If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

allow some forms of poaching?

Davidmil' s thread on " Your Hunting Roots" post inspired this question, one I' ve had a long time.

I wanted to be a conservation officer, even took the test but failed (had to have 100/100, I got 99). I didn' t bother in retaking the test because I was afraid I would be somewhat of a hypocrite doing this line of work. I used to live in a poor county of MI where my neighbor had a not so good job, 4 kids, and a stay home wife. He poached all season killing several deer a year. He would take one with a gun license, but the rest were illegal. However, he fed his family on these deer and honestly needed the meat as he was too proud to go on welfare and get foodstamps. I would be hard pressed to arrest a guy like this. In fact, I would look the other way.

Odd question I know, but really curious about your opinions on this.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

I don' t know if they would or should feel like letting someone walk now days. If someone wants to work, in most cases they can find something. It might not be real glamorous, but it would feed you. With the cost of things today I think a guy would have to swallow his pride and take the foodstamps to feed his family if that' s all there was. Now a guy living in the boonies with no chance of work around, well, he can feed them without getting caught.;) It' s impossible for todays wardens to separate fact from fiction. I' m sure it would be a case by case thing and really... who knows. The warden has to do what he' s got to do and let the courts sort it out if the warden doesn' t want to make the choice. I think if he knew the people and any unusual circumstances... well ... whatever he wants to do. The 50s were a different time in a different country. The country had just gone through 2 wars, unemployment was horrendous etc.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

I would agree with David on this one. It depends on the individual situation in my book. I wish the world was as " black and white" as some folks make it out to be but it really isn' t.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

I would on a case by case sitution. There are people that poach around here and some of them need and use the meat. I would never effect them. The " Early Season Horn Hunters" are the ones that I would like to hang by the nuts!

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

bob, in what state were u testing in? i want to become a conservation officer and i am trying to get all the info i need. did u take any college classes for this also, thanks.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

Hmmm...? I think if that were me and things were tough and I had to feed my family, I' d take deer illegally in order to feed my family. That is, if I lived on the farm and the deer were on my property and no one else lived close by, I' d drop a few deer, make some steaks and roasts, etc. It' s a tough call and you' d think this sort of thing would have gone away in the 1900s, but I am sure some people in extreme rural areas have no choice.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

who_else: This was in Michigan. I didn' t take a class, just asked around as to what the test would be like. Here in MI, it' s the same test the state troopers take prior to getting in. There were a lot of observation questions on there - they would show a fake crime seen for 30 seconds, then you' d have to answer a bunch of questions about what was in the scene. Most questions were common sense and really psycological in nature to make sure you weren' t nuts I guess.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

Before I would allow my family to starve, I would kill you, skin you and fire up the grill. The big difference here is do they have any other choices. You just said he did. Public assistance was available. That' s a tough call, but they call it " conditional enforcement" . You can' t possibly enforce evvery law 100% of the time. You have to make judgement calls.

David

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

I would kick my own butt for being a total butthead like 99% of game wardens are.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

as long as he didnt run dogs or spotlight i wouldnt say much as long as hedidnt take more than his limit on all seasons like if you can kill 2 w/ bow and 2 w/ gun and 2 w/ muzzle and he just killed 6 a year i wouldnt say a thing about it to him as long as i got some backstrap outta the deal;)

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

Ok I think I might take some heat for this one...I honestly think that there are not enough conservation officers in Michigan. I personally have no problem with conservation officers. I follow the laws to the letter and usually look forward to meeting an CO or two every fall as I return to my car from my treestand. Most of the ones I have met have been pretty friendly...Just ask to see my license, where I' m from and if I' ve had any luck yet that season. I find that the only people who really have a problem with CO' s are violators. If I were a CO I' d be suck a prick to those who violated the laws. They are the ones who ruin it for everybody else. I don' t care what they would think of me. Now on the basis of turning ones back if placed in some of the situations already discussed, I' m not of liberty to say what I would do. I guess it' s a bridge I' d have to burn when I got there. That to me sounds like a good topic for discussion in my Philosophy 102 class which is basically ethics.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

i would have to say i would look the other way just as long as he wasnt shooting any big bucks

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I would for sure confront the guy about it, and talk to him about his situation at the least, and try to get him some help before made him pay a ticket. That is, if i knew his situation before i caught him.


