How to deal with game wardens?

[mtwarden]

So how is it that the people posting on this thread can remember the one or two times they had, what they consider, a negative encounter with a game warden; and they can remember almost verbatum what was said during that encounter, even if is was 20-30 years ago.

But, they can't remember how many fish they caught just 2-3 hours prior to being checked or when they bought a boat or ATV or when they moved to a state to establich hunting and fishing residency?

That seems odd to me.


ClearCreek

If you haven’t had a bad encounter with a game warden, you’re not a manly man.

 

[Pharmseller]

I got checked once, here in Oregon. Turns out I had hired his brother into a really good job (recognized the name tag), we chatted and I was on my way.

 

[KenLee]

Did a ton of work with them on access programs,in the 90's roads, gates fences, sign in kiosk's, etc. Most all the guy's we camped with for days or weeks were very interesting to say the least. All good people with lots of good stories. I can honestly say , never had a problem in hunting several different states for over 40 plus years. I think it is a tough job with low pay in most places. I know in my home state they offered me a job as a field mechanic/welder for just over $10 bucks hour in 1990. Union scale at the time was well over $30 plus. Long hours and low pay just saying.

State benefits and retirement plans are pretty cushy though

 

[KenLee]

Yeah being a murdering scumbag is a way to go through life

Shows a lot about a persons character if they’re okay with that

Technically a manslaughtering scumbag.

 

[KenLee]

Examples of Probable Cause (Inferred)

• A warden sees hunters near a "No Hunting" sign with fresh game and no licenses.
• A boat operator is fishing with illegal gear (like a gill net).
• A vehicle smells strongly of freshly killed game, but the occupants have no tags or licenses.

I would pretty strongly disagree with #3...unless a K9 is present and then...the handler would have to justify that the K9 is trained SPECIFICALLY to smell and detect game and present with an alert very specific to the presence of game (which dog isn't??)

But again...NOT a lawyer. Or Warden.

May he with badge huff gunshot quail that have been toted in the vest all day at 80 degrees.

 

[KenLee]

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...

No lies detected

 

[KenLee]

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

That's funny you think wardens actually know the law.

 

[Serrano]

A friend and I were stopped by a Deputy Sheriff for shooting a deer inside city limits (We weren't). He turned us over to a fish cop for the tickets. The tickets said I shot inside the city limits. Shouldn't that be the deputy's jurisdiction?

They mailed me notice I could pay ~$175 without appearance or risk $299 and 6 months jail.

When I appeared at court, they changed the charge to shooting within some distance of a dwelling. The judge told the prosecutor and me to come to a plea bargain.

The prosecutor, the fish cop and I went in the hall. The fish cop had no idea where I shot so they called the deputy. The deputy showed a map to say where I was. I said I was near the river and the deputy agreed. We looked at their map. It had no river. I showed them my map and the spot I was near the river. It also showed the area of the deputy's map. It was far away from the river.

The prosecutor went to the judge and dismissed the charges.

I never hunted there again even though it was a pretty good spot. That's probably what the deputy wanted anyway.

 

[Phaseolus]

That's funny you think wardens actually know the law.

There must be a vast difference in the types of wardens between The South and out west.

 

[Speaks]

I will treat any interaction with any kind of law enforcement as hostile and potentially deadly and assume anything they say is a lie. The vast majority of the time none of those things are true and the officer is a good buy but I dont know that. I will still be extremely polite, respectful, and even friendly but I will never assume for one second that he is doing the same even if it seems so. I will politely give truthful though brief answers to reasonable questions.

If ever asked to search anything I will state very clearly that I do not consent. If they have the right to search they will do it anyway and I will not try and prevent that, just simply and calmly state my lack of consent.

I am not saying we dont need game wardens or any other type of law enforcement, its a necessary function. But I will not voluntarily interact and if I have to interact I will keep it short and professional.

That said I believe all of my interactions with game wardens and most with police have ranged anywhere from fine to pleasant.

 

[Fartrell Cluggins]

I only refuse to talk to them when I am breaking the law. Otherwise I have a polite, cooperative conversation with them.

 

[Twisdom]

Let them do their job with min reason.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

I will treat any interaction with any kind of law enforcement as hostile and potentially deadly and assume anything they say is a lie. The vast majority of the time none of those things are true and the officer is a good buy but I dont know that. I will still be extremely polite, respectful, and even friendly but I will never assume for one second that he is doing the same even if it seems so. I will politely give truthful though brief answers to reasonable questions.

If ever asked to search anything I will state very clearly that I do not consent. If they have the right to search they will do it anyway and I will not try and prevent that, just simply and calmly state my lack of consent.

I am not saying we dont need game wardens or any other type of law enforcement, its a necessary function. But I will not voluntarily interact and if I have to interact I will keep it short and professional.

That said I believe all of my interactions with game wardens and most with police have ranged anywhere from fine to pleasant.

Lighten Up Francis....."as hostile and deadly...." a bit much.

 

[betelgeuse]

Game Wardens ?

Don't bend over in front of them.

 

[Speaks]

Lighten Up Francis....."as hostile and deadly...." a bit much.

Police are trained to face all interactions as if they could be hostile and deadly and it seems prudent to think about it the same way. By this I dont mean the LEO has any intention to do anything bad or even dishonest, they most likely do not.

