What's been your experience with Game Wardens???

99 percent of the time it has been positive. Twice I have been stopped and the first words out of their mouth were curse words and not Hello. Each time was a different Warden and they thought I was hunting turkeys out of season. When I was actually hunting crows in season. Now they felt stupid!

Months later I learned one of the wardens was transferred later as a result of harassing a deer hunter.

My advice to anyone is when you meet them let them walk to you, make sure your gun is safe, and let them do "all" the talking. I had a friend one time walk to the warden and the warden wrote him a ticket for a loaded firearm less than 150 ft from the road. You would be surprised how many states have hunting laws/local laws/bylaws/federal laws that are not in the State Hunting regulation guidebooks.

At one time I had hunting licenses in 5 states and the worst state I would say is PA for the Wardens. They have some type of part time or deputize wardens. They pay particular attention to people from out of state = More revenue. Had several opening day deer hunts ruined with license checks. Funny thing is they already ran the truck registration and verified the hunting license was valid before they even approached me.
 
Have known the warden in my hometown in ND for nearly 30 years. Hasn't ever once asked for my license. Locals he's got a list printed out of who purchased/received what licenses, and knows if you're legal.

Ex's cousin was living in Arizona and moved back to ND over the summer, one year. Applied for a resident license in both states. That didn't go over good! But the warden found him before he ever went to the field and told him, that was a definite no-no!! Said if he found him in the field hunting on a resident license in ND, while in possession of a resident AZ license, he would be ticketed. Hence the knowledge of his printed list of locals!! Small town, he knew Danny had just moved back, caught the resident license, and decided to check AZ just because. He does his job, does it well, otherwise friendly, cordial, frequently helpful. Let's you know where the fish are biting, let's you know where he's seen waterfowl coming in, let's you know where he's seen a nice buck or two. Great guy.

Met a Federal Warden over a buck I killed on a Waterfowl Production Area, couple years ago. Nicest guy you ever wanted to meet! Had my tag in my coat pocket and it had warmed up considerably, so I took my jacket off and left it in my jeep when we started the walk. So NO tag on me when I shot the buck. Made sure I grabbed it when I went back to retrieve the deer with the other truck. He told us it really should have been tagged before moving it the 30 yards up the hill, but didn't get real excited about it. Told us others might however. Handed me his pen and told me to sign the tag I forgot to sign as well. Then made sure I cut out the date properly. In that I'd jumped in the other truck, one of the guys' license was still in my jeep, and he hauled him up there to check that. Thanked us for being so patient and cordial in dealing with all his questions and the license checks, congratulated me on taking an awesome buck, and was on his way. Really a nice guy to deal with, was actually a very pleasant experience.
 
The only one I met out here in the field so far was alright.
I was near my antelope spot at still pretty dark AM as I have to walk 3/4 mile to my spot before daylight hits and saw a truck a mile ahead of me as I pulled off the dirt road on a knoll and the headlights shined up into the sky. He came up the road and pulled in behind me and I was thinking who the heck is this idiot. I thought it was a road hunter until after he pulled up behind me where I was parked in a depression.
It was a game warden and he said he saw spot lights. I said not a chance that was my headlights you saw and you may have a look into my truck to check if you want. He said no but let me see your tags etc.
I said I will have a light to walk in the dark as per regulations. No problem, just be carefull & that was it.
He was out looking for early pre-opening hour shooters.
 
My son is a Wyoming game warden who puts in long days especially during hunting season. He worked 45 days straight last fall. He admitted that by the end he was a little less sympathetic than at the start. He loves his job. He has met all kinds of hunters and the vast majority are great folks. But every so often he finds one or two that are difficult and lie to avoid getting a fine. So if that warden questions your story don't take it personally. He is just doing his job.

I have met many wardens myself and have had positive experiences. They have a tough job and Im glad their doing it.
 
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We work with the game wardens on our hog hunts on public land, they are absolutely awesome!

If you want to know where the game is and how to track it, ask your local game warden!
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In 7 decades, the first 3 of which were rawther ... shall we say ... spirited?.. I've run into a fair number of LEO's. The vast majority were just doing their jobs the best they could. Only a few are predators.
 
In the last 7 years I have only been checked by a Warden once. It was this year during Deer season. I went with friends but only to hunt Bobcats and Coyotes. When He asked to see My Deer tags, I explained that I had none, but reached into the front of My Coveralls and pulled out My lanyard with calls. He was very nice, and wished Me luck saying " I hope you get some of those fawn killers". He was a real nice fellow.
 
I got yelled at once by the MNDNR but I held my ground firm and ended up not in trouble.