For yall Michigan folks, My neighbors son and law works for the US forest service up there. So if u get stopped by an officer? Weisie tell him Darren from IL says hey before he writes u a ticket. Its pretty funny some of the stuff they do, or he says they do. lol. a few months ago he was talkin about how they make fun of DNR folks cause they can never hold the spotlight still for them:D

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Well, when I was growing up in rural West Virginia we had a game warden who would never arrest a local unless there was a complaint from a landowner. He was tough on out-of-staters though.

He checked me a time or two when I was road hunting for ground hogs (common practice back then). When he saw who I was he asked if I was having any luck and went on his way. Never asked to see a license or check my rifle. I don' t know if it was legal in the 60' s to have a loaded rifle in your vehicle in WV but he never mentioned it.

Unfortunately, when he neared retirement he must have went off his rocker. There were lots of reports of spotlighting deer in the county and the rumor was that the state police were doing it from their patrol cars. As you can imagine that ticked off the state troopers who decided to investigate on their own. You guessed it. It was the game warden who was shooting deer, from his vehicle, at night with a spotlightlight.

Because he was so popular with the locals he was given a transfer to a desk job and allowed to finish his time and retire.
As David said, those were different times in a different place.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

I know for a fact that some game wardens will ' turn their back' on certain situations that pertain to the livelihood of a family. Those same individuals will, however, come down extremely hard on anyone, including those same family members, if shoot for profit is undertaken.

They may seem at times like hard-ass people, but most have a compassionate side.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

" allow" is not the word I would use ......... I would rather see an officer concentrate his/her time and effort nabbing the BIG poachers (ones who sell meat on the black market) and only nab the little guy if caught in the act ..........

I feel for the guy who needs to put food on the table, but with the liberal tags nowadays, a hunter can legally take sufficient game to last a year without having to break any laws !

just my humble opinion .....

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

Maybe just maybe I would look the other way 1 time. I would then let those individuals know that I would give them first crack at roadkills and other deer that I confiscated that were taken illeagally. I would then let them know that if I catch them again they will pay the penalty like everyone else.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

wow!! wow!! wow!! I am sitting here stunned right now at some of the responses I saw to this thread. What the &*#$ is the deal?? I do have compassion for less fortunate people in the world than me. I will do anything to help the needy. I donate meat every season. But, boo hoo!!!!! FIND A FREAKING DIFFERENT WAY!!!!!

Well you' re doing the right thing by choosing a different career!!

This is just plain and simply ridiculous!! I won' t even elaborate or dignify this with a response!!

exactly!!

It' s ok as long as he doesn' t take big bucks??? Are you for real?? So a measely doe you can go ahead and poach. Shoot the hell out of those at night who cares. Sickening!! Sorry I happen to respect all whitetails equally.

I agree with Holiday on this. I wish there was a warden patrolling every square mile!! I too look forward to talking with them. I will report any illegal activity to them without hesitation. I have a HATRED for poachers!! I don' t care what the situation ,to me it IS black and white. People condoning a game warden to turn the other way just puzzles me. That' s like a cop driving by a bank with 3 guys in black ninja suits carrying guns with bag fulls of money coming out running and the cop driving by because he doesn' t feel like stopping. Maybe they need the money. It' s his job.
Obviously i' m pretty passionate about this topic. I look at poachers as scum of the earth. Do it legal or don' t do it!!
How do you support someone taking a deer you' ve been hunting legally? I' ve been patterning this big buck for 2 weeks now. Trying to figure him out with the hopes of getting a shot. I' ve spent everyday allday in the woods now. I' m going to be allright with someone driving up in their truck and popping it at night cause he happens to see it in a wide open field? Hell no!!!!!
As far as the poor person that does it to feed his family. Again I do have compassion for such situations, but come on!! It' s America make something happen. I look at that as a scapegoat. I' m sure there' s a different way!!

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

I was a police officer, but not a game warden. I think a lot of common sense, and a little human compassion is in order for every situation. If a guy forgot to tag his deer, but had the tag with him, then I' d not write him up. If a crippled guy' s son was out shooting a deer to feed the family, then I' d not write him up, after I confirmed this and showed them different avenues. I would definately warn them. And a second violation would get some attention.

I look at it like everyone makes mistakes. If it' s a gross violation, and it was evident that the subject knew he was breaking the law, there' s no question that he/she goes to jail.

