WDFW bad rep

[carver52]

I can only comment one one interaction with a state C.O. and that was once on the Snake and he was trying to intimidate me into leaving the spot I was duck hunting at.  Claiming property lines were considered out into the river.  I listened for a while then informed him to either cite me{after i pulled a copy of the property description} or I'd have him cited for hunter harrasment.  He left.

All the Fed. Agents I've met in the field were standup guys, even waiting until my labs. have finished retrieves before initiating contact. 

[bobcat]

I've never had an issue with WDFW enforcement. The few times I've been been checked while hunting they have always been very nice and professional.

However, I did have a problem with a biologist. This guy was very rude and arrogant, did not know how to be professional and all he wanted to do was yell and try to intimidate me. In my mind, he was impersonating a law enforcement officer.

I told this story already on here, a couple years ago, when it happened. I was up in Capitol Forest in the spring, driving around with my brother. It was a Saturday, so I was surprised to see what looked like a WDFW truck in my rear view mirror. Well he eventually turned off on another road to the left and a little further we turned off on a road on the right.

We saw a deer and stopped, and I shut off the Bronco. We sat there for a couple minutes, then that same Ford pickup comes driving up behind me. I go to start the engine to get out of his way, and it won't start. I had never had it not start before and had no idea what the problem might be.

So I get out and walk back to the guy sitting in his truck behind me. I tell him it won't start, he says he has to get down the road to his bear trap. Okay, so my brother and I push the Bronco down the road about 100 yards to a wide spot so he could get by. No problem. I call my uncle and he says he'll come up right away and tow me home.

The guy checking the bear trap is only about another 100 yards down the road and he gets done and drives past us as he heads back out. We're sitting there waiting for my uncle when all of a sudden the WDFW truck, along with another one come flying up behind my Bronco, skidding to a stop, and blocked us in, as if we were going to try to get away in a Bronco that won't even start.

I didn't know what was going on. This little guy comes flying out of his truck and gets in my face, immediately calls me by my last name, and starts yelling and interrogating me.

I assumed he was a WDFW officer, since he had obviously ran my license plate and knew my name. But he never identified himself, never said he was with WDFW, didn't give me a name, and really didn't even tell me what the issue was. After a couple minutes it became apparent his big issue was with the empty dog crate I had in the Bronco. He thought I was running a hound, in the vicinity of his bear trap.

I have nothing nice to say about the guy. Once he realized I was doing nothing wrong, didn't even own a hound, he jumped in his truck without saying a word. Never have I seen anyone be so impolite and unprofessional. It's a good thing he isn't an enforcement officer, that's for sure.

I found out his name later, when I was at a WDFW Commissioners meeting in Olympia. His name is Rich Beausoleil and he's their bear and cougar specialist. I'd be curious to know if anyone else has had any run ins with him.

Here's a picture I googled up:

[BOWHUNTER45]

Nah .... I do not hate them but I wish they would just leave me the hell alone 

[muzbuster]

I think the Field guys are alright, but the uppers that are locked into the political pressure and $ are crooks, cheats, and sell outs.

You hit the nail on the head! I have had many "encounters" over the years with the wardens and never had an issue with any of them. That being said, some are better to deal with then others that's for sure just like with any LE division. As far as the WDFW is concerned, like with any kind of Gov agency, it is all about funding period. I feel that if WDFW was a more self supporting agency IE getting more of the $ from licenses, tags, drawings and the like, and use those $ internally and manage the fish & game with sound science and a good measure of common sense and not with politically influenced motivations as is the case now, views of the WDFW as a whole may be different.

[Bob33]

I have never had a bad experience with WDFW law enforcement in my lifetime of hunting. I am sure they have some individuals with rough edges but I have not met any. To me their reputation is exceptional.

[Skyvalhunter]

Rich appears to have the small mans disease.

[jess]

I have had some real issues with wardens in the past. When they take the job personaly and not for a job thats when they become hard to deal with, that being said i met the new warden for ferry county and the wedge a few weeks ago, he was a very nice guy and hope he stays that way.

[whitey]

*censored due to language*

[jrebel]

In approx 30 years of hunting, fishing, camping, etc...  I have never had a bad experience with a field agent.  They have all been very nice and very professional.   A couple of times they did come across as very arrogant. 

[bigtex]

*censored due to language*

Sounds like you needed to have a sense of humor in this situation.

They were just saying you should have had another truck because they got a complaint about a similar truck. I guess if they really wanted to they could have pulled you out at gunpoint thrown you on the ground and cuffed you until they figured out the correct description 

[lokidog]

Bigtex, as usual, you go into defense mode....   Maybe the guys were just jerks.  A person can usually tell when someone is joking/goofing around, even without smileys.   

I think the Field guys are alright, but the uppers that are locked into the political pressure and $ are crooks, cheats, and sell outs.

You hit the nail on the head! I have had many "encounters" over the years with the wardens and never had an issue with any of them. That being said, some are better to deal with then others that's for sure just like with any LE division. As far as the WDFW is concerned, like with any kind of Gov agency, it is all about funding period. I feel that if WDFW was a more self supporting agency IE getting more of the $ from licenses, tags, drawings and the like, and use those $ internally and manage the fish & game with sound science and a good measure of common sense and not with politically influenced motivations as is the case now, views of the WDFW as a whole may be different.

I have had no negative experiences here in WA.  A couple of innocent opps that could have gotten annoying, but officers were generally friendly.  CA, on the other hand, don't even get me started.   

I did have one officer I talked to though that did not have a clue with his duck ID skills, though he was checking fishermen where I was duck hunting.   

[dontgetcrabs]

Sounds like you needed to have a sense of humor in this situation.

They were just saying you should have had another truck because they got a complaint about a similar truck. I guess if they really wanted to they could have pulled you out at gunpoint thrown you on the ground and cuffed you until they figured out the correct description 

Yep there's the problem right there. Guilty until proven innocent.   

   

[bigtex]

Bigtex, as usual, you go into defense mode....   Maybe the guys were just jerks.  A person can usually tell when someone is joking/goofing around, even without smileys.   

I am not trying to defend them at all. I just don't see where the "jacka$$" part was? I guess they should have pulled them out at gunpoint, maybe that would be nicer?

I see nothing wrong with an officer saying you should have a different truck because we are looking for a similar one. I bet there are troopers, deputies, and city cops in this state that have said the same thing.

[bigtex]

Sounds like you needed to have a sense of humor in this situation.

They were just saying you should have had another truck because they got a complaint about a similar truck. I guess if they really wanted to they could have pulled you out at gunpoint thrown you on the ground and cuffed you until they figured out the correct description 

Yep there's the problem right there. Guilty until proven innocent.   

If a report comes out about two white guys in a Black F-150 (example). ANY law enforcement officer can pull over EVERY black F-150 with two white guys in it.

Have a problem? Call the US Supreme Court

[BIGINNER]

Rich appears to have the small mans disease.

I think rich might be a little tree hugger that got a job working "with bears" and not working for the people.