How to deal with game wardens?

[Bubblehide]

Here is a more recent one - "CONSTITUTIONAL LAW—FOURTH AMENDMENT SEARCH AND SEIZURE—WE’VE GOT OURSELVES IN A PICKLE: THE SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS’S RECENT EXPANSION OF FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS MAY HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. Pickle v. State, 2015 Ark. 286, 466 S.W.3d 410" I almost didn't provide the link due to the typo in the title on the first page, but that wasn't in the article itself.

From what I've read of that one (not finished yet, a physical search of the person, vehicle, gear... can still be done. It only limits criminal background checks, i.e , certian electronic searchs.

 

[fwafwow]

From what I've read of that one (not finished yet, a physical search of the person, vehicle, gear... can still be done. It only limits criminal background checks, i.e , certian electronic searchs.

I can't speak to it - I read the first paragraph only.

+1 to those who have never had a poor interaction with any GW, but there have been very few.

 

[Bubblehide]

I can't speak to it - I read the first paragraph only.

+1 to those who have never had a poor interaction with any GW, but there have been very few.

It's worth the read.

 

[ChrisAU]

In my experience they are to be feared in the SE and welcomed out west.

Out west? I wish I had seen one patrolling after I observed someone doing their best to turn up a large muley I had been watching in WY they day before season opened - while that person, and the rest of their party, had rifles and tripods out.

Helped some near Casper stock fish in a pond one day, said they were doing a swap with Nebraska to study fish species viability.

My one encounter in CO my buddy had made a mistake in tagging evidence of sex on a bull elk (after I clearly told him how to do it) but the guy was cool about it. He did push a bit and want to see the kill site. When I explained to him where it was, and he saw our waypoints on OnX, he expressed his disbelief in us not having horses, and then he left us alone lol.

But meanwhile in Alabama, the game wardens will plant bait on your property and then turkey hunt it themselves...

 

[goathunter]

Claude Dallas had a unique way of dealing with overbearing wardens......

What a role model...

 

[roosiebull]

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?

It completely depends on the GW, I will be completely cooperative and answer any or as many questions if they are treating me like a normal person

A fairly high percentage of GW’s around here are incapable of that and go straight to treating people like they know you did something wrong but don’t know what yet, and I decided years ago that I’m not participating in that. We have had some excellent GW’s around here and plenty that are on the other side of the spectrum.

I leave it up to them, but they don’t know that initially. First impressions are everything in that context.

A long time ago we had a new GW, and after talking to him a few times, I felt obligated to tell him that I appreciated how he did his job, completely fair and objective, and treated people like people, and he told me that his job was 90% human relations and 10% enforcement. Ironically enough, he got lots of help from the public because people trusted him, and people he busted still respected him because he was fair and objective.

Good for him but bad for us, he moved to NE Oregon, but he will always be the standard for GW’s to me. I can’t stand the other side of the spectrum

 

[Bubblehide]

@HvyBeams, have you checked out any of the links posted recently?

 

[OregonSteeler]

Want a better idea of what GWs put up with on a daily basis? Here in OR they put out a monthly newsletter giving an overall field review of their work:

This November's issue - https://www.oregon.gov/osp/Docs/FWNewsletter_202511.pdf

Here's previous months - https://www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/fw/Pages/Newsletter.aspx

And for all those who think the public in general are law abiding citizens: Here's one quick quote from the Nov. issue: "Troopers used Wildlife Enforcement Decoys (WED) to apprehend over fifteen subjects for Unlawful Take of Bull Elk during the 2025 season"

 

[Steve300xcw]

In Oregon, fish & wildlife officers are all sworn OSP State troopers who specialize in enforcing fishing and hunting laws. The LE I had encountered was actively recording our conversation until we went off topic and started discussing hunting pressure in the area and the new 2026 deer units. He actually said "I'm shutting the camera off because we're no longer discussing any relevant infractions".

Sheriffs are pulling that duty as well. Least see enough of them running around the woods anyways.

Used to have OSP that would run around a certain area pretty hard. Questioned everybody. He only hunted late bow, I dont think he gave two shits what folks were doing as long as he was getting good intel on where to hunt. Plenty of "yes sirs" out there that would spill their guts when asked too.

 

[Bubblehide]

I love and hate those decoy deer, elk... I was hunting a state long ago with a buddy, we were driving back to camp and saw a decoy , my buddy was driving, and he didn't realize it was a decoy. He wanted to see it better and turned the truck toward it as he brakes. I got him to keep going and pull over ahead, facing away from the decoy. The state had (may still) a law on the books, that if you turn and light up the decoy, while having a weapon in the vehicle, you can be cited. We sat there and saw 3 vehicles get stopped before we left; all in about 5 minutes, and had a good but brief conversation with a warden.

