Game warden

[whackmaster]

Went to the release site this morning to hunt pheasant
had a good morning got one bird on the way back to the truck
i realized i didn't have my wallet or licence no big deal
they never check anybody at this place i told my stepson
you got it right in the parking lot was a game warden put
the money tube up my magazine yes only holds 2 shells
with one in the pipe put a magnet on my shells yes
they where steel (i knew they where steel) yep no
wallet no ID no license he went to his truck and came
back and said hold out your hand i did he slapped it
and said be on your way what a guy no ticket
nice thank you WDFW       

[stevemiller]

These positive encounters with the WDFW LEO are adding up. 

[NW-GSP]

Cool to hear, I'm sure you were respectful.

[MtnMuley]

One advantage of having a computer based license system. He can check in and moments later see what you've purchased. Good on him treating you the way he did. Obviously you having a legal gun and steel shot told him enough in my opinion.

[C-Money]

Nice! Glad you had a good encounter and got a bird.

[bigtex]

Just to show how things have changed. Prior to 2012 an officer could've given you a simple ticket for this offense. Then in 2012 things changed and now you would've had a mandatory court date for this offense. You can thank the WA Supreme Court for that.

[Big game archer]

  I had the same exact experience a couple years ago.. I had just got out of my car and begun walking towards the river to hunt when a game warden pulled up in the parking lot. I quickly checked to make sure I had my licence on me (I ALWAYS keep it in my wallet) and what do you know, it wasn't there. I immediately walked back to the parking lot and told the game warden. He was really cool about it and checked the online system. I got off with a slap on the wrist just like you. Ever since then, I check at least three times to make sure I have my licence on me before going hunting (I still don't know how it got out of my wallet that day). Every experience I have had with game wardens here (grant co) has been great since i've lived here.

[GrampasGuns]

I hunt usually 5 days a week in the Snoqualmie valley. Everyone talks trash, but I swear I have never had anything but great experiences with the wardens in that unit. I think its damn simple, dont break the law, be a gentleman and a steward of the lifestyle/sport and you get that back in your dealings with them. I love that they give knuckleheads a bad day when its due.

Glad you had a good day. Funny how they show up when you least expect it.

[fireweed]

I had the same exact experience a couple years ago.. I had just got out of my car and begun walking towards the river to hunt when a game warden pulled up in the parking lot. I quickly checked to make sure I had my licence on me (I ALWAYS keep it in my wallet) and what do you know, it wasn't there. I immediately walked back to the parking lot and told the game warden. He was really cool about it and checked the online system. I got off with a slap on the wrist just like you. Ever since then, I check at least three times to make sure I have my licence on me before going hunting (I still don't know how it got out of my wallet that day). Every experience I have had with game wardens here (grant co) has been great since i've lived here.

Now imagine how many times us parents with two or three tots in tow must check and re-check that they are all "legal".  I do like the computer check system and hope they have an internal policy that if it checks out, no ticket--just go home and get it.

[whackmaster]

This warden had to move his truck quite a few times to get service he went out of his way not to write me a ticket great guy wish there where more like him 

[BiggLuke]

right on man.
gotta love possitve experiences.
Plus, I'm sure it was a good lesson for your kid.
Bet you never forget your lisence again.   

[bearpaw]

Glad to read a story like this, it's obvious you were not intentionally breaking the law, good job WDFW for the positive public relations.

[Tiger1358]

Went to the release site this morning to hunt pheasant
had a good morning got one bird on the way back to the truck
i realized i didn't have my wallet or licence no big deal
they never check anybody at this place i told my stepson
you got it right in the parking lot was a game warden put
the money tube up my magazine yes only holds 2 shells
with one in the pipe put a magnet on my shells yes
they where steel (i knew they where steel) yep no
wallet no ID no license he went to his truck and came
back and said hold out your hand i did he slapped it
and said be on your way what a guy no ticket
nice thank you WDFW       

I'm pretty sure you were at Crescent Lake in Monroe, because I was checked there too the same morning.I talked to him and  he said he checks everything by the license plates. He knows who has even/odd licenses and stuff.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Crazy ...I am  ...Don't you have to have a punch card in your pocket to punch the birds you shoot ? Either way I am glad it worked out .. that's the way it should 

[Skillet]

Had a similar experience with a game warden at the Rufus Woods launch when I was walleye fishing a few years back.  Left my license at home, 200 miles away.  He had just pulled up and was there sitting in his truck and I went up to him and told him about my problem. He was able to get enough cell coverage to check my license online and verify I was good. Knowing I was going to be fishing downriver and out of any cell coverage (where he said there was another officer working the water that day) and to avoid any hassles with them he wrote my license # and a note that I was two-rod legal on the back of his business card. Told me that should get me through the day, and be sure I brought my real license over on my next trip.
Coulda got a ticket and no fishing that day, but instead got a "pass" and a friendly warning.
Pretty cool, imho

[whackmaster]

Crazy ...I am  ...Don't you have to have a punch card in your pocket to punch the birds you shoot ? Either way I am glad it worked out .. that's the way it should 

Nope they don't use punch cards anymore I thought that was kinda weird myself
His name was KC 
and yes I was at the  Crescent Lake release site.

[pianoman9701]

You might take his name of the thread so he doesn't get nailed for it. You're lucky!

[whackmaster]

You might take his name of the thread so he doesn't get nailed for it. You're lucky!

[akirkland]

I myself have had at least 4 encounters so far this year. Legal across the board. But every encounter was positive.

[WSU]

Just to show how things have changed. Prior to 2012 an officer could've given you a simple ticket for this offense. Then in 2012 things changed and now you would've had a mandatory court date for this offense. You can thank the WA Supreme Court for that.

Has the department made a policy to do this because of the change?  Are officers giving less tickets on their own?

[SkookumHntr]

My last experiance with a GW i was taking my daughter trout fishing, we row back to the launch and getting ready to leave when a gw walks up and asks how many we caught, I said 5, he says well can i see them, i say sure there in this sack, he says well theres 4 in here you told me you had 5, i say well i musta made a mistake and we only kept 4 then. He then wants to look in every compartment in my driftboat like im hiding a trout, I say do you know what the limit is on this lake, its 5 apiece, we can keep 10! I couldnt believe it!

[pianoman9701]

My last experiance with a GW i was taking my daughter trout fishing, we row back to the launch and getting ready to leave when a gw walks up and asks how many we caught, I said 5, he says well can i see them, i say sure there in this sack, he says well theres 4 in here you told me you had 5, i say well i musta made a mistake and we only kept 4 then. He then wants to look in every compartment in my driftboat like im hiding a trout, I say do you know what the limit is on this lake, its 5 apiece, we can keep 10! I couldnt believe it!

What couldn't you believe? You told him one thing. Then he found differently, which made him suspicious. He did his job. Did you have any problem with him other than that? Was it a traumatizing experience? Was he in any way unprofessional?

I got stopped by a gamie after I'd been pushing through really thick blackberries and had blood all over my hands. He'd asked if we killed anything and we hadn't. The blood made him suspicious and he checked our rig. Big deal. I want the gamies checking out suspicious activities. They're protecting my assets by doing so.