WDFW LE Great Resource for HuntWA - Please Be Respectful

[pianoman9701]

I'm still unsure what a "let me see your hands attitude" is (are they just acting cautiously with you? Are they actually saying "let me see your hands"? Are they being unprofessional in any way?). A comparison to regular cops stopping regular people isn't really a fair comparison. Again, normal LE aren't dealing knowingly with fully armed people. I don't know about you, but if I were a gamie, I'd be on full alert all day long.  Picture this: Your job is to identify law breakers and ticket them while they're armed. If they are in fact breaking the law, they usually already know it, plus they're armed and nervous and don't want to be busted.

All due respects, Macs, but it really doesn't sound like you're being rousted. It sounds like you think they need to approach you joking and smiling like you're not a threat. In their position, that would be a very dangerous posture to assume.

[JLS]

My point is I shouldn't have to put up with a gamie who thinks me and my three kids are a threat.   

 

And middle aged people with kids shouldn't be threats, but the reality is they sure can be.

Maybe you can get a hat that says "I am harmless".

If a game warden walks up on a guy and three kids and gets shot because the guy is really a dangerous loon, and didn't take the proper precautions then shame on him.

Life would really be grand if we could all live in a Mayberry bubble.

[Bob33]

Life would really be grand if we could all live in a Mayberry bubble.

Barney had a "let me see your hands" attitude.

Petticoat Junction?

[bigtex]

Hands kill officers. If you are hunting and have your rifle in your hand, yes I am going to tell you to put in a safe location.

If your hands are in your pockets, take them out.

If your in a vehicle with your rifle/shotgun unloaded next to you, I will tell you to not touch the gun.



I guess I could be like most law enforcement officers, and as soon as I see a firearm I put my handgun on your head and throw you on the ground.

I have had troopers, deputies, and city cops tell me they would never do my job. Why? Because almost everybody natural resource law enforcement officers (state and federal fish and wildlife, forest service, DNR, BLM, etc) contact has some type of weapon.

[Jingles]

While I agree that LE could be a hazardous profession and that some LEO1's are respectful as far as the original Op's suggestion of giving respect to the WDFW Leo's on here simply because the are LEO's NO I won't...... Respect is Earned and more have earned disrespect than respect.....
So I guess I'll probably be getting a warning or a ban notice from the site for my opinion.

[bearpaw]

I am happy that individuals like ucwarden and bigtex want to be a part of this site, their knowledge is an asset to this site just as any other professional who shares their knowledge on this site with the members, I really appreciate their participation.

All this talk about equality is curious, for the record, I view everyone as equals to each other until they do something to prove they are not. Someone mentioned something about respect should be given to anyone until it is lost, that's sort of the way I look at it. I don't feel that respect must always be earned, respect should be given to anyone until they prove they do not deserve that respect.

I agree with the thoughts that WDFW policies have destroyed many peoples respect for WDFW in general. However, we have some people here who want to try and correct some of those poor policies. I see this as an excellent opportunity for positive change and look forward to organizing a positive effort once my busy season winds down.

Let's all try to move beyond the past and look for positive changes in the future.   

[ucwarden]

I am happy that individuals like ucwarden and bigtex want to be a part of this site, their knowledge is an asset to this site just as any other professional who shares their knowledge on this site with the members, I really appreciate their participation.

All this talk about equality is curious, for the record, I view everyone as equals to each other until they do something to prove they are not. Someone mentioned something about respect should be given to anyone until it is lost, that's sort of the way I look at it. I don't feel that respect must always be earned, respect should be given to anyone until they prove they do not deserve that respect.

I agree with the thoughts that WDFW policies have destroyed many peoples respect for WDFW in general. However, we have some people here who want to try and correct some of those poor policies. I see this as an excellent opportunity for positive change and look forward to organizing a positive effort once my busy season winds down.

Let's all try to move beyond the past and look for positive changes in the future.   

Bearpaw:

Thanks, and I agree with your position.  Since I am strongly pushing for some real change to WDFW's enforcement program, I will start a new thread dealing solely with WDFW enforcement comments and concerns.

To those of you who have concerns, comments or just want to vent; either post on that thread (WDFW Enforcement comments) or feel free to PM me directly.
I have done my fair share of complaining over time, but have found complaining alone never changes a thing.

Have a great Thanksgiving weekend.

[Bordercop]

Amen

[Eli346]

 

[onetrapper]

My opinion is that WDFW  have gone heavy on being a police force.  I know it dangerous out there but it seem like even the guys that try to be above board are at risk of some kind of ticket these days

[smalldog]

I remember one time in GMU 101 I was sitting a buck scrape in the evening. I had a couple of bucks come to a scrape and a really nice five point come in and ran the other 2 bucks off. I sat their waiting for a good shoot and never got one and the buck stayed around in the area till about a half hour after legal hunting hours and left as far as I could tell.  I did not want to spook it so I came out at dark.  I had about a 1/2 mile to walk out and I heard someone drive and stop at my truck. It was a game warden and he was accusing me of spot lighting deer. I told him I was coming from my tree stand and I used a flash light to keep from poking out my eyes. I also said I would be glad to take him in and show him my stand. This guy was a total *censored* and was going to write me a ticket. I told him he had better get the highway patrol or take me to jail because I was not signing his ticket. He did not know a thing about hunting or he would have understood that is how it is sometimes. I don't care if you are hunting with a rifle or bow hunters sometimes come out with a flash light. The warden finally gave me a warning and said he was going to be watching me.  If you are going to have wardens, they should know the laws. Theirs no law saying I can't use a flash light to come out of the woods.   This guy was expecting the worst in everybody he would check.   When a warden checks a hunter he should be respectful and so should the hunter.

[bigtex]

This guy was a total *censored* and was going to write me a ticket. I told him he had better get the highway patrol or take me to jail because I was not signing his ticket. He did not know a thing about hunting or he would have understood that is how it is sometimes. I don't care if you are hunting with a rifle or bow hunters sometimes come out with a flash light. The warden finally gave me a warning and said he was going to be watching me.  If you are going to have wardens, they should know the laws. Theirs no law saying I can't use a flash light to come out of the woods.

And why did you ask for "highway patrol"? You do realize that another agency can't overrule another agency correct? If WSP did show up he would have been on WDFW's side, not yours.. This isn't the 1800s where you can call in the sheriff for everything. WDFW Officers actually have more jurisdiction then any officer in WA and have federal authority as well.

And if you read the law for spotlighting RCW 77.15.450:  A person is guilty of spotlighting big game in the second degree if the person hunts big game with the aid of a spotlight, other artificial light or night vision equipment while in possession or control of a firearm, bow and arrow, or cross bow.

Obviously this officer believed you were hunting big game and you were using an artificial light. If the officer really wanted to he could've easily written you a ticket. However, this is where officer discretion and common sense comes in 

[Curly]

Give me a break.      He was not hunting big game with the aid of a light.  He was done hunting when he got out his light.   

[Gringo31]

I'm with Curly on this one...

We wasn't hunting big game anymore.  He was headed to his truck.  Otherwise, if you use a light to go to or from your stand you are breaking the law?

[Gringo31]

Same goes for following a blood trail in the dark to retrive an animal.