The laws aren' t just to punish the people, it' s to ensure we have a hunting future. I wouldn' t risk that very often.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

Dude, how moronic can you be? That is not even close to the same thing. Someone stealing money is stealing someone ELSE' S money. Are you trying to say you OWN the deer because you paid for a license/tag? What a crock. I despise poachers as much as the next ETHICAL hunter, but damn, stupid people just annoy me! [:@]

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

what' s your IQ???

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

Mine? 138 as of my last test. [:-]

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

Very good!! No wonder you concluded that I was trying to say I owned the deer because I paid for my tag. It' s all clear to me now. I didn' t know you were brilliant....bravo brother. Where the hell did that come from?
That probably was a poor analogy about the bank robber, but it was the first thing that popped in my head. If I wanted to deliberate over the matter and come up with an analogy that would directly correlate a little better I probably could. However Einstien I don' t think it warrants being called stupid and a moron. Just my opinion.
Although I feel like it, I' m not going to engage in a name calling/bashing match with you. All I can say is I' m very happy I annoyed you and I think you are an excitable fella. Stupid I am not, but you have it all figured out already so I' ll let you go with it.

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RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

Well NY Bowhunter, I do respect your opinions and that is what I asked for - opinions but, I' m not sure a million COs would help us out. Can you say slavery and gun control? I' ve found deer carcasses that had been back strapped on my property strung up along the fence several at a time. Obviously shining shooters. I hate this as well. The dude I was referring to shot deer with bow and gun during shooting light, just didn' t tag them. Does this make it right you ask? No. It doesn' t. But I shudder to think about people preferring a guy to leach off the state and our taxes to feed his family when he could be feeding them in a way that doesn' t harm anyone. That' s all I was saying.

This is exactly why I chose another profession. Here' s another example of why I wouldn' t make a good CO - would have let this one go too: Buddy and I were salmon fishing at a dam. Caught many salmon and gave them all away. In fact, neither of us actually even took the fish off the hook - others netted them and took them off. We were giving all the fish we caught, some foul hooked, others not, to an obviously very poor old black man that couldn' t catch a thing. Got back to the truck and the CO comes up and writes nearly $600 worth of tickets to us for foul hooking fish. Fish that were half dead. Then the CO went to the guy we gave the fish to and wrote him up as well. That sucks. Over a grand in fines for fish that would be dead either way within a week.

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RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

I agree, Navy, but I don' t think of myself as NOT being an hororable man. I honor God (who by the way, really owns the deer, not us), my family, and most certainly my hunting. Don' t think for a second you own anything in this country.

I consider myself an American and a patriot. When it comes right down to it, hunting licenses are actaully constitutionally illegal. But that' s another deal altogether. I am not a psychotic redneck malitia member. I don' t support welfare or most other state run ways to drain our pockets, including the DNR. Do we have to buy a license to harvest a deer? Yes. Do I? Yes.

I would let a guy feed his family. THAT is why I am NOT a CO. Perhaps I am a hypocrite. Perhaps not. But please don' t think for a second that I have no honor.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

This is the proverbial ethics question: What' s more important in someone' s consciensce, the law or feeding one' s family?
I wouldn' t look the other way, I would just try to get him more legal meat. I mean, aren' t there hunters around who would give them there deer? I know i would.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

im so tired of hearing about how much time someone has spent hunting one particular animal and then complain if someone else takes it. if the guy is in a bad situation and he has to feed a family, who cares! its a pastime for you, its his familys welfare for him. furthermore, you guys are such hyprocrites. do you alwyas come to a complete stop at every stop sign? do you alwyas follow the speed limit? those are laws too.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

I agree with you 200 percent. If I rob a bank and a cop sees me hes not gonna look the other way reguardless if i need the money or not.Hes gonna do his job. Game warden is absolutley no diffrnt from a cop and if someone breaks the law he is obligated to act on it. Look if the guy didnt want to accept help from the state he should have went out and did it like me and you do(legally). I dont appreciate the fact that i put in anywhere from 20-30 hours in the woods a week and sometimes dont even see anything. Yet guys go where they know the deer are everynight cause they spot them and shoot them. Thats not right nor fair

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

yea but why not kill it legally like everyone else has to if he wants to feed his family he should get off his ass and find a job

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

Read the post dude, the guy had a full time job. Yeah, he should have bought licenses like all us other perfect law-abiding hunters though. I like how eastwood put it about speeding - ever been late for the hunt and pushed the speed limit a bit?

