Does this usually happen?
 

I have never in my life been checked for a hunting license/deer tag. Last year, on opening morning of gun season in Carter County, MO, one of my friends was on his stand. About two hours intohis very first session of the year, a Wildlife Management Officer walked up to my friends tree stand and asked to see his tag.
Keep in mind that this isn't a place that you can see from the road. This is semi-remote public land.
I know they can do what they want, but this just seems wrong. I was just wondering if this had happened to anyone else.

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

It's been my experience here in PA that YES WCO's can and will do this but their intent is not to just walk around willy nilly disturbing people's hunts for giggles.......I was told that in almost every case where they are questioning hunters on stand that they are pursuing a tip or a lead for a reported violation in that immediate area.
In following up on that leadit's probably necessary totry to check as many people as they come across more or less kicking the bushes and see what flushes out, especially if the descriptions of the violator/s is somewhat vague.

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

I have been checked numerous times out on state land. I was totally legal and do not have a problem with the Wardens doing there job to protect my privilege to hunt! There are alot of people breaking the law in the woods, more power to them!

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

I have never been checked out in the field while deer hunting in Nebraska. I couldn't imagine being checked while on stand in a remote location. It must be from a tip about some illegal activity going on in the area.

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

The only times that I've ever been checked was at the truck or on the road while I was going hunting.

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

Pretty much the same in Jersey, the warden wouldn't be there unless he was tipped.

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

Yes they can do this, but I have never been checked like that before. The place I hunt (public land), they atleast have the decency to wait at the spot you parked til you come out. My friend I hunt with was checked during turkey season and asked theguy how long he was waiting for him to return and the guy told him quite a while. I have had this happen to me many of times during waterfowl hunting, where they would check you in the middle of the hunt, but never while deer hunting. I know they are prolly just doing their job, but that is pretty ignorant to ruin someones hunt like that.

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

I got checked 3 times in one day by the same warden.I think he was a little pee'd at me because I made him walk thru all kinds of muck and mud while duck hunting in the morning(he called me over but I didn't move from my spot).He checked me later that morning squirrel hunting at a state park then checked me again later in the afternoon duck hunting again

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

I have never been checked WHILE hunting. I have had wardens waiting at a parking lot at closing light before and checkin people's stuff when they get back to their vehicles. I think everyone's right with the wardens only going into the woods when they have tips. I have only seen a warden in the woods once, and that was a couple years ago shortly after I heard a shot way before shooting light, so i assume he was searching for the person who shot.

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

Little Chief,

That sounds dangerous on the warden's part. I don't think that is very common practice. We are checked back at vehicles or camp.

What may be going on is that someone is reporting on your friend, or a game warden who has a personal interest (or knows someone with a personal interest) is targeting this person or place. When dumb and young I was goose hunting next to some commercial outfits with other people, and the wardens were on us like white on rice. It was one thing after another, shooting 1 minute too soon, found one lead shot in truck, etc. It was really all about protecting the guided hunts in the area (we were not trespassing). I wasn't that naive and quit hunting there (which was the intended effect).

Oh yeah, forgot something more disturbing then getting checked in stand from that same goose hunting deal. Apparently the warden was watching us and one guy took a pot shot at a dove a mile high (it was between splits on doves), and the warden came out with a riot shotgun pointed at us and told us all to lay our weapons down and put our hands up. It was intense. Again, these guys were morons and I didn't go back there, but the wareden was still way out of line and was abusing his office.

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

i've been checked twice in PA, but both times were in parking lots of public grounds

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

I've never been checked HUNTING.

Seeing as how I'll be hunting WITH my GW some, this Fall.....I'm doubting he'll feel the need to check me this year, either!

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

I have had a cons. officer walk up to the base of my tree twiceon PRIVATE GROUND and ask to see my permit and license while hunting in IL. Personally I don't mind,unless he runs off a nice deer on the way in. I am gald to see them doing what they can to catch poachers. Poachers aren't exactlygoing to stop by the office and turn themselves in. They need to be caught in theact.

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

round here they will wait by your truck, only time they will enbter the woods after you is if they are tipped off by someone.

Dove hunting is a different story, warden goes around to all the big shoots checks your tags, limits, and such making sure everyone is safe and legal.

i would be pretty mad if he walked in on me on stand on my uncles farm, but since you were on public land nothing wrong with what he did IMO.

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

It happens to me Ice Fishing almost on a daily basis.....but never bowhunting.

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

normally they have been told of something thats illegal so they have to check it out. they don't like ruining your hunt

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

Thats sounds right. I dont think they would do this aimlessly and mess up the hunt

RE: Does this usually happen?
 

During gun seasonI was walking back from hunting andI was on my own property, which is not touching the road (there is just a logging road connecting it to the road) andI saw a guy standing behind my pond in some trees. I started walking towards him and he turn around and hurried off through the woods. Thinking that this was oddI quicky walked up my trail to the road and I saw the guy get into an ODNR pickup and speed off. It still bugs me now becouse he obvously was spying on me and didnt want to talk to me about it. Kinda wierd. I did have one run in with the law before that but it was a totally different season and i had already cleared that up. The game warden does stop by one of my buddies houseson a regular basis to check tagsbecousehe butchers deer for people.