Me and two friends were out in a state forest shooting some guns at cans and other targets. We had a hand gun a couple shotguns and my AR-15.

The year before this encounter I had talked to the park ranger and he said it was perfectly fine and he even showed me on the map the best place to go. I had shot there a couple other times.

Right as we were finishing our shooting we hear a guy yelling for us to drop our weapons. We do and a couple game wardens come walking through the forest, quite upset. Screaming about what I was doing and telling me I was going to kill someone. I was shooting 30 yards down hill into another hill...

I stood my ground and told them I talked to the ranger and I had also called the DNR the weekend before to make sure, and they said it was perfectly ok. We discussed back and forth for a couple minutes but our targets and our empty shells were clearly accounted for and we were breaking no laws. Our shooting was already done and they escorted us out and when we got to their vehicle they checked our records and let us go.

Other than that I have only had my fishing license checked twice, no problems. I've even considered going to school to become a DNR officer.
 
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It's been really positive as far as actual Conservation Officers here in Minnesota.

We did have one really funny--well, funny after the fact, anyway--incident while out pheasant hunting in Western MN. My uncle has a few thousan acres of farmland out there and we were working a CRP patch that borders a well-traveled tar county road. The wardens must cruise this road because we get checked almost evey year while hunting this piece.

So we just got through the CRP, one rooster, and back to the truck and a green pickup truk stops on the highway. Yep, right on time.

Conservation officer pulls up, no problem, whatever. Same guy that checked us the last 3 years. I told him we were worried he wasn't going to show up. He gets out holding a clip board.

It was at this point that the encouter went downhill somewhat. We happend to have borrowed one of my uncle's labs to take with us. Blaze is the nicest, most even tempered, best-with-children dogs ever and she'll gladly hunt for anyone.

But there was a problem. A couple of years before, the substitute UPS driver had decided to leave a package in the machine shop as my uncle wasn't home. He got all the way into the dark shop before flipping on the lights and discovering he was surrounded by 6-7 labs who were not really aggressive, but on edge because they didn't recognize him. So he clocked Blaze with a clipboard as he ran out the door.

So here we are, out in the field, with a dog that unknown to us, has a huge grudge for ANYONE in a brown uniform with a clipboard. Yeah. You can see where this is headed.

Sadly, there could be but one outcome. Blaze sees the warden get out of the truck and goes on the offensive. The full deal, growling, snarling, teeth showing, hair up. The warden jumps into the back of the truck and Blaze keeps him "treed".

It fell to me to say to immortal lines to the warden, "Drop the clipboard, sir, and put your hands in the air."

Which he did. And Blaze instantly ceased barking and walked back to her kennel in the truck. Where she laid down and growled softly at the warden. Needless to say, I had some 'splainin to do...

After the incident I told dad that I was sure there would be some serious paperwork to do if we had to take the warden in to the ER to have a 50 pound black lab unclamped from his unit. Not a great inroducuction, but the warden took it with good humor, part of the job, etc.

Grouse
 
never had any problem with the wardens around here. I've been checked exactly once in 20 years of hunting. We used to hunt flintlock with one warden and his deputies years ago. Ok guys if you knew them. I do know alot of guys that were kind of outlaws years ago who have straightened out in their older age, but the wardens still keep a dang good eye on them. I have to say though that I don't believe our local warden to be too bright. examples- last year I got checked for the first time ever. took my license out and handed it to him. he had a confused look and after about 5 minutes asked me why I had two licenses. I had to show him that my second hunting license was my furtakers license. next example-my buddy had some coon sets out near a mutual friends house. mutual friend sees wardens truck parked at bridge and goes to see what problem is. there is a live mink in trap, mink are not in season. warden says he is going to get a club and kill the mink. friend says whoa, Ill get buddy who set trap. buddy shows up, warden starts to write him a fine. buddy takes snare pole out of truck, snares mink, lets it go. warden gets in truck without another word and drives off.
 
Been checked three times in my life, 50 years of hunting and fishing. Two in one week on Sanibel Island FL and the third on Sanibel a year later. Twice by the same Fed and once by a local State that was a complete A$$ for no reason. Badge heavy goof.
 
I have lived in North Carolina for over 38 years. I am a retired LEO who has fished - hunted - and trapped my entire adult life. I have been checked by the Game Wardens in NC far more times than stopped while driving. Never been cited by Wildlife or Law Enforcement ... because I always gave respect to earn respect ... and when the Game Wardens had finished their business the conversation would always go to friendly they would answer questions and give some help on where to be and when ... I hate the state wants to cut their budget by 50 % .... Also I will never forget Dean Mayse NCWRC Officer killed in the line of duty by 2 illegal deer hunters in 1980 ... RIP Warden Mayse
 
I've got a couple of bad guy stories but bottom line is the good guys outnumber the bad guys 100 to one.

