Not a priority anymore???

[bigmacc]

Well another season in the books for me,52 of them under my belt now. Plenty of scouting ahead. One thing that was noticeable to me this year was the lack of wardens or any kind of enforcement for that matter.We were all over the Methow this season and I nor my 4 pardners never saw a game warden. I would have thaught with all the doe tags and people that they would have been out in force. I remember past years where they had forest service people deputized and helping out on some infractions,they would even have checkpoints set up to check for loaded rifles,check lic.etc,etc. Signs are faded,gates are falling apart. On a off day I took a drive up towards Sullivans and seen rigs driving down the hill along the fenceline from the campsites up by the pond to the flat area where they used to plant alf alfa and where Sullivans house once stood down below. Signs were still up at the bottom but were so faded you could barely read them. The ones up top were "missing" I have said it many times and am seeing it more and more unfortunatly but the mule deer in this valley just dont seem to be the priority they once were. I know of friends who called in infractions that were never addressed and so on. For some of us that have alot of history chasing deer around that valley its very sad to see (what looks like) this herd falling way down the priority list.....as always,my

[jrebel]

We have seen and interacted with more wardens in two years of hunting in Montana than we ever have in Washington State.  Collectively me and my hunting partner have 50+ years hunting is Washington and we have had 2 interactions with wardens.  We have seen (while hunting) less than 10.  In two years hunting in Montana we have had 5-6 interactions (all good). 

And you wonder why poaching is out of control. 

[bigmacc]

Well I can only speak of the Methow,but in the past (and I know some will back me on this) you knew you would see a warden or game manager or someone during your season.They would make there rounds thru the campsites,chat about deer etc,etc. You knew there names and they did there job,you at least knew they were around They took alot of pride in that herd back then and it showed. There is good ones there now and I know they are spread thin and they are basically the "boots on the ground" for higher ups and government programs and agendas. I guess thats were the "Priority problem" really lies for this herd.....Replace some signs for crying out loud and keep people from driving where they arnt supposed to be

[fastdam]

I havent seen a game warden in 15 years while hunting, and i like it that way. A person should be able to go out and enjoy themselves without being watched and harassed with interogation and illegal searches. There are enough responsible people in the woods to keep anyone else from ruining public resources. Nobody is gonna allow anyone else to single handedly destroy a deer herd or a fish run. Natve harvests are proof of that.
 Now fishing is a different story.........gamies are always present when fishing. Especially when we fish for those nasty little planter trout. I expect to have an encouter the most then.

[jrebel]

I havent seen a game warden in 15 years while hunting, and i like it that way. A person should be able to go out and enjoy themselves without being watched and harassed with interogation and illegal searches. There are enough responsible people in the woods to keep anyone else from ruining public resources. Nobody is gonna allow anyone else to single handedly destroy a deer herd or a fish run. Natve harvests are proof of that.
 Now fishing is a different story.........gamies are always present when fishing. Especially when we fish for those nasty little planter trout. I expect to have an encouter the most then.

I have never been harassed.......I also don't have to worry about it as I follow the rules and have nothing to hide.  Obviously I make this statement with very little experience, I think game wardens are important and purely the thought of running into one will keep most people honest. 

[bigmacc]

I havent seen a game warden in 15 years while hunting, and i like it that way. A person should be able to go out and enjoy themselves without being watched and harassed with interogation and illegal searches. There are enough responsible people in the woods to keep anyone else from ruining public resources. Nobody is gonna allow anyone else to single handedly destroy a deer herd or a fish run. Natve harvests are proof of that.
 Now fishing is a different story.........gamies are always present when fishing. Especially when we fish for those nasty little planter trout. I expect to have an encouter the most then.

I have NEVER been harassed or interogated by a warden, If I run into one while in the woods or when they stopped by camp and they asked a few questions I always thaught they were "doing their job", heck if anyone felt harassed in our camp it was probably the wardens,we would want to talk and ask more questions than they did,they probably couldnt wait to make there escape

[fastdam]

Any encounter where a person is asked to submit to a search of your person, property or papers without prior suspicion of a crime with knowledge of what is to be found in a search and of where it should be is harassment. Just fishing or hunting alone is not suspicious. Activity. Its normal and has been at the core of human activity since the very beginning.

