Experienced my first game checkpoint today in Eastern WA

[TVHunts]

My first season of Big Game hunting was in 1975, today was my first time to see or be checked at a checkpoint.  I’ve been checked for my license one other time in all of those years and I have hunted every year since.

It was interesting to me that he asked to see my buck and asked me to remove my tag for him.   I did so and he said “Thank you, have a great day”.  He didn’t check my ID or any other info to see if I was the guy who’s tag was on the buck. I left thinking, if your going to make me pull over and check me with a deer I stated I had in the back of the truck, why wasn’t my identification verified to match the tag? 

Either way it was a pleasant experience and for that I am appreciative. Good guy with a great attitude and was very respectful. 

[SWHUNTER]

HWY 2?

[TVHunts]

Yup! Miles Creston Rd & Hwy 2

[SWHUNTER]

I've hit that one a few times. Always nice guys. They do it in Turkey season too.

[millerwheeler]

Was it a check stop or did he pull you over to make sure tag was current? My understanding is  2 years or so ago give or take they couldn't pull you over to check game without probal cause in wa anymore for game stop REGUARDLESS  glass there out there checking and doing there thing

[Bob33]

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15.470

[millerwheeler]

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15.470

There is a difference between a check point and pulled over the check your game

[bigtex]

Was it a check stop or did he pull you over to make sure tag was current? My understanding is  2 years or so ago give or take they couldn't pull you over to check game without probal cause in wa anymore for game stop REGUARDLESS  glass there out there checking and doing there thing

Check point

[Katmai Guy]

Typically these are staffed by bios not enforcement, correct?

[bigtex]

Typically these are staffed by bios not enforcement, correct?

Depends on the type of check station. Can be either or, or both.

[pd]

Typically these are staffed by bios not enforcement, correct?

Depends on the type of check station. Can be either or, or both.

I have never seen one in WA.  They are quite common in Idaho, in my experience always staffed by a bored college biology student getting credits.  The checkers ask some of the most bizarre questions (most of them are city kids, no clue about hunting).  But, sometimes, the sheriff is also there, just to be sure.  I can't speak for Washington, but you don't want to drive by a check station in Idaho without stopping.  Not a good idea.

[jeffro]

There used to always be one at the south end of Cooke and Coleman Canyons
One year the game wardens pickup was over flowing with confiscated animals and there were 4-5 rigs parked there for dui arrests.
He was waiting for the reinforcements to help him haul everything wand everyone back to town.
Now I see them in the woods on their quads and SxSs

[spin05]

Probly a Biologist and not a warden checking so no reason to check license

[TVHunts]

This was a check point.  Road signs up with “flagged ahead” , then a sign saying it was a wildlife or game check point, don’t remember the exact words on that sign. 

 A couple of them could have been Bioligist’s but there was 2 Game Wardens for sure, in all there were 5 people I believe, might have been 6. 

Again, it was a positive interaction.  I wasn’t bashing him for not being more thorough at all. Maybe my demeanor left him no reason to doubt the deer was mine. 

[Skyvalhunter]

Just be happy there was a game check