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

[SHED HEAD]

Every yr for last 10 yes I have lived over here they put up a check station on HWY 395 couple miles north of Deer Park, I saw it yesterday when we ran home for lunch.

[vandeman17]

Every yr for last 10 yes I have lived over here they put up a check station on HWY 395 couple miles north of Deer Park, I saw it yesterday when we ran home for lunch.

We stopped at this one plenty of times over the years. I remember WANTING to stop when I was 11 with my first deer. I got lots of high fives and congratulations from everyone there. It was pretty cool for a young kid.

[Jpmiller]

Every yr for last 10 yes I have lived over here they put up a check station on HWY 395 couple miles north of Deer Park, I saw it yesterday when we ran home for lunch.

We stopped at this one plenty of times over the years. I remember WANTING to stop when I was 11 with my first deer. I got lots of high fives and congratulations from everyone there. It was pretty cool for a young kid.

The only check station or warden I've ever seen in the field was my first deer at the entrance to the Vail tree farm back before you had to pay to get in. Felt like the coolest guy ever showing the wardens my buck in the back of the truck and they were great there as well.

[elkaholic123]

We used to get stopped around Early Winters 30 years ago, if I remember right sign said for all hunters to pull over...State patrol was always with them.

[KFhunter]

You dont have to transport your own buck, if its tagged properly anyone can transport it.

Why would they need to see if your id matched the tag?  I had to leave camp to work and someone else brought my buck home, even got checked in camp no prob

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[Bob33]

You dont have to transport your own buck, if its tagged properly anyone can transport it.

Why would they need to see if your id matched the tag?  I had to leave camp to work and someone else brought my buck home, even got checked in camp no prob

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Someone else can transport an animal as long as the tag holder provides the proper paperwork.

https://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=220-200-120

It is unlawful to possess wildlife taken during the open season by another unless it is accompanied by a statement which shows the name, address, hunting, fishing or other license or permit number and signature of the taker, the date, county and game management unit where taken.

[KFhunter]

Yup, I had written a letter and stuck it on the buck. Warden checked it and I guess decided it was close enough but I'm not sure I got it perfect!

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[Cervus]

I was checked at the same Miles Creston station yesterday.

In addition to checking my tag, WDFW staff confirmed my buck was a whitetail and not a mule deer, and had me show that my guns weren't loaded. They told me they have problems with mulie harvest during the late whitetail hunts-especially with smaller bucks. Because my buck was a spike and his whitetail-ness wasn't obvious from his antlers, they identified him based on coloration on his head.

Lesson learned: if you quarter out your late season whitetail, keep the tail!


WDFW staff were friendly and professional, and I'm glad they were out there. The whole stop took less than 5 minutes and was a good reminder to always verify you've got the right deer in your scope (whitetail or mulie) before pulling the trigger.

[DeArBuCK4me]

They should have check points right outside the indian reservations.   

[scrapperdude]

I used to get checked every year out at vail back in the day they had a big check point set up,  didn't see a game warden there this year but two years ago when I coughed up the money there the wardens stopped me about 3 or 4 times a day to check my weyerhauser paperwork, I thought that to be a little odd since they are game wardens and they never once checked my hunting license or tags, nice to not let non permit holders in I guess but that seems like Weyerhausers job.

[PastorJoel]

I was able to get out yesterday for 3 hours of last minute late season blacktail.  The only deer I got close to I heard walking through some brush and was waiting quietly for it to come out when a warden drove up the logging road to check my license and spooked it. 

He was nice.  Obviously he couldn't have known.  It didn't really bother me.  More of a funny story than anything.

[Southpole]

Soooo, how bout some pictures of that buck Mr. TV 

[TVHunts]

He’s not much to brag about! 

We needed him out of the gene pool in our area so I did.  We had two bucks this year with strange racks. Pretty sure he’s not broken off but who knows.  The lack of point before the stump at the end makes me think it’s a genetic thing. 

[Gobble Doc]

I’ve been stopped at the hwy 2 as well. All I had was a grouse and the didn’t care.


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[Southpole]

He’s not much to brag about! 

We needed him out of the gene pool in our area so I did.  We had two bucks this year with strange racks. Pretty sure he’s not broken off but who knows.  The lack of point before the stump at the end makes me think it’s a genetic thing. 

Oh wow, that thing is kinda cool! Thanks for showing 

[Goshawk]

Game Warden George Smallwood used to run a game check just outside of Eatonville on what's now called Berggren Rd. East by the gravel pit.  You would see him in his rig going in, and of course get checked going out.  That was every weekend of Deer through Elk season.  He did quite a bit of backwoods hound hunting checks too on the far side of Lake Kapowsin.  Nothing gets your blood going like hearing a voice say "Evening Son" when you were running 'coon dogs!