[bigmacc]

Any encounter where a person is asked to submit to a search of your person, property or papers without prior suspicion of a crime with knowledge of what is to be found in a search and of where it should be is harassment. Just fishing or hunting alone is not suspicious. Activity. Its normal and has been at the core of human activity since the very beginning.

Okie doke.....I have never been searched by a warden or looked upon by one suspiciously,like jrebal said Ive never gave them the reason to ....Hey,I just want some signs replaced and to make sure this herd stays on the radar

[Boss .300 winmag]

It's about money, so what is the hardest rules to understand fishing regs. I see officers all the time commuting back and forth to work because of the river and sound is one my way.

But I do recall someone posting a warden in Conconully citing a guy for wounding a two point and leaving it. 

[bigmacc]

I havent seen a game warden in 15 years while hunting, and i like it that way. A person should be able to go out and enjoy themselves without being watched and harassed with interogation and illegal searches. There are enough responsible people in the woods to keep anyone else from ruining public resources. Nobody is gonna allow anyone else to single handedly destroy a deer herd or a fish run. Natve harvests are proof of that.
 Now fishing is a different story.........gamies are always present when fishing. Especially when we fish for those nasty little planter trout. I expect to have an encouter the most then.

I have never been harassed.......I also don't have to worry about it as I follow the rules and have nothing to hide.  Obviously I make this statement with very little experience, I think game wardens are important and purely the thought of running into one will keep most people honest. 

Bingo  jrebel

[bowhunterwa87]

I've had three  interactions this year...two while fishing pond four in the spring (license checks) and one in bethel while looking for rattlers .

[Birdguy]

Public resources are ruined every day by people of todays society. The stuff you hear or read about in the news did not happen 20 years ago like it does today. Yes, I understand the media has changed what we hear about and how quickly it comes out, what was "rumor or campfire stories" years back are front line news in sporting magazines and online forums today. Even the most casual observer should be able to see the changes in priority that bigmacc is speaking of (maybe not 52 years of it  ), he is talking about the encounter with the local enforcement officer he got used to over the years. Certainly if the officer is coming into the same camp year in and year out he knows what and who to expect upon arrival. Asking about licenses and success or not, is far from harrassment. If we did not have so many people doing the wrong things at every turn perhaps our law enforcement community would treat us all a little different as well As it stands they, like us, tend to generalize each situation, which is what started this thread  .

[Bigshooter]

I have hunted in WA for 25 years now and have seen 1 game warden while I was hunting.  Seeing a game warden would be strange to me.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Not sure I know what to say but that's fine with me ... I live in such a small hole in the state but I guarantee I see more law enforcement than most    DNR - Sheriffs and Wardens ...not so much State patrol ..you would think living in the sticks you would see less ..not the case where I am !

[Fillbachd]

I'm 25 and have been hunting and fishing my whole life all over the state. Have had 1 encounter with a warden. It happened to be at work because I'm a seafood manager at a grocery store and they are in charge of making sure we log the county of origin of our seafood. Pretty sad actually.

[MtnMuley]

It's called funding. This state would rather put on 5 more biologists and cut funding to enforcement, which they HAVE. After all,  do ever expect to see Fitkin in the woods??

[buckfvr]

Just because you dont see them doesnt always mean they arent there............

[theshade]

I think they have all been pulled for homeland security duty.

[JimmyHoffa]

Probably all in the Palouse on wolf duty. 

[csaaphill]

I havent seen a game warden in 15 years while hunting, and i like it that way. A person should be able to go out and enjoy themselves without being watched and harassed with interogation and illegal searches. There are enough responsible people in the woods to keep anyone else from ruining public resources. Nobody is gonna allow anyone else to single handedly destroy a deer herd or a fish run. Natve harvests are proof of that.
 Now fishing is a different story.........gamies are always present when fishing. Especially when we fish for those nasty little planter trout. I expect to have an encouter the most then.

