Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

I figured this was as good a spot to post this as any, if not then a MOD will surely move it.

I am kind of curious as to how game wardens, biologists, etc., are involved with people in other states. Do they just come along, ask for the license and go on their way? Do they stick around, chat for a few, give a few pointers as to where the fishing or hunting has been good, places to try, things to try, etc? How many people speak with the biologist covering the area they are interested in? How many volunteer for activities throughout the year?

I for one, volunteer a lot. I helped one biologist with the bibliographical section of a report he put out regarding the population of mule deer in Nevada. That was this year, and probably yeilded about 40 hours of my volunteer time. I volunteered one day this summer during a wildlife week, the DOW was hosting after school got out. It was birds and bats day, which involved a visit from a Great Horned Owl, and helping youngsters build bird and bat houses. I have also helped build 2 water "guzzlers" in the last two years (started volunteering last year), and will be helping with a desert bighorn sheep transplant in about 10 days, providing the weather cooperates, and the capture goes on.

I am making practically weekly calls to the NDOW to ask about fishing conditions of certain spots, find out where the rabbit hunting has been good, offer my efforts for any other projects, and when I am in Elko, I stop in and BS for a while.

When I am in the field, I always have good experiences with the game wardens. Not only have they checked my license as they should, but I have had one give me a ride back to my car while fishing, one pointed out where some deer were hanging out, one told me of the general habits of the deer in that peticular area, who was also the one who I chatted with for close to an hour along with my dad, and another group of people who he just warned for not having enough PFD's in their boat, forcing them to reduce the number of people in the boat.

To me it seems that most people around here have a pretty good attitude toward the DOW and in return the DOW has a good attitude towards the public.

I would just like to know how everyone else's experience has been with their respective Fish and Game agency.

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

I have never seen a game warden around here...maybe I should become one and take care of this area I live in?

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

I totally see where you're coming from. I hunt with Jim Carnes, the Wildlife Off. for Highland County, Ohio- he also goes to my church. He helps me out with places to hunt, tells me where the hot spots are, and he informed of a new wildlife area in fallsville (last year) before others new about it. I was the first to hunt and fish *since it was named a wildlife area* at the area! He helped me get to know a lot about deer hunting and even get my first shot at a deer (I missed, but oh well). He helped me get a deer processed for free and he is mounting for free as a gift! I absolutely love the guy! I get together sometimes with him and other officers and we'll play around on guitars, share hunting stories or just sit back, relax and enjoy life.

As for seeing an individual like one in the woods, not yet, and if I did I'd probably have a chat with him or her.

Of course some people don't agree with them walking around the woods and finding you at you hunting spot, but hey, if sombody's got to do it, I'd rather it be a game warden rather a trespasser!;)

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

I was stopped by a game warden on opening day of modern gun here in Kentucky. The gentlemen who stopped me was an obvious professional and was very polite and sat around and talked for about 30 minutes with me and my buddies after we brought our deers out of the woods. He went through the process of checking licenses, orange, and offered to help drag a deer for us. He left and my three hunting partners held the man in high regards. On the other hand, I was stopped on two seperate occasions in Indiana, prior to moving, and these two different persons had inflated egos and the only word that comes to mind was jackass. In all cases, I have been legal, friendly, and try to make things as easy as possible on the game warden. I'm happy I live in Kentucky.

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

It definately depends on the state. I'v lived in IN for around 13 years and have never been checked by a DNR officer. However we hunted in Illinois this year and were checked twice. On top of that there were 3 DNR at just one small check station and one of the guys in our part was ticketed for checking in his wife's deer. I know that it used to be nothing for 2 or so guys to check in all the deer for their entire party. I know this because my dad was always the one to volunteer to check in peoples deer for them. I know it has a purpose but that is not the way to catch poachers. Atleast the guy in our party was checking in his deer which is more than I can say for some hunters.

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

sorry, but i have to disagree with you on this issue.
i have had a game warden pull his revolver on me (along w/ a state cop). i had to lay my rifle down and put my hands up. i was on private land and had permission to hunt. i was treated like i was carrying 5 kilos of cocaine or something. I DONT EVEN KNOW WHY THEY WERE THERE TO BEGIN WITH.

this was a few years ago and i still get pissed(TO THIS DAY) thinking about it. that gw is a POS as far as im concerned.

the other thing about gw's is that you are PRESUMED GUILTY until proven INNOCENT.

ive since have talked to another hunter who had a similar run in with this particular gw. the gw tried to coerce a confession from this guy by opening the strap on his holster and 'tapping" the handle of his revolver while taking to him(more like telling him). in my mind i see barney fife trying to outsmart otis, the town drunk. this guy is a TOOL.

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

we had a conservation officer that acted like that. Someone lured him out to a dead end of a pipeline road and overpowered him somehow. Stripped him naked and taped him up sitting in his truck with a flashlight between his legs shining on his face. Too my knowledge, no one was ever arrested.
But don't mistake me. Conservation officers have a dangerous job and 99.9% are good guys. When approached give him the courtesy and let him disarm you so he can accuratly assess the situation. Even offer to place your firearm against a nearby the while he talks to you. This will lower his anxiety and you will probably gain a new freind! (Conservation officers have a wealth of information about the area you are hunting)

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

the state guys that work my county are the kind of people that you want on the job,they will go out of their way to help.And if you call them at 2:oo in the morning they will come.The feds in the gov forest are kind of spooky they look at every person like they might be a outlaw unless they know you then they are ok,but you got to understand where they are coming from ,they are dealing with people most with guns and strangers to boot.I'm kinda shy when i come up on other hunters myself unless i know them. We were marking some timber a few years back when i came up on a lab and i got out of there quick on the way back to the truck guess who i meet on the trail ,a nut with a shotgun and a bucket full of something, it wasn't deer season or any other season but summer i said seen any deer and never quit walking and expected to get shot in the back at anytime.Needless to say i didn't go back in them woods untill the man cleaned them out.