One way to look at this too is some COs, like some cops abuse the power. That isn' t right either. Another reason I didn' t pursue being a CO. I knew a guy that got a $150 ticket for taking a whiz in the woods after the hunt - public exposure. Here in MI the DNR has more power than any cop - they don' t even need a search warrant to enter a house. Can take your truck, gun, dog, everything. This power goes to their head.

Ok, sorry. I' m done.

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

Being from Michigan as well...

Firearm license is $14. Come on now. roughly 80# of meat for $14?
I got a combo license(2deer) an antlerless for Private and a small game license for $32 out the door, over the counter and could get an additional antlerless tag a DAY (untill quotas run out which is almost NEVER here) for 10 days in a row for $7 a piece.

If a guy can' t afford $7 for a doe than he can' t afford shells, cartridges or arrows either.

I would never want to be a CO though...I' d much rather not have to make the call and be high and mighty.;)

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i' d warn him first, then i' d bust his butt......there is a season for everything, if no season, GO FISHING..............or better yet, get a job.....i' ve tried to have sympathy on this subject, but i just seem to be too much of a realist i guess to excuse someone for poaching.......there' s always a way to legally feed your family....

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I have noticed a certain " attitude" and general abuse of power from these guys. Maybe it comes with the job. They do deal with a lot of scum, but it sure gets me angry when they treat everyone that way.

By the way, I would use my judgement in every situation. Should everyone driving 31 mph in a 30 mph zone, get a ticket? Even if, they' re rushing an injured person to a hospital? How about if their wife is about to have a baby? Black and white - give them a ticket?

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

I have noticed a certain " attitude" and general abuse of power from these guys. Maybe it comes with the job. They do deal with a lot of scum, but it sure gets me angry when they treat everyone that way.

By the way, I would use my judgement in every situation. Should everyone driving 31 mph in a 30 mph zone, get a ticket? Even if, they' re rushing an injured person to a hospital? How about if their wife is about to have a baby? Black and white - give them a ticket?

RE: If You Were A Game Warden, Would You.....
 

I have noticed a certain " attitude" and general abuse of power from these guys. Maybe it comes with the job. They do deal with a lot of scum, but it sure gets me angry when they treat everyone that way.

By the way, I would use my judgement in every situation. Should everyone driving 31 mph in a 30 mph zone, get a ticket? Even if, they' re rushing an injured person to a hospital? How about if their wife is about to have a baby? Black and white - give them a ticket?

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They really have to let everyone know whos in charge I think. If they go in there all meek and apologetic they' d get run over. They for the most part do their job with NO thank you' s or praise. It' s a time consuming, unappreciated, underpaid profession. Sure there are some jerks. But, we have them in every walk of life. They' re loners because they have to be. Most of the time they' re on their own with no help or backup. They have no idea what kind of yahoo they' ll run into at the next minute. If you behave you have nothing to fear. They can be a wealth of knowledge and information. You don' t like them, give him what he wants and he' ll be on his way and probably won' t bother you again if you' re straight. I don' t understand people having a case of the " butt" against these guys. They' re protecting your resources and hunting privileges.

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Very well said David...I have been working in the Corrections field in prisons since I got outta school.... another thankless job. Remember there are jerks in every profession. So of course there will be some in law enforcement. But even if they are jerks if you didnt do anything wrong they have nothing to hold against you. I also hear what sounds like alot of hypocrites....I am an instructor in corrections and teach alot of new recruits a simple message I try to get across is they are human too, but remember if just a little turn of fate, or a split second of bad judgement ANYONE can be sitting behind bars or on the wrong side of the law. I can honestly say there has been many times my gun hasnt been unloaded at exactly end of hunting season, etc.....

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I could care less if SOMEONE else took it. Congrats you were the better hunter. As long as it' s legally done then that' s the breaks. If someone drives by on his way to the grocery store in town and decides to kill the animal I' ve been hunting at 2:00am, then hell yes I have a problem and I hope you do too.

[quote][/qu if the guy is in a bad situation and he has to feed a family, who cares! its a pastime for you, its his familys welfare for him. ote]

Please!!!!

furthermore, you guys are such hyprocrites. do you alwyas come to a complete stop at every stop sign? do you alwyas follow the speed limit? those are laws too.

I could be slightly wrong here, but that may be just a touch different than ending an animals life. I dunno call me crazy.