I have NEVER been harassed or interogated by a warden, If I run into one while in the woods or when they stopped by camp and they asked a few questions I always thaught they were "doing their job", heck if anyone felt harassed in our camp it was probably the wardens,we would want to talk and ask more questions than they did,they probably couldnt wait to make there escape

Sorry but saying it like that tells people that doing things right means you wont be harrased and that simply isn't so!

[csaaphill]

Not sure I know what to say but that's fine with me ... 

doesn't bother me a bit seen one lat year and one the year before so ya less is more.

[_TONY_]

I was up in 215 and they had three wardens running around up there... Also, talked to a warden in 204.

One of the wardens that I talked to was from the tacoma area. I don't think it's a lack of priorities, but more if a lack in funding.

If this state were to get rid of the general fund, this wouldn't be an issue.

[bigmacc]

I havent seen a game warden in 15 years while hunting, and i like it that way. A person should be able to go out and enjoy themselves without being watched and harassed with interogation and illegal searches. There are enough responsible people in the woods to keep anyone else from ruining public resources. Nobody is gonna allow anyone else to single handedly destroy a deer herd or a fish run. Natve harvests are proof of that.
 Now fishing is a different story.........gamies are always present when fishing. Especially when we fish for those nasty little planter trout. I expect to have an encouter the most then.

I have NEVER been harassed or interogated by a warden, If I run into one while in the woods or when they stopped by camp and they asked a few questions I always thaught they were "doing their job", heck if anyone felt harassed in our camp it was probably the wardens,we would want to talk and ask more questions than they did,they probably couldnt wait to make there escape

Sorry but saying it like that tells people that doing things right means you wont be harrased and that simply isn't so!

I will only speak for myself, I have been hunting for 52 years,  I,ve never been harassed by a game warden. So, it "is so" for me......Can I pleeeease get some signs replaced  ..I got a feeling I,m gonna have to replace them myself

[rickomatic]

I read in Virtual Campfire that WDFW was going to be on some reality show. Maybe they were in makeup getting ready......

[Brad Harshman]

I havent seen a game warden in 15 years while hunting, and i like it that way. A person should be able to go out and enjoy themselves without being watched and harassed with interogation and illegal searches. There are enough responsible people in the woods to keep anyone else from ruining public resources. Nobody is gonna allow anyone else to single handedly destroy a deer herd or a fish run. Natve harvests are proof of that.
 Now fishing is a different story.........gamies are always present when fishing. Especially when we fish for those nasty little planter trout. I expect to have an encouter the most then.

Sorry but I disagree.  There are not enough good honest hunters to prevent the trash people from ruining it for the rest of us.  Look around.  Public lands are getting trashed, reaources/game are dwindling.  A good litmus test is getting access to private lands.  Too many jack wagons, too many jack wagons.

Don't get me wrong there are plenty of good guys but its not enough to offset the trash.

[longrangehunter338]

For sure need more forest service, game and fish, law enforcement out there. People get pissed if some guy calls them out for doing some wrong. I for one would like to see more out there. Buying a hunting license means you submit to license checks by wardens. If you have a problem with that, dont hunt. It is far from harassment and interrogation.

[bigmacc]

For sure need more forest service, game and fish, law enforcement out there. People get pissed if some guy calls them out for doing some wrong. I for one would like to see more out there. Buying a hunting license means you submit to license checks by wardens. If you have a problem with that, dont hunt. It is far from harassment and interrogation.

 

[bigmacc]

I havent seen a game warden in 15 years while hunting, and i like it that way. A person should be able to go out and enjoy themselves without being watched and harassed with interogation and illegal searches. There are enough responsible people in the woods to keep anyone else from ruining public resources. Nobody is gonna allow anyone else to single handedly destroy a deer herd or a fish run. Natve harvests are proof of that.
 Now fishing is a different story.........gamies are always present when fishing. Especially when we fish for those nasty little planter trout. I expect to have an encouter the most then.

