How to deal with game wardens?

[Sawitrightoff]

Give respect, get respect.

Oh, the folks who think(or wish) all encounters are so rosy and professional.
The day before opening morning of turkey season, I was setting in my truck, (about 25 yards off a rural gravel road) listening for gobbles. Along comes a game warden, spots me, brakes to a crawl, stares, and slowly pulls out of site. About 20 minutes later, l leave and as I pull out on the road, I see his truck. He had turned around, was facing me, and had pulled off to the side of the road, as if he is listening for me to shoot, maybe. Nothing wrong with that, just doing his job. Did he stay there, until I passed? No, he wants to stay sneaky so he pulls into a private drive,(as if I didn’t see him), to eliminate any chance of conversation or casual confrontation, had I elected to stop at his vehicle. Maybe he was thinking, “That may be the guy who reported poaching near here, and I never called him back.”

 

[Ringbill27]

Follow the regs, answer the questions and be friendly. After a visit or two he or she doesn’t even ask questions anymore. Ends up being a 5-10 minute BS session and I’m on my way. I’ve never had issues.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Oh, the folks who think(or wish) all encounters are so rosy and professional.
The day before opening morning of turkey season, I was setting in my truck, (about 25 yards off a rural gravel road) listening for gobbles. Along comes a game warden, spots me, brakes to a crawl, stares, and slowly pulls out of site. About 20 minutes later, l leave and as I pull out on the road, I see his truck. He had turned around, was facing me, and had pulled off to the side of the road, as if he is listening for me to shoot, maybe. Nothing wrong with that, just doing his job. Did he stay there, until I passed? No, he wants to stay sneaky so he pulls into a private drive,(as if I didn’t see him), to eliminate any chance of conversation or casual confrontation, had I elected to stop at his vehicle. Maybe he was thinking, “That may be the guy who reported poaching near here, and I never called him back.”

So nothing happened? Whats the problem?

 

[Sawitrightoff]

So nothing happened? Whats the problem?

Didn’t say there was a problem. I was replying to the comment, “Give respect, get respect”. Sorry, but I have a problem respecting a sneak, who goes out of their way to hide and avoid confrontation, but knows they did a lousy job of it.

 

[bowkill]

Didn’t say there was a problem. I was replying to the comment, “Give respect, get respect”. Sorry, but I have a problem respecting a sneak, who goes out of their way to hide and avoid confrontation, but knows they did a lousy job of it.

Maybe he wasn't in the mood to "give respect", so he was just trying to avoid the issue?

 

[Steve300xcw]

I'm all for hating on folks that earned it. But getting grumpy about him nosing outta the way, so he didnt have to talk to you about that thing that didnt happen?

Lay off the coffee dude, yer a bit jittery

 

[thinhorn_AK]

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".

Off topic sort of, last time I was hunting down in Texas, I was told that wildlife officers are the only officers in Texas who can search vehicles without a warrant. They said that lots of time state and municipal cops will just call a game warden when they want a vehicle searched.

I don't know if that's true, maybe a Texan here would know better.

 

[HvyBeams]

Off topic sort of, last time I was hunting down in Texas, I was told that wildlife officers are the only officers in Texas who can search vehicles without a warrant. They said that lots of time state and municipal cops will just call a game warden when they want a vehicle searched.

I don't know if that's true, maybe a Texan here would know better.

Just look the law up.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Code.

Sec. 12.104. RIGHT TO SEARCH AND INSPECT. (a) A game warden or other peace officer commissioned by the department may search a game bag, vehicle, vessel, or other receptacle if the game warden or peace officer has a reasonable, articulable suspicion that the game bag, vehicle, vessel, or receptacle contains a wildlife resource that has been unlawfully killed or taken.

(b) A game warden or other peace officer commissioned by the department may inspect a wildlife resource or a part or product of a wildlife resource that is discovered during a search under Subsection (a) of this section.

(c) In this section "wildlife resource" means an animal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, or other aquatic life the taking or possession of which is regulated in any manner by this code.

 

[iamthenick]

I hunt on an air force base that you must check in and out on. When you check in you give them a copy of the base permit and hunting license. When you kill a deer or turkey they weigh / measure it for research purposes when you check out. They also ask for your e tag number for their paperwork. Our state recently went to e tagging and a guy came back with a deer he forgot to e tag, keep in mind before the e tagging our state didnt even require a tag attached to the deer or anything.
This guy was not trying to get around tagging it and had legitimately forgot as this was a new law, the guys at the check station 100% would have just let him e tag it and get a number then go on his way but the game warden wrote him a ticket and he was banned for a year from the base...

 

[mtwarden]

Fricking wardens harassing the general public still, we need to rid of them

https://rokslide.com/forums/threads...-over-trophy-deer-lion-and-wolf-cases.419154/

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Fricking wardens harassing the general public still, we need to rid of them

https://rokslide.com/forums/threads...-over-trophy-deer-lion-and-wolf-cases.419154/

Yeah, almost all of them are nefarious characters.

 

[Swamp Fox]

This is worth a look or three ...

South Carolina "night hunting" ....

SC hunter suing DNR in a civil suit for wrongful arrest and imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and defamation.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

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?

I don’t break a law so I have nothing to hide.
I always answer questions with questions.

1. May I see your LEO Credentials?
2. Where did you park?
3. How long is your shift?
4. Can I check your sidearm to make sure it’s safe?
5. You arrested anyone?
6. Can I see your feet?
7. Does your supervisor know where you are?
8. Etc. Etc.

 

[Randue]

Can I let my dog check out the back of your truck?

NO

He can let his dog do a "free air sniff" around your vehicle.

 

[Rich M]

You-all gotta remember that the GW was likely called by another hunter or fisherman to report you or someone else near you. If GW has to drive out there to save the world over a short fish or extra bird or cause guy who called is pissed that you got the big buck or bull, he's going to hit up as many folks as possible. He also has this thing in his head - put there by the dude who called him.

It's pretty pathetic that most of these problems are caused by "fellow sportsmen" and their desire to save the world. Often reporting stuff they have no clue about.

 

[Turkeytider]

Follow the regs, answer the questions and be friendly. After a visit or two he or she doesn’t even ask questions anymore. Ends up being a 5-10 minute BS session and I’m on my way. I’ve never had issues.

Nor have I. If you have everything as it should be and just be open and friendly, no problem.

 

[TWoch]

This is worth a look or three ...

South Carolina "night hunting" ....

SC hunter suing DNR in a civil suit for wrongful arrest and imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and defamation.

My favorite part of the news story was DNR “general counsel” still being so adamant even after the real justice system dropped the charges. No disciplinary actions for either officer for manipulating body cameras…

 

[Pharmseller]

I give them 5 minutes if pleasantries, if they start their bullshit with questions trying to trip me up I just ask them if I need a lawyer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

She looked 18, I swear.

 

[bpitcher]

I've had nothing but good interactions with state wardens in multiple different states. Most are very friendly, polite and professional.

Federal wardens have been very hit or miss...

Years ago we got called into a meeting with the Captain for the region and a couple local wardens about the conduct of the federal wardens working the area. He took notes and at the end apologized for the conduct of the feds and stated that they were opening an investigation.

 

[sodaksooner]

If born after 1/1/1949, you are required to have your hunter's ed card on you while hunting in CO. The exception being if the card is "verified", which I believe entails some extra steps with CPW.

You just have to take the card into one of their offices. We had an extra day prior to a hunt several years ago and the office was just down the street in Gunnison where we ate. We popped over and showed our cards. No worries ever since. It's tied to your account. Just one less thing you have to remember.