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

one of my bestest buddies is the biologist for the 2 places i hunt....he works closely with the hunters, getting imput, he's very involved in the hunts and is always visible, we even have an end of the hunt bbq every year that he started a few years ago..... about 2 weeks ago, he started hunting doves....now he's talking more food plots and what he can do to improve things even more than what he is doing now....he helped us post 19 miles of boundry on the river....he's great to work with and to have as a friend...though he has no favorites when it comes to him tellin everyone where he's seen the critters, lol......actually had one of the game wardens help post too....i would like to see game and fish out more, actually enforcing the laws....we do what we can to protect it, but they have to enforce things...we need more officers for sure....i was very disapointed in the past......but hopefully they'll start being better about it.....

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

I've been hunting for 28yrs and can remember only a hand full of times that I have been checked. I must admit that we hunt at the end of a dead-end road so that keep the DNR from looking us up, also hunt between two counties that might help also.
The best story I have to tell is being checked once by the local state park ranger out patroling with GW, I pulled out the year before license, why it was still in my coat??????? anyway we were on the local Pheasant Forever Board together and we had a laugh over it
Our hunting shack is frequently checked out by other hunters and landowners, this year we shot 19 deer minus (3 does and 4 button bucks) we had 86 points on the remaining deer.

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

My experience with Texas Parks and Wildlife has generally been good. I think they are usually about as nice and chatty to you as you are to them. If you are obeying the law and happy to be there, they are nice and will chat with you. My parents used to be real good friends with the game wardens in the area when I was little. They would stop by occaissonally and drink coffee. At the time, we had bad poaching problems, so they were in the area frequently. Those wardens have since retired, but the new guy seems like he's a pretty good guy, too.

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

Although I respect what wardens do and the dangers that are present these days, in Pennsylvania, game wardens are more feared than respected and there is a big difference. Of course just like any other law enforcement officials, I guess it all depends on the person. I personally know five "greenies" (we call them that due to their uniform color) and I only like one of them. Two of the four that I don't like are rookies and are out to display their power of authority. One is a twenty year veteran that is just an idiot. I have another word to discribe him but this is a family site so I'll keep that comment to myself. This guy will bust you for any little thing such as not having proper ID on you even though he knows you personally. The last one that I know that I don't like is just about the same as the veteran except he's not as bad yet, he'll get worse in time.

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

There are good ones and ones that should be fired. When growing up in maine we had one female that had a thing for my older brother and when he wouldnt have any thing to do with her she went out of her way to harrass us even if we were hunting outside of her district but she was never able to find any violations of the law. While I was in the army I was stationed at Fort Stewart Georgia and I volunteered as the enlisted representative of the post fish and game council. During my three years on the council I was also the post hunter safety instructor and had many good interactions with the USFWS GW's along with the biologists who worked there. Now that i am back in north georgia I will again get involved with the state of georgia FWS. Volunteering opens many more doors to good hunting and fishing chances.


Rob

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

I never met one, but i would respect him. Hell he dont know you, but he knows you have a weapon. So obviously he is going to use caution.

Jim

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

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:Dyep [8D]yep :)uh-huh ;)yo

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

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ME same thing only a highway patrolWOMAN , i drive feed truck and she stopped me everytime she saw me but i never got a ticket, just late for my rounds so i would have to work later,

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

It's all the individual.I hunt legal ,drive legal and don't whine much.But a snotty police officer could get me in trouble or me him or her.In later yrs I have noticed a change,they wanna write you a ticket,they want the money or the collar. In my later years I see hunting and driving and fishing as rights not privelidges!!! And from some of the legislation I see,no hunters or outdoorsmen or biologists carved them out.Poaching is rampant,commercial fishing is not regulated and state hunting and fishing areas are not getting the resourses that we pay for.Soon the federal lands will be off limits to us and we bought them.Young folks,WAKE UP!

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

My experience with the Texas Parks & Wildlife biologist for this county has been excellent. Not only is she extremely knowledgeable about habitat and animals, she also is very easy to work with and actually wants to help land owners.

My experience with game wardens has been mixed. Allthough all were professional, some were friendlier than others. No bad experiences, just some were easier to talk to than others.

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

Well i dated the game wardens daughter in high school. anyone know Mike Serio,??:D his daughter Katie is beautiful, he gave me a ticket for fishing without a liscense when i was like 18, and i told him who i was and that ticket went up about 40bucks instantly!!!:D:([:@]

RE: Relations with Game Wardens, biologists, etc?
 

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you have amazing powers of observation--why is it when you go to wma ya dont see game or food for the game- our hunting liscence in minn alone should funds enough for this the land is already bought-
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absoulute power- absoulutly corrupts
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well spoken mrlizzard