Montana game warden show

[AHayes111]

We have had the wardens run the decoy on the ranch, I can't remember the percentage of people that violated, but it was shockingly high.

 

[Rich M]

Did you notice that most of the elk acusations are never proven. Just jealous folks calling gw on guy who made it happen and shot an elk.

Remember it is a tv show. I enjoy watching but only in small doses.

 

[Rich M]

We have had the wardens run the decoy on the ranch, I can't remember the percentage of people that violated, but it was shockingly high.

Lots of folks are opportunists.

 

[BRTreedogs]

I would find that hard to believe. Most guys I know follow the letter of the law. Maybe report some of these violators?

So the first thing to they do when they get to the animal is tag it?
They don’t even grab the antlers and take a look first?
No pictures?
Jus walk straight up and notch the tag before anything else?

I find that hard to believe.

 

[Steve300xcw]

So the first thing to they do when they get to the animal is tag it?
They don’t even grab the antlers and take a look first?
No pictures?
Jus walk straight up and notch the tag before anything else?

I find that hard to believe.

Do you?

 

[Geewhiz]

Do you?

Obviously we all do

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I would estimate that at least half of all big game animals are taken with some violation.

Not in my camp. Everything is to the letter of the law. Or you ain't invited back.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

So the first thing to they do when they get to the animal is tag it?
They don’t even grab the antlers and take a look first?
No pictures?
Jus walk straight up and notch the tag before anything else?

I find that hard to believe.

Yep. Always every time. Tagging is first, like it should be.

 

[Mr. October]

I don't watch those shows anymore. I'm not saying the hunters are perfect by any stretch of the imagination. I know we aren't perfect. But put the camera on some of those wardens and it is clear they are going to make a show. They will find SOMETHING to write a citation for no matter what. It's one thing to issue a small fine or a warning over a minor procedural error or violation but the wardens on camera often act as though every thing is a major poaching ring. The most famous was the guy that had his elk confiscated for not tagging it before dragging it out of the pond it died in. Clearly he had no intent to shoot another animal and was over the moon with a successful hunt. As they were trying to figure out how to remove the elk from the water Warden Dude was laying in a ditch telling the camera man how the guy was going to lose the elk for not tagging it. Ultimately, he confiscated it. It was a pretty big to do. He didn't wait to see if the guy tagged it. Just went and confiscated the animal. The PR that followed was not good for Montana or its game law enforcement.

 

[Mr. October]

I've only ever been checked by WCOs a couple times in my life. Once upon a time, the Pennsylvania deputy warden program got a pretty bad rap as they had some overzealous, power hungry dudes in the field. I don't mind getting stopped and checked but it is important to know one's rights. I remember a few years back having a guy do a basic license check which was fine. When I put my license back on my pack he wanted me to open my pack so he could see what I had. "I don't think I need to do that." He tried to strong arm me. I pack my pack for the season. I have both my PA and NJ licenses in my pack which, technically isn't legal but I'm not about to spend the season trying to remember to swap them out since I literally hunt both states every weekend. I also carry a screw in bow hanger that I use on private land but not public. Again . . I have no intent and will never misuse a tag or not follow the laws on public lands but I'm not going to expose myself to illegal search either. Especially with an overzealous deputy with an eager pencil. And I don't think either of those things makes me some sort of poacher.

 

[ozyclint]

Calling @mtwarden

So he's on there busting guys using snowmobiles way back in the backcountry and he shows up in his snow shoes?

 

[Rich M]

So the first thing to they do when they get to the animal is tag it?
They don’t even grab the antlers and take a look first?
No pictures?
Jus walk straight up and notch the tag before anything else?

I find that hard to believe.

You could have your own episode.

 

[Wall732]

Those shows are full of oops moments that'd get a real hunter fined hard spiking bulls, wrong species, trespassing, party hunting... it's wild.

Real world Game departments estimate 5-10% of hunters commit some violation each season tags, trespass, baiting, road hunting, etc, but only 1-2% get caught wards are spread thin. Poaching true illegal kills is lower, maybe 1-5% depending on state species, but adds up big on high value animals elk, muleys.

It absolutely contributes to pressure and declining herds unreported kills, wounded lost animals, skewed sex ratios from spiking... all fly under the radar while we blame tags non res.

 

[BRTreedogs]

You could have your own episode.

I’m just not naive enough to claim a large majority of people are perfect.

I think most are well intentioned, but perfect is laughable.

 

[Jethro]

So the first thing to they do when they get to the animal is tag it?
They don’t even grab the antlers and take a look first?
No pictures?
Jus walk straight up and notch the tag before anything else?

I find that hard to believe.

No, I don’t. But not a requirement everywhere. Even MT changed their regs after the fallout from an overzealous warden on this show.

 

[mt terry d]

Show me the man
I’ll show you the crime

So, you drag a bull elk out whole.
Cut it in half. Put it in the tack compartment Tag is notched and taped to antler
At game check station you pull the two halves out and the warden says he’s going to fine you and confiscate the elk

Guess why?

Because you didn’t leave proof of sex on the hind quarters

So. Now you’re a poacher?

 

[bmart2622]

Thats not a rule in MT anymore

 

[S.Clancy]

I'm always surprised how many people they contact. The only warden I've seen in the field posts up on a waterfowl production area and checks shells and plugs. Outside of that, I haven't seen one anywhere else in close to a decade

 

[mt terry d]

Thats not a rule in MT anymore

It was when it happened

So, the guy’s a poacher?

 

[aks]

Wait.... you mean I can't roll my window down and blast a doe with a pistol from the comfort of my own truck?