Checked by a Game Warden?

[Curly]

I've only been checked a few times while hunting and once while fishing.  Twice while duck hunting, once pheasant hunting, and once elk hunting.

The fishing one I got a ticket.  I was on Potholes with a couple friends out on the boat and the warden pulls up and asks for our licenses and checks for life jackets.  I was shocked when I went to grab my wallet and it was gone.  I dug around in the boat for a bit and it was nowhere.  He gave me the ticket but told me to mail a copy of my license when I find it (within a week) and the ticket wouldn't have to be paid.  When I got back to the truck, I opened the door and my wallet fell down on the ground.  Apparently it had slipped out of my pocket when I got out of the truck and was sitting on the floor board next to the door.

I thought he was nice and he did his job.  I'm sure he gets some people that just lie to him about losing their license.  I think he believed me but he had to give me a ticket just in case I was lying.  I was just glad my wallet didn't fall out on the ground without me seeing it.

[dreamingbig]

I have never been checked while elk hunting (10 years) but I also don't hunt from the road.  I suppose they make it into the backcountry from time to time but I have never been checked.

I was checked once in the backcountry by a game warden on a horse during the summer.  We were fishing and had our licenses.

[steen]

The first year I ever hunted in the Alta Unit, maybe 1991, 5-6 years ago on the pheasant release sight, and in Dayton when I drew my elk tag by a non game warden that was helping them out.  Can't remember what his title was.  That is about it for me.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Well lets see here Hmmm I have been checked maybe a dozen times and out of the 12x the same one has checked me at least 9x in 7 yrs So is this because he loves me so much ? 

[Angus]

I've been checked 4 times while hunting, never had any problems. While fishing I've been checked probably 5 or 6 times here in Wa. and actually got a ticket on the Snoqualmie because I had just bought a new fishing vest and left my license in the old vest, ran home and got my license and went to the gamie's office that day and he changed it to a warning.
In Alaska while guiding I've been checked probably 10 times over 20 years by the state troopers, NOAA and the CG, never had any problems. 1 time I had a couple troopers pull up alongside my boat and they asked to see fishing licenses, my guest held theirs up then 1 of the cops asked to see mine, my license was buried in a waterproof box in the bow of the boat so I just grabbed my tide book off the dash which was about the same size/color as the license and held it up to the window real quickly, cops waved and thanked us and off they went.

[Cascade]

I was checked fly fishing on the Tieton about 8 years ago.  The only time I have been checked hunting was in 2010 on my late Entiat hunt.  Both times I had no issues and the wardens were pleasant.

[D-Rock425]

I've been check a few times bird hunting.  Never really had any bad experiences.   Never been check big game hunting talk to them a few times while elk hunting but never had one check me.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I will not speak to them again  I will just hand them what they want and keep my mouth shut ......this is your best defense against them ... just shut up 

[netcoyote]

"I will just hand them what they want and keep my mouth shut ......this is your best defense against them ... just shut up" 

ALWAYS the best advice when dealing with any LEO. There is absolutely no benefit to you offering unsolicited information.

[dreamingbig]

ALWAYS the best advice when dealing with any LEO. There is absolutely no benefit to you offering unsolicited information.

 

[rtspring]

Been checked out alot over the years. GOt one ticket for having a loaded rifle on my quad. (long Story) I had seen some deer and completetly forgot to unload the damn thing. Came out ot a road and well, lets jsut say this gamie went ballistic on me. Cost me 500.00 bucks.. I am anal about checking my guns now.

I think it goes like this with gamies, all is good until you have one bad run in with them, whether you broke the law or not. After that you have bad taste in your mouth that you never get rid of. They are cops basically and htey are trying to find you guilty of somehting. Shut up and give only the info you are required to give....

AND FOR GODS SAKE DO NOT VOLUNTEER TO GIVE UP YOUR RIFLE FOR TESTING!!!

[netcoyote]

Got stopped by a game warden while upland hunting with my brother-in-law up near Chelan Butte a few years ago. We were working our way back to the truck and saw a vehicle a long way off. As we got to the truck he came roaring up the road to where we were parked. The gamie was a real turd. Checked our license and guns and asked us if we were done hunting. We told him we were going to probably make one more stop in the release area and then hunt my bro-in-laws property further up the road. The gamie left us and stayed in the area at a distance while we hunted the other area probably watching us all the time. We left the public area and went to my bro-in-laws property to see if we could bump some quail. When we left his place we saw the gamie sitting along the road. He had been watching us hunt on the hillside all that time. Must have been a slow day.

Only other interaction was in Montana when my buddy got busted for not having a tag on hanging meat. Had the tag on the elk head in his truck. Gamie was very professional but confiscated the hanging carcass while we were out of camp. Met the gamie later in the day when we returned to camp, my buddy paid a fine and the gamie returned the carcass after explaining the law. Never expected that outcome.

Overall, I try not to carry a bias one way or the other on gamies, they have a tough job to do, and they are all different in how they interact with the public. I just keep the discussion on topic and skip the chit-chat.

[coachcw]

I've been checked . Hastled and helped one even trucked my elk to camp for me. Never ticketed however.

[bigtex]

Been checked out alot over the years. GOt one ticket for having a loaded rifle on my quad. (long Story) I had seen some deer and completetly forgot to unload the damn thing. Came out ot a road and well, lets jsut say this gamie went ballistic on me. Cost me 500.00 bucks.. I am anal about checking my guns now.

Well unless you got other citations with this violation the loaded firearm citation alone did not cost you $500, unless you tried to fight it and the judge threw a heftier sentence at you. The current fine for loaded firearm through state/county courts is $271, couple years ago it was increased from $250. Don't know what the federal fine is.

[greenhead_killer]

ive never even seen a game warden...what do they look like?? bet my check on it ive never seen one. thats what happens when u hunt off the road!!