Sorry but I disagree.  There are not enough good honest hunters to prevent the trash people from ruining it for the rest of us.  Look around.  Public lands are getting trashed, reaources/game are dwindling.  A good litmus test is getting access to private lands.  Too many jack wagons, too many jack wagons.

Don't get me wrong there are plenty of good guys but its not enough to offset the trash.

 

[Ddouble]

I had an interaction today and it was a fantastic experience. I had my 6yrd old with me and he was "deputized" and given a gold plastic junior wardens Sheriffs badge it just added to a fantastic first day out hunting with Dad. I think the warden was impressed that my boy knew we could only shoot Daddy deer no Mommy deer.

[Boss .300 winmag]

I had an interaction today and it was a fantastic experience. I had my 6yrd old with me and he was "deputized" and given a gold plastic junior wardens Sheriffs badge it just added to a fantastic first day out hunting with Dad. I think the warden was impressed that my boy knew we could only shoot Daddy deer no Mommy deer.

Thats a cool way to let the little guy know wardens are good people too.

[hoyt2002]

My last interaction with a warden was a good one. I had even violated a game law. Not on purpose  mind you but the warden used it as a education  moment. He showed me what I had done wrong and left it at that. We corrected the error. He hung out awhile and talked some more and was on his way. Others I know also had good interactions that day with warden Horn. They like most cops are doing a tough job with limited resources. The state is the issue not giving them the resources and money they need.

[longrangehunter338]

THIS IS WHY WE NEED MORE LAW

http://www.gohunt.com/read/gruesome-acts-of-poaching-in-colorado

[ghosthunter]

Last year our Twisp Camp we had two west side agents stop in and check our papers.

Muzzy elk this year 1712 road in 342 , two wardens screamed by our camp with lights flashing up the mountain. No word what where they were going.

Deer camp Twisp this year. Intersection of Little Bridge Creek and 4410 rd.
Check point three wardens and one sheriff. Stoping all hunters.

[Alchase]

We use to look forward the big Jim Montgue's visit to our camp on Friday before the opener.
Since Jim retired, I have not had the opportunity to meet any of his replacements.

[JimmyHoffa]

Last year our Twisp Camp we had two west side agents stop in and check our papers.

Muzzy elk this year 1712 road in 342 , two wardens screamed by our camp with lights flashing up the mountain. No word what where they were going.

Deer camp Twisp this year. Intersection of Little Bridge Creek and 4410 rd.
Check point three wardens and one sheriff. Stoping all hunters.

I saw a warden today and he had all the stuff for a checkpoint and was already driving off.  Just down from him were a sheriff's deputy and two FS rangers.

[bigtex]

I remember past years where they had forest service people deputized and helping out on some infractions,they would even have checkpoints set up to check for loaded rifles,check lic.etc,etc.

Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers have federal authority to enforce state fish and wildlife laws thru the federal court system. They don't need the state's permission and need to be deputized. Additionally, some states then give some federal agencies the authority to enforce state fish and wildlife laws through the state court system. Examples of these states include WA, Idaho, Montana, and Colorado

[bigtex]

I don't know what ownership of land you are on, but when there are two USFS leo's covering millions of acres doing the duties 8 should/would normally do, they don't have time to focus on that. Thank the governments budget cuts. 

And it will be getting worse. The USFS Law Enforcement budget will be/is getting cut another 15% nationwide in 2015. We are almost at the point where half of the USFS LEO positions in WA are vacant and there are no plans to fill them anytime soon.

[bigmacc]

I don't know what ownership of land you are on, but when there are two USFS leo's covering millions of acres doing the duties 8 should/would normally do, they don't have time to focus on that. Thank the governments budget cuts. 

And it will be getting worse. The USFS Law Enforcement budget will be/is getting cut another 15% nationwide in 2015. We are almost at the point where half of the USFS LEO positions in WA are vacant and there are no plans to fill them anytime soon.

Thanks bigtex,sad situation IMHO.