEO's are humans, too. They could just misinterpret the situation, be having a bad day, or any number of other reasons.

Former ‘Lone Star Law’ game warden faces additional charges in East Texas credit case

Former "Lone Star Law" star Justin Charles Eddins faces new felony charges in Sabine County.

www.12newsnow.com

How does a credit reporting fraud have anything to do with having conversations with game wardens?

I'll stand by my statement- Game Wardens are a hunters friend. Without them, law abiding guys would be at a serious disadvantage.

 

[sniper61]

I say about 10 to one. I like the wardens but had one that was a lieing dick. As a mink trapper ,I had a trap on a beaver dam. I didn't know it was illegal to do that. He took the trap said he would give it back after I paid the fine. The fine came in the mail and the offence was take a game animal out of season. I refused to plead guilty and contacted him , the first thing he said was what I'm I going to tell my boss. I said I don't care I am not a poacher and will fight this with all I have. He sent me a citation that said trap on beaver dam. I payed it and never got the trap back till I talked to another warden and he got it and dropped it off at my house. That left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I'll stand by my statement- Game Wardens are a hunters friend. Without them, law abiding guys would be at a serious disadvantage.

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.

 

[OregonSteeler]

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

Since he's GW, can he be on your property without consent/warrant of you ask him to leave? If he found anything incriminating (just hypothesizing) would it be admissable in court? Sounds like a good lawyer would have a field day with it if you weren't actively hunting?

 

[Rich M]

I've had a few very negative encounters and also had some very positive experiences too.

WY GW told me to stop questioning everything and just come hunt, would have a good time - got my first antelope. Never did get meet him and thank him. A couple other GWs have been great.

Have to say about 50/50 on good to bad experiences.

 

[CaliWoodsman]

All fine interactions here. They typically range from unfriendly but reasonable to very friendly. As has been said, often they are hunters and want to know how your hunt is going.

Had one instance where everyone in our party of 4 had filled out their deer tag incorrectly. On a buck-only tag it had a place to notch male or female and every one of us missed it. GW stopped by our camp when he saw the antlers and asked to look at the tags. Looked at the tags, asked if we all knew how to read, then handed them back and asked us what we did wrong. He had us dead to rights but just made fun of us a little bit for our reading ability and had us correct the tags. He obviously could have made things a lot worse for us, but like others have mentioned we had a clean camp, we were friendly and forthcoming with him, and we owned our mistake once he pointed it out.

 

[S-3 ranch]

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

Yep , they are all suspect of anyone they make contact with
I was driving down a farm road to replace a hydraulic line on a bulldozer
And waved at the two GW’s driving down the road, they 180ed and pulled me over and asked for my hunting license which my reply was “ I’m not hunting, here’s my DL “ one GW insisted I show him my hunting license, when ask why
He said I was suspect because I was wearing a camouflage cape, I told him “ I didn’t know TP&W were the fashion police and to go hunt suspects at Walmart “ the Sr warden laughed and said go fix my dozer and he was waiting to see what the In training warden would do as a learning experience

 

[Ice-kub]

I got the name of one that frequents the area I hunt and if I get stopped I drop that name in conversation and then we chat about how helpful he was when I talked to him last.