are game wardens different from you and me

[Zen Leecher aka Bill W]

A recurring comment on this board is that game wardens are somehow different from regular hunters.

What makes them different? Is it the perception of the person being checked by the warden? If you're in compliance with the rules, and the rules aren't that hard to follow, then the check shouldn't be all that bad.

I have a friend that I used to hunt with in the early 70's. We met working at Boeing when we were working and going nights to college. Eventually we graduated.

Me, 27 years later I'm still working for Boeing. My friend is a WA state game warden.

We still hunt together and have done so over the years.

He's still the same person he was years ago, only his mustache is now gray, and his hair is thinner.

So, what the heck should I be looking for to see if he's changed?

[Dogfish]

They are no different than us. They can get jaded by their past experiences, just like us. They can develop a mistrust of the general population that they deal with, just like us. They can also be neat guys, just like me. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

My suggestion to those folks out there on your next "run-in with the law" is this. Greet them with a "Hi, How's it goin' today?" and a smile. First impressions do count on an encounter like this. Have I met cops, or gamies having a bad hair day? Yup. But we all have them.

[Bait O' Eggs]

Zen - I agree with Dogfish, They do get jaded with dealing with the bad side of the general public. It is a gross stereotype, but most stereotypes exist for a reason. [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] (Hey cagey, when was the last time you had a donut? [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] )

It isnt that I look at them any different, I think they look at me different. When I meet somebody hunting and fishing I can have a nice conversation and move on feeling good about making a friend, But when you meet a gammies they assume you are doing something wrong and it is there job to find it. It is easy to get the feeling you are under a microscope when talking to them because they are looking at everything and asking a series of questions. In the first minute of contact, they have checked the tags on your truck, memorized your license plate, checked for blood stains in the back of the truck, checked the floor boards for empty cartidges, sniffed around for the smell of alchohol, counted how many guns are in sight and what brand and caliber they are, checked your clothes and boots for blood stains, got your tags in his hand, have asked you where you have been and where you are going, How long you were there, And if you have seen anybody else with any game, and what they were driving, they could almost tell you what brand of toilet paper you used that morning. Then minute two starts........

Now that I think about they seem like a pretty effecient state employee [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Next time you are checked by a gammie watch what he does, and what he is looking at. He/She is a busy person.

I am not saying anything is wrong with what they are doing, it is what they are trained to do. When I am on the receiving end of this treatment it tends to put me in a defensive mood. Next time I come in your house and start giving it the white glove treatment for cleanliness, see if your wife doesnt get defensive.

So when I am playing by the rules, and somebody is trying to figure out what I am doing wrong, I cannot say I enjoy the experience for the most part.

[Zen Leecher aka Bill W]

you should see me do the check when my 20 year old, unemployed step-son brings his friends to our house.

So, a game warden checks you... shoot everybody does that. My wife checked me out when we first met. (I sure am glad she was an easy grader)

Me, I don't worry about game wardens checking me out, because I know which group I fall in.
Also, I watch my fellow hunters to make sure they are legal too.

[Bait O' Eggs]

Zen - I assume the step sons friends you are checking out so closesly are his girlfriends [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

I cannot say I have a big problem with gammies checking me out. It just doesnt give me a warm fuzzy feeling when somebody is looking for something wrong with me, while having the assumption I am guilty. Of course not all gammies give off the feeling that I am guilty, some do.

[Zen Leecher aka Bill W]

I put his girlfriend in the same grouping as the rest of his friends. Don't know why I did that as she graduated from high school and had a full time job.

Not everybody thinks the worst in people, game wardens included. I think you may have just met a "glass is half empty" one.

Back when I was growing up in PA, there was this one game warden that used to follow my dad and uncle. He was always looking for something, and I don't know why. Other than this one neighboring land owner who had lots of does on his land (posted at that), I think they watched their "P's and Q's".

Just that one doe that died right in front of that guy's picture window....

[Dogfish]

Imagine how much more careful you would be if everyone you had contact with in your day was armed to the teeth. We had 7 firearms in our vehicle. The average cop doesn't run into that every day. Game agents deal with that daily during hunting seasons. It is only prudent of him to be careful.

These guys are out there to protect our wildlife, catch the poachers, and also to help as an information source for the game biologists. They wear many hats, and I will always go out of my way to be nice to them, because they catch so much **** from some folks who don't understand their value.

Andy

[bait boy]

I think that you can take a Gammie stop 2 ways

1. This guy is gonna give me the third degreee and I might as well be difficult because he's gonna try and pin something on me anyway.

2. Hey hows it going seen anyone get lucky today sir? really ? oh thats great (or not) lots of folks out here today huh? oh hey do ya wanna check my tags i've got them right here.

These folks have a job to do, and some folks think that they are being targeted because the area is high traffic and check the most people at once. Be polite, offer to show your gear, your tags because you know that youre alright and have nothing to hide. think of it as hey my buddy the trooper pulled up why don't I go have a chat about the area how hunting is going and stuff....

Ive found out some good info this way and it will actually decrease the chances of tickets and the severe going over.

