gammie in wrong

[KyleMB123]

Fish and wildlife officers do have a right to search a vehicle without a warrant when there is probable cause of a fish or wildlife violation.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15.094

Maybe he could have been nicer about it, but it sounds to me like you're overreacting. He searched your vehicle, found nothing, and left you to go on your way. What harm was done?

Perhaps the harm is the violation of his constitutional rights?

There are no such thing as constitutional rights anymore. But hey, we now have a fragile illusion of increased safety! What a trade!

OK, if you say so. I think there's still a Bill of Rights and normally if a person knows it, they're well protected. Hunting, however, is NOT a right (it should be and we can change that). Because it's a privilege, LE connected to it have additional powers that other LE don't have. I prefer to hunt and understand that DFW LE have extended powers with regards to search than not hunt and give them that power. You have a choice with this privilege. Take it or leave it.

Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

This has nothing to do with hunting not being a right. It has everything to do with privacy being a right.

[pianoman9701]

Like I said, if you don't like it, either make hunting a right or don't hunt. DFW LE has the right to search your vehicle while you're out hunting just because you're hunting. You might be able to beat a rap in court due to no PC, but that's the rules if you hunt. I'm not saying I like it, because I don't. It just is.

[Kola16]

Never had a bad encounter with a gamie. I guess I've been lucky.

If you see a lady game warden near Arlington........Don't even look at her 

[NW-GSP]

I think it is strange that if his motive to check your vehicles had something to do with pistols then why did he not handcuff you and or atleast pat you down before checking your vehicle, If he had felt threatened in any way he would have handcuffed you before checking your vehicel.

[duckmen1]

The story is right on the money.
I would have let him search the vehichle anyway because i had nothing to hide. All he had to do was talk to me about things first and I wouldn't be upset about anything.
I was even getting my license out to give to him as he walked right on by
and searched the truck.
Originally he didn't seem to care until the license was in my hand.
With reasonable cause, usually something is found.
He seemed upset not to find a loaded gun in the vehichle.
I gave no reason for any suspicion to be had.

[Bean Counter]

I only ran into wardens one time  on the OlyPen several years ago. They checked my license, tags, etc. very professional and courteous. 

[duckmen1]

My only problem with filling a complaint is that i don't know the game wardens name.
And as far as saying I am over reacting like one had said on hear I don't understand that because all I did was tell other fellow hunters how we as hunters are being treated. That's all I have done.

[WSU]

They will know who was in the area.

[duckmen1]

All day I saw two warden trucks in the woods and 2 or 3 trucks back at the check station. Each were running in pairs.

[gasman]

If it was the same pair of gamies we ran in to on the 2000 line Sat morning, they were nothing but professional to me and my wife.

I was pulled over on the side of the road glassing a hill side. They pulled behind my vehicle and both got out. We met, I shook the man's hand and asked how their morning was going so far and they were business but pleasant. Checked my wifes gun and lic. but not mine (I was not hunting).
Check the shot gun in back, wished us good luck and was on there way.

Had another one stop and check the deer the wife shot while I was gutting it, Checked the guns in the vehicle and moved on. The second one even had a bunch of snow on his truck from the upper hills.

Sorry you had a bad experience but that was not they way I was treated at all.

[Knocker of rocks]

He walked by without saying a word a started searching my truck, pack, guns etc.

I think what he did was clearly an illegal search.  From the previously quoted RCW 77.15.094

.....may make a reasonable search without warrant of a vessel, conveyances, vehicles, containers, packages, or other receptacles for fish, seaweed, shellfish, and wildlife which they have reason to believe contain evidence of a violation of law

If it's not reasonable to think that game or fish is in a place, then WDFW has no authority to look there.  A elk head can't be in a magazine, so there is no reason to look there to see if the gun is loaded.  This authority is grossly misused.

[Knocker of rocks]

From this similar thread: http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?action=post;quote=1163381;topic=91371.0

Kramm and Zimmerman were d-bags!  I got along with them fine but they were real plicks to some of my cousins.  Kramm would come into our camp in Republic and go through every tent and firearm, then sit down and bs for 2 hours by the fire

This search was also illegal.  LEO's need a warrant to search berthing areas, tents, campers, canopy shells and station wagons where a foam pad and sleeping bag are un-rolled

This authority does not extend to quarters in a boat, building, or other property used exclusively as a private domicile, does not extend to transitory residences in which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy

[dbor]

I am not sure what I would do...But i know this...I would be ticked off... When the LEO was done, I would be asking a few questions...Making a few calls to the WSDFW... It couldn't hurt...

[stuckalot]

Like I said, if you don't like it, either make hunting a right or don't hunt. DFW LE has the right to search your vehicle while you're out hunting just because you're hunting. You might be able to beat a rap in court due to no PC, but that's the rules if you hunt. I'm not saying I like it, because I don't. It just is.

Hunting being a "right" has nothing to do with it, we participate in many activities everyday that aren't considered constitutionally protected "rights".  Like someone stated earlier, driving for instance. DFW LE is given more latitude to determine what is "probable cause", but they still have to have probable cause or it is an illegal search.

[Hunterman]

If I'm not mistaken we are still in the United States of America.. I realize Czar Bush tried to remove our freedom to travel around this great country, but we ARE still a FREE PEOPLE. Now I don't give a rats backside, anyone who thinks they can just go and search private property is saddly mistaken..You go looking through my truck, I don't care who you think you are, its going to get uglier than my sister - in - law(if that's even possible) real fast..Sounds to me this gammie was looking for a hospital stay..

Hunterman(Tony)