 

[Hunter26]

I have ran into many GWs. I answer their questions directly and I never volunteered anything beyond other than to talk about the weather. I only ever had one bad encounter. It was back in the late 90s in Ohio. I ran into a GW right at dark in the federal forest. He was all amp’d up and being very aggressive.. He was going on about who’s deer was who’s in our truck a half mile away. I just told him if he want to play whos deer is whos them we could go down to the truck and sort it out. But
I wasnt going to stand up on a ridge in the dark guess which deer he was talking about. There were about five deer in the bed. All legally tagged and accounted for. That pizzed him off I guess. He was just having a bad day maybe. We went down and he met us at the truck and we satified him everything was in order.
We ran up on some local guys at the dinner and mentioned our encounter and described the GW. They said they knew who we were talking about and he had a bad reputation for harassing out of town hunters.
Some years later we got checked by another GW and we mentioned the previous GW. He laughed and said you dont have yo worry about him anymore he only does administrative duties as he had gotten too many complaints.

The only other time .i had a questionable encounter was when I ran up on a GW hunting on my lease. Opening morning of spring gobbler I am hunting a powerline with my decoys out. He drives up and points his shotgun out the window at my decoys. I hollared out to him and he crapped his pants. He got sort of defensive and asked to see my license. I said its the same license you checked twice this year when you came into my camp both times. He was embarrassed and said he now remember who I was.
I told him to relax that me catching him hunting on my lease wasn't going any farther than him and me.
I never saw him again during the next 6 years I had that lease.

The other 20 times I ran up on GWs was very pleasant and professional. But I wasnt under any misconception they werent trying to find some violation. Fortunately I play it by the book.

Funny story about the GW trying to shoot a turkey from his vehicle on your leased land...I guess it's funny.

Can't verify the story but I know a guy that claims to be really good friends with a GW and he says he poaches all the time. His response is "Who is going to check the checker." Pretty crazy if it true.

 

[Steve300xcw]

That doesn't surprise me at all

 

[Customweld]

I had a retired Idaho CO as a long term high school substitute teacher. He was an incredible man, my group of friends learned a lot from him. Much to my chagrin, he came out of retirement and went to work as a wood cop for the Forest Service. He made life as a fledgling firewood entrepreneur miserable.

 

[Phaseolus]

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

If you aren't breaking any laws you won't get a citation...

 

[Feral Jared]

For as much negative press they get, every encounter I've had has been pleasant. As long as they dont start overreaching, I'll be cordial.

 

[Phaseolus]

There is a very short list of people I refer to as Sir. They are not on that list.

They are just a cop and are treated as such. If they are civil, so am I. If they need to be a dick, well I can be one of those too. No problems showing them my papers, I also have no problems telling a cop that something is none of their business.

So when you act like a dick in response to them do you find that is helpful?

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Unless you want to attempt the whole sovereign citizen thing (good luck lol) you're gonna have to answer some qestions. Just don't be a chatty Cathy and you'll be fine.

 

[Macintosh]

I make it a point to be on a first name basis with local game wardens, and to stop and say hi when Insee them. I have yet to meet one who isnt very reasonable. They are tasked with enforcing game laws on MY game. So even if they are out looking for violations to cite, including looking to check me the same as anyone else, they are doing it in service to my interests. I dont need to go out of my way to give extra info, but of the few times Ive talked to one in the field, 100% of the interactions have been positive.

Based on the way some folks characterize “game wardens”—as opposed to “this one warden”—it has me scratching my head. I dont know if it says more about the wardens there, the individuals making those generalizations, or about the place and culture there overall. Honestly Im not sure how to take it, as it is so counter to my own experience.

 

[Steve300xcw]

So when you act like a dick in response to them do you find that is helpful?

When you bend over and kiss their ass just because they are wearing a pretty costume, do you find that benefits you?

With the exception of a heavy foot, I dont really push the rules. If I have earned a ticket for something, so be it. Doesn't take long to see how a stop is going to go though. If its going that direction.. well we'll either come to an understanding or we wont. At that point, I could care less to be honest.

 

[nomadicbohunk]

Pro tip:

I have worked with a lot of game wardens, both federal and state. My one good buddy from growing up is a game warden as well. Something I never thought about in the past was how hard their job is if poaching is socially ingrained in an areas.

I've been checked a ton. I do more hunting and fishing than most. I've only had one bad experience and that was special. I'll get back to that guy. I keep a paper copy of my hunter's safety and every single license and tag for that year in a single ziplock with my driver's license. That's kept me from a ticket or two if I was missing something. Usually they're like, what's all that. I say it's all my licenses for the year and a few lifetimes. They're like, ok duder, you have like 6 licenses in here. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt for everything. Then they want to chat. I've had some super good experiences with them. The ziplock thing started just to keep them all straight and together. I put my driver's license in and hunter's safety too.

The negative experience: Pushing 20 years ago I worked in a federal office with one law enforcement guy. I don't know how, but he actually paid his own money to have a wrap put on his federal vehicle to make it a giant American flag. Everyone thought it was ridiculous and the guy was actually a fascist. I asked one of the secretaries about the wrap and she said they just kind of gave up and let him do it. He also looked exactly...and I mean exactly like Farva from Super Troopers. I also remember his reflective aviators had an American flag strap on them. So he came into the office one day happy as a freaking clam going on about hippies and narco gangs. He also strip searched these guys or took the door panels off their truck or something beyond ridiculous like that. He had busted some 19 year olds camping with a dime bag. Even the hardcore better than thou mormons were like, uh wtf? In that office when we'd go out hunting we'd find out where he was planning on patrolling and avoid it as we didn't want to deal with him at all. I will never forget that man.