The things that Roy mentioned the officer checks in the first minute should be volunteered info from you.

Rick

[Zen Leecher aka Bill W]

A "visit" from a game warden isn't something to be feared, it should be viewed as an opportunity.

Shoot, if you're being checked, you're being checked in an area you hunt or fish, and the game warden patrols that particular area. He know's what's going on there in regards to game or fish.

These guys have business cards and email addresses, have a friendly chat with them, ask for the card and ask if you can email with them for info.

I do this from time to time with eastern WA game wardens, biologists up in BC and infrequently with ones in Idaho and Montana.

It's a real good way to get current info and sometimes "hot" info.

Now you know one of my "secrets".

[Bait O' Eggs]

This aint no *****: A game warden told me yesterday if I wanted to feel warm and fuzzy while being checked out, I should put on my sweater [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[ 10-17-2001: Message edited by: Bait O' Eggs ]

[Dogfish]

I had one fish cop play a joke on me this year up at Sekiu. I had seen them carving a ticket to some guys on the dock. These guys checked us a half hour later out on the big water, so I asked why the other guys got written up. It was because they had kept blackmouth in a silver/pink only area.

I handed them a few of our hooks to check for barbs, then I showed them our fish. The last fish I showed him got an "uh oh" look from the guy. He says, "That one's a blackmouth!"

I said "No way!", and proceeded to give him the rundown on pink, silver, and blackmouth ID.

He put a crooked finger in the corner of his mouth, "Gotcha!" and I got a big smile from him. He said that I had given him one of the best descriptions of salmon ID all day, and that he was only kidding.

I thanked him for the adrenalin dump, and wished him luck as he was in a little 12' zodiac with a 50 hp Johnson on the back in some BIG swell.

They like to have fun as well, but I like the sweater comment.

ANDY

[Fishful Thinkin']

So much tadoo over what is really simple courtesy.
The only time I've ever had problems with the Gammies two feds saw what they thaught was suspicious activity. So they acted accordingly.
Most of the time I, and for that matter my friends, simply start of with "Hey hows it going" or just as often "I told you not to shoot that swan". That sort of good humor goes a long way to let them know you are not going to be a threat to them.
Above all be courteous. Think about it this way, You're out havin' a good time huntin' but he's at work! What kind of a mood would you be in if you had to watch everyone else havin' fun and you can't jion in?
Hey, I know most of you are probably courteous people to begin with and I'm preachin' to the choir but nobody wants a hastle not even the Gammies.
Basically remember just talk to the Gammies like you would another hunter, as long as you're legal and twice as much so if you're not, because you are!
OK, I'll get down off my soapbox now.
TAG, someone else's turn.

[ 10-18-2001: Message edited by: Fishful Thinkin' ]

[WaterDog]

A couple of years ago while fishing I got a visit from the local gammie. I was fishing the Willamette out of my boat. I got spy glassed twice and had my license and tag checked three separate times, all by the same gammies. After the third time I let them have it. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] You would think they would recognize that it’s the same boat, same guy, same spot. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] They even had to look into my Lil Playmate lunch box! [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] I told them to go harass someone else and catch the guys the constantly fish with 2 rods per person. After that they never bothered me again and waved as they went by. Even just stopped to say hi once. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] Are they different? You bet, but sometimes you have to stand your ground. My guess it’s the job they do that gives them their sour outlook. Too bad though.

I have never been checked while hunting however.

[CAGEY]

I think the problem with game wardens is not the fact that they are checking you. Thats what enforcement means. The problem comes from the officers attitude. If the officer is friendy then it doesn't bother you. You will get your biggest problems from the Reserves. From what i have seen some of these people are badge heavy and like to throw their weight around. Waterdog, is that what may have happened to you???? If an officer ticks you off and you really feel he/she was wrong call his department and complain. This type of enforcemt officer will not last long if his superiors are aware of the PR problem. As long as you are legal they cant do anything to you.

[WaterDog]

Cagey,

Your right. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] I don’t mind when they are friendly. I normally don’t given them “attitude” but this incident or series of incidents really bugged me. These were not reserves. They patrol in an older brown Alumaweld OB. There is a second crew that runs a dark blue flat bottom North River and these guys are pretty nice.

Don’t get me wrong, I respect them and wouldn’t want their jobs ever but sometimes they need to lighten up. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[WaterDog]

Ken, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

Oh, there is filter in place that watches what you type. It filters the funniest damn words too. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[CAGEY]

Rich, i agree with you 100%. Sometimes you run into guys like this. I had a few of them working for me for awhile, then it was by, by, for being an a--hole to the public. I almost always received complaints from the general public when one of these guys were nasty to them. You really should complain to their boss to let them know they cant get away with it. If they did what you said (and i dont doubt your word) then you raise a litle **** because it sounds like outright harassment to me. At least the next time they check you they will know that you are not one they can screw with.

[CAGEY]

WOW, the moderators got me for the first time. I thought the word "**** " was ok to use but it got deleted. Oh well, it was a nice first for me. Change that to awwwwww heck.