Game warden etiquette

[Stickbow]

I have a good friend that is a co. I know it is a tough job.

On the other hand I have had some really bad interactions through the years.

[Troy D. Breeding]

When I was in AL the local GW there for years was a close friend. He would even stop by the shop and take a coffee break when time premitted.

I was also a hunter safty instructure and we conducted classes together. He never came in and handled the law enforcement part without sticking around and answering any questions.

After he retired the new GW that took over was a total jerk. I had no use for him. It seemed like just about every other expression out of his mouth was "gotta catch those bad guys".

He was always late for the HS classes and never wanted to answer any questions.

The real letdown to him was the fact that when he was a kid I took him hunting numerous times because none of his family hunted.

Troy

[Keefer]

I have two close friends that are both retired Game wardens and the most kindhearted ,fun to be around kind of fella's that I invite to eat at my supper table anytime...I also live just down the road from another that I consider a friend and just recently worked on an old Bear recurve he had that needed a string,puffs and a strike plate and a few arrows...He  likes to fly fish and used to bowhunt and just recently let me borrow a book that he had signed by Gene Wensel over 28 years ago...GameWardens are human and if you obey the laws like I do then you have nothing to worry about...Answer there questions when asked and show them respect and most will do the same...Invite one hunting with you and I bet you will make a new friend...

[buckeye_hunter]

If you have a gun, put the thing down! It will be safer for both of you that way.

I was checked for my hunting license while squirrel hunting the beginning of season. No big deal since I was legal and he was a nice guy.

[stevewills]

i always get laughed at by my old co.first time we met i was dove hunting with a recurve and he never even asked for my licsense...everytime after he waves and moves on...i found out later he was a tradbowhunter and shot several times at 3d tourneys with him,he retired and now where i use to live has a young trying to make a name for himself....glad i moved

[AWPForester]

Well, I am the guy Road Kill was referring to on the other site that just is one of those guys...  I have unfortunaely been on the recieving end of quite a few bad encounters.  I have met some very nice one's as well.  I can honesly say that the ratio of bad expierences to good expierences is in the favor of the bad.

I read here where many made the statements that basically if you were cited it was your fault or you had broken the law.  I am just paraphrasing that because the statements were broad and wide, but the meaniing was that.  I am here to tell you like I told the OP, you are wrong.  I am glad that has been your expierences, and it has been quite a few of mine, but that is not always the case.

I have been blessed to travel and hunt in many states.  I have done most of those hunts trouble free.  Others were not that way.  I don't know why, my demeanor is pure respect.  Yes sir, no sir.  I am asked weekly if I am in the military or a police officer.  I am mistaken for game wardens every week due to my law enforceent job and uniform.  I just have had a lot of bad run ins with them regardless of the state.

I won't bother going through them again, I am sure some of you read it over there, and I simply do not have the heart or desire to talk about it anymore.  All I can say is I wish it were different, but I have spent a lot of money defending myself in court beating some bogus trumped up charges and paying tickets where subjective laws allow for the mood and personality of the CO to do as they desire to out of sae hnters that do not have the resources or time to travel back and forth across the country to do so.

I have many friends who are Police Officers.  I have some that are CO's.  I work with the state police on a regular basis.  So I am well aware of the implications of attitude, intent, etc...  Wearing that badge isn't a gimme for fair and just, and it doesn't mean you are always right.  As in all professions, there are all kinds.  God Bless

[Stickbow]

AWPForester

Don't come to N. Idaho.......

[Roadkill]

AWPForester an I got off on thevwrong foot.  He is a honorable guy and I take responsibility for the misunderstaning we had.  I do apologize to him and to the members of this august clan.

[elknutz]

I'm 62, have hunted and fished in several states and have been accused by some people  (people with no sense of humor) of having a smart mouth(often).  I have been stopped and checked many times by F&G professionals and I guess I'm just lucky.  Haven't had a bad experience yet.  I have always been treated with the same respect I have shown them.

[JamesV]

After years of harrassing the, non-local hunters and fishermen, our local gamewarden and his accomplice (another gamewarden) were fired. They were cought turkey hunting out of season on the land they patrol along with trapping wild hogs and coyotes and selling/transporting across state lines. I know this was an isolated case and I am proud of the good game officials that stopped them.

[wooddamon1]

Only good experiences for me in MI and CO, but I've only been checked once in each State. I ended up chatting about my bows both times. I'm glad they're out there doing this for all of us.

[LCH]

If you have a good spot to hunt and see alot of animals don't tell them when they ask have you seen anything. Always ask them do they know a good place to hunt because you never see anything.

They will try to get the spot for themselves. I have seen it happen several times around here in NC and it happened to me when I was younger.LCH

[Bowwild]

Way back in 1977 I returned to Indiana from a 2.5 month forester job in Colorado.  I had CO plates on my truck. I bought the truck new in Indiana and immediately drove to CO with temporary plates to be replaced with permanent ones when the temps expired.

I was hunting in Brown County Indiana.  On the opening weekend I was checked three times. The 2nd time I was checked the officer was standing under my tree stand about 30 minutes after light.

I couldn't figure out why I was drawing so much attention. The 3rd time the officer checked me that weekend he mentioned the Colorado plates. Aha!  There aren't many folks from Colorado who come to IN to deer hunt, at least not in the 70's!  I showed the officer my Nonresident Colorado Mule Deer License that I had purchased in Late August while out there.  

That was the end of our contacts. During all the checks this officer was polite.

I certainly agree with AWPForester that the ranks of LE aren't immune from flaws that many people sometimes exhibit.  In fact, I'm surprised at some of the bully-types that end up in LE -- I've never seen this type in the wildlife enforcement field.

Of all the times I've been checked I could/should have (?) been cited twice -- both times for sitting on a lifejacket instead of wearing it. Different states both times. As one who has never owned a boat or been around them much, I didn't realize I was breaking the law, which isn't a good excuse. Both times the officers (MI and KY) let me off with an education.  I was very releaved...the first time would have been difficult on my budget and the 2nd time would have been extremely embarrassing given my position at the time.