[bigtex]

Game Warden George Smallwood used to run a game check just outside of Eatonville on what's now called Berggren Rd. East by the gravel pit.  You would see him in his rig going in, and of course get checked going out.  That was every weekend of Deer through Elk season.  He did quite a bit of backwoods hound hunting checks too on the far side of Lake Kapowsin.  Nothing gets your blood going like hearing a voice say "Evening Son" when you were running 'coon dogs!

Boy you sure are dating yourself here 

[BNAElkhntr]

You all Know that game check stations aren't legal in Wa. anymore,  if your driving
 don't stop and talk then there is no way for a actual ck

[millerwheeler]

You all Know that game check stations aren't legal in Wa. anymore,  if you don't stop and talk then there is no way for a actual ck

Not sure where ya got that idea

[Skyvalhunter]

Guess he didn't read the regs

[bigtex]

You all Know that game check stations aren't legal in Wa. anymore,  if you don't stop and talk then there is no way for a actual ck

Incorrect

[BNAElkhntr]

Sorry if there is a official sign you have too didnt't see that in original post

[huntnfmly]

What if you're not hunting and you don't stop?
Are they going to assume you are and chase you down?

[throwingsticks]

They can sniff out the sketchy folks a mile away, so not reason to ask further questions. glad you had a positive experience

[bigtex]

What if you're not hunting and you don't stop?
Are they going to assume you are and chase you down?

Yes. If you notice nowhere in the law does it say only those who are hunting/fishing need to stop.

[Special T]

What if you're not hunting and you don't stop?
Are they going to assume you are and chase you down?

Yes. If you notice nowhere in the law does it say only those who are hunting/fishing need to stop.

So DUI checkpoints are illegal but game checkpoints arnt?

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[Goshawk]

You all Know that game check stations aren't legal in Wa. anymore,  if your driving
 don't stop and talk then there is no way for a actual ck

You really don't have to pay any taxes either or file a return, right???

[bigtex]

What if you're not hunting and you don't stop?
Are they going to assume you are and chase you down?

Yes. If you notice nowhere in the law does it say only those who are hunting/fishing need to stop.

So DUI checkpoints are illegal but game checkpoints arnt?

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Yup.

It all comes down to the need to enforce and monitor a highly regulated activity (hunting/fishing). Game check points have been fought across the country, and the courts usually just say the citizen gives up certain rights if they want to hunt/fish which is a highly regulated activity, if they don't want to do so then don't hunt/fish.

Idaho's game check point authority was held up by the federal courts just a couple months ago. There's only 11 states where DUI checkpoints are illegal (including WA and Idaho), they are even legal federally through SCOTUS decisions. Even when the WA Supreme Court banned DUI checkpoints (mid 1980s) in WA several justices agreed that DUI checkpoints in WA could be legal if it was designed properly in statute. No statute has ever been designed in WA.

[huntnfmly]

That's BS if my family and I are heading into town and we have to pull in and show our papers even if we are not hunting.
Sounds alot like an old East German type of thing to me

[bigtex]

That's BS if my family and I are heading into town and we have to pull in and show our papers even if we are not hunting.
Sounds alot like an old easy German type of thing to me

Where did anybody say you'd have to show your papers? All that's required is that you stop, if it's obvious you weren't hunting then an officer wouldn't ask for your hunting license, tags, etc..

Put that tinfoil hat away...

[huntnfmly]

@Bigtex that post is not directed at you but just in general.
As always I very much appreciate your input on such subjects

[huntnfmly]

That's BS if my family and I are heading into town and we have to pull in and show our papers even if we are not hunting.
Sounds alot like an old easy German type of thing to me

Where did anybody say you'd have to show your papers? All that's required is that you stop, if it's obvious you weren't hunting then an officer wouldn't ask for your hunting license, tags, etc..

Put that tinfoil hat away...

But I just had a new tinfoil hat made.
Lol 😆

[Goshawk]

Game Warden George Smallwood used to run a game check just outside of Eatonville on what's now called Berggren Rd. East by the gravel pit.  You would see him in his rig going in, and of course get checked going out.  That was every weekend of Deer through Elk season.  He did quite a bit of backwoods hound hunting checks too on the far side of Lake Kapowsin.  Nothing gets your blood going like hearing a voice say "Evening Son" when you were running 'coon dogs!

Boy you sure are dating yourself here 

Dating?! Why that was just a few years back when Nixon was in office and, umm, yeah it might have been a while now that I think on it...