But when the goal of the interaction is to find an infraction to punish you for that is hostile in nature. Keeping in mind with anything you say that they might use it against you if given the opportunity is prudent.

And the deadly part I absolutely stand by though likely was not intending like you think. Approaching any interaction law enforcement is looking for potential threats and for good reason. They have means and ability to very quickly react with deadly force to a threat. There is no other interaction short of with a criminal that carries this dynamic. There is no other interaction where if you unthinkingly reach somewhere that makes them feel threatened that you can be shot and have that be ok.

This does not mean be a dick to the LEO, in fact the opposite. Keep your hands in view, if hunting unload and keep actions visibly open. If reaching for a license tell them that is what you are doing etc.

For all you know when they stopped you they think you might look a little like a person they are pursuing and although you have no way of knowing this they are on very high alert. Then you reach for a wallet quickly and suddenly things are escalated.

Anyway, be overly polite and respectful, obey direct orders, be as unthreatening as possible, and do not consent to anything other than providing ID, license, etc. Most are great guys, some are not, you dont know which is which.

 

[Shraggs]

Utmost respect for the, all uniforms. I’ve only had a few on land in my life and all were business like, cordial and respectful for both parties. As it should be.

My experience on the waters of the Great Lakes has slanted in the opposite direction. But I do understand it is so much easier for the minor lawbreakers to try and not get caught with limits, license etc.

One example stands out. Fishing alone, 15 miles offshore wind and waves building to 4-5’ and my auto pilot failed and I cannot turn right. Wind is right to left and need to make periodic left loops to course correct as I wait for a blitz of phone calls how to disable system. I had just changed a bait trolling and my 3 rod limit in the water, the rod and bait I changed in a rod holder as I scrambled to tend helm when it quit. I see DNR b- lining for me and thought great i may get help! Nope, a senior well known officer with an infamous reputation shows up with 2 trainees. He said we’re boarding you, I replied ok - and explained the crisis with details. Granted it was very rough but trainee was unable to stand. He checked everything, life vests, registration, fire extinguishers, horn, license etc He made me measure each fish etc, so I had him hold course. After an hour I was cited for 4 rods in the water, his reason the bait was now dangling 3’ and touching the water. They left me 15 miles in building seas alone with mechanical issues. An hour later they returned and asked if I Was ok - to which I strongly that I pointed out the crisis before you boarded and you offered no assistance just barking commands to your trainees to find a citation. I will take my chances without and I’ll see you in court. I did make it back - I went slow and finally got a call how disable. I absolutely beat that in court and now have the captains phone number - a good soul.

It’s rhetorical, of course, I don’t understand how DNR/gw can be so fixated and micro focused on citation you can’t prioritize a situation. Nor, cannot ever forgive the arrogance and destine this INDIVIDUAL conducts himself and failing to give aid offshore.

In my state, unfortunately I see dirt bags who poach and trespass, etc. makes me sick. In one example, we had dad / son low class neighbor leas-sees, but they routinely trespassed on our lease and others close by. After a dozen incidents all caught in person pics or cams and several discussion with the land owner we called our Dnr officer and asked to press charges and provided evidence. No charges, apparently their contrary word trumps pics of faces with a ATV plates included…. So, when son killed his 7th deer with only one tag I called again while it was Fresh and hanging in their backyard - nope no charges a warning. Now, we had a magazine cover monster in the area like I’ve never seen, the BOAL after season closed a different neighborhood hunter called me to report the son shot him - out of season on another’s property. He was not charged or cited - but DNR took horns.

Maybe not rhetorical, can someone justify that from an officers perspective?

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Yes sir,no sir unless there a dick.
No reason to hassle them if they don’t hassle me.

 

[skmoore108]

I'm in AZ and I've never been approached by a warden. The one time I actually saw one in the field I was with my 7 year old looking for rabbits and squirrels. He answered some questions I had about land access in the area and pointed me to a spot where the squirrel population had exploded that winter.

 

[Tilzbow]

Last time I chatted with one was after a long day of chukar hunting. I was walking a road back to where I’d parked and the warden pulled over, checked my license and my birds then asked if I’d ever seen quail along the road we were on that followed a creek down the canyon. I told him I’d hunted the area since I was young (that’d been around 40 years at the time) and I’d never seen a quail in the area. He told me to keep my eye out and I again told him I’d never seen quail there and once again he told me to keep an eye out. I was being a dumbass and couldn’t really figure out why he kept pressing the point, We parted ways, I walked 100 yards down the road and both dogs went on point a short distance from the road. Stupid me stands there thinking they’re not pointing like they normally point plus I’ve never found chukar this low late in the season.

Obviously to everyone reading and the warden I flushed quail when I approached the dogs, ended up chasing the covey of few hundred yards down the canyon and took a handful of bonus birds before I got back to the truck. I can’t remember how long it took before I realized the warden was trying to tell me he’d just seen a covey of quail 100 yards down the road without actually telling me but it took way longer than it should have!

 

[3325]

I will treat any interaction with any kind of law enforcement as hostile and potentially deadly and assume anything they say is a lie. The vast majority of the time none of those things are true and the officer is a good buy but I dont know that.

Interesting viewpoint, perhaps understandable. If so, perhaps this should be the way the warden treats any interaction also?

Consider:

“Make every traffic stop extending the olive branch of peace; while having a tactical plan to kill everyone in the vehicle.” - Source unknown