Last October I was calling daytime in the California desert and ran into a young warden. He watched me for a while before approaching me and after checking me out from a distance he checked to see if I had a license. I told him I was glad to see him because those non resident licenses cost a lot of money and I was glad to finally show one to somebody. He laughed and we started talking about the town where he was stationed because I once lived there myself. He was also interested in calling in a bobcat and discussed that. We had a friendly discussion that lasted a good hour.

When I was a kid I encountered a couple of wardens that kept me from unintentionally breaking the law. I call them good guys, too.
 
Met both kinds , the young ones seem to be cocky and full of themselves to the point that its impossible to even carry on a conversation with them . I guess they are still suffering from the " shiny badge syndrome " .
The older warden that just walked up on me while I was fishing was a pretty good guy considering I had my license on me and had not caught anything yet .



SEMPER FI AND DEATH BEFORE DISHONER .............
 
I know one in WY that is a real (Insert expletive here)!!!!

But for the most part, every other GW in WY seems to be cordial and not predisposed to wanting to handout citations.
 
Originally Posted By: BigGrizzI know one in WY that is a real (Insert expletive here)!!!!

But for the most part, every other GW in WY seems to be cordial and not predisposed to wanting to handout citations.

I've talked to a couple of people that have a less than favorable opinion of WY wardens. One guy bought a the out-of-state fishing license to fish in WY (he was from CO). The game warden came by to check him and first thing he said was, "What's the matter? Don't they have fish in Colorado?"

The other guy (from CO) had killed a deer and was butchering it in camp. The tag was attached to the antlers. Once again, the GW asked, "What's the matter? Don't they have deer in Colorado?" When the guy cut the head off the carcass and laid in the truck bed, the GW pulled out his ticket book and started to write him a ticket for not having the tag attached to the edible portion of the carcass. After much argument the GW eventually let him off with a warning. Granted for a few minutes the carcass wasn't legally tagged, but the way the GW handled it left a bad taste in my friend's mouth. And a little bit in mine too.

But my contacts with GWs have all been friendly and professional.
 
Originally Posted By: Stirling XDOriginally Posted By: BigGrizzI know one in WY that is a real (Insert expletive here)!!!!

But for the most part, every other GW in WY seems to be cordial and not predisposed to wanting to handout citations.

I've talked to a couple of people that have a less than favorable opinion of WY wardens. One guy bought a the out-of-state fishing license to fish in WY (he was from CO). The game warden came by to check him and first thing he said was, "What's the matter? Don't they have fish in Colorado?"

The other guy (from CO) had killed a deer and was butchering it in camp. The tag was attached to the antlers. Once again, the GW asked, "What's the matter? Don't they have deer in Colorado?" When the guy cut the head off the carcass and laid in the truck bed, the GW pulled out his ticket book and started to write him a ticket for not having the tag attached to the edible portion of the carcass. After much argument the GW eventually let him off with a warning. Granted for a few minutes the carcass wasn't legally tagged, but the way the GW handled it left a bad taste in my friend's mouth. And a little bit in mine too.

But my contacts with GWs have all been friendly and professional.

Where did this happen at? It may be the same guy.
 
I have encountered game wardens on several occasions. The most notable of one was while I was dove hunting on family property, and a neighbor (850 yards away) called the police claiming that we shot his house.

The closest officer out there was a game warden, and he responded within about 15 minutes of us firing our first shots of the hunt. When we saw him arrive, we promptly unloaded our shotguns and left them leaning against a tree. I had forgotten that my Glock 19 was still loaded on my hip because of recent problems we had been having with feral dogs being aggressive. The warden checked our hunting licenses, made sure our guns only held the required 2+1, and then jokingly asked if I was hunting with my Glock. It freaked me out that I had forgotten about it and I apologized but he just laughed.

As the warden was handing my father back his shotgun, a police officer arrived and I noticed him start to blade away from me and put his hand on his sidearm. He mentioned something to the warden who said, "Yes, I do see it and no, it isn't a problem."

I have had nothing but good experiences with game wardens, and I do appreciate what they do.


ETA: My experiences have all been with Texas Game Wardens
 
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Growing up in Wyoming I met a few game wardens and most of them I would rather have not met, they all acted like you were doing something wrong. I hated the Wyoming game wardens seemed like I was constantly getting harrassed. The game wardens that I have encountered in Montana so far have all been nice guys.
 
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