I was surfing youtube and saw this. I thought it was interesting what a lawyer thought of DNR officers. Would you agree or disagree
https://youtu.be/ZLo9-ZCSO1s
I've never been hassled by a DNR officer. Just been checked by wardens on the way out of the woods for compliance with regulations.
The only issue I have had was wardens who didn't actually know the regulations. One time decades ago, I harvested a hen turkey during fall bow season. The warden claimed that it wasn't a legal harvest, and stated his intent to confiscate the hen and give me a citation. Fortunately I had a copy of the regulations and had to proceed with educating the officer on how to do his job.
Fortunately I live in Tennessee now where game wardens have to have a warrant to set foot on your property, and just cause to stop your vehicle. With that said, I have hunted for 50 years and harvested countless amounts of game. I am a law abiding hunter who supports law enforcement officers.
I have spent most of my life hunting in Tennessee. I have never had any issues with Wildlife officers but I always have my license and obey the laws. I have, however, in Arkansas, run into a few that seemed to be on a crusade to write as many tickets as possible. Fortunately, I was not one of them. He does, however, have some good points.
1. Make sure you have printed tags is the law requires it. My only wildlife ticket in 55 years of hunting was in South Carolina. I killed a turkey after purchasing all the proper licenses but I did not print out the tag. The tag did not have to be on the turkey but had to be in print. It was a chickensh%$ ticket but in the end, I was guilty for being ignorant of the law and paid the fine.
2. Social media convicts more people than you know. These knuckleheads will kill game illegally then post it to the world. Make sure you are very clear when you post things that you don't leave room for false interpretation.
I think wildlife officers are often like police. They do a thankless job and all it takes is a few bad apples to create a bad narrative.
Yeah, social media can get you ticketed. My neighbor went out a few years back and shot a real nice 10 point the first day of primitive weapons season. His wife posted a picture of it. The problem was..he had already shot 2 bucks that morning..one of which his father in law tagged. Evidently someone recalled seeing them cleaning the bucks or the game warden saw them. Not sure which but it was a list of charges
I have been checked many times over a lot of years, only had issues with ignorant wardens twice, most go quick and painless!
The one that stands out is the one who rummaged through my vehicle prior to hiding in the weeds waiting for me to some out from a turkey hunt, make a long story short I cussed him out several times once I noticed he had been in my truck, he gave me a warning ticket for not having a hunting license on me, wallet was in the truck but tag was on me.
I am 100% an activist for being legal, and I am not into defending criminals, but I thought he still made some good points. I know it's a click bait video. but I found it interesting. I also had an experience when a couple young officers tore through my gear and boat, and one almost broke my gun. I was really upset when one took my vest and literally turned it upside down and shook it out, wooden calls, slates, shells all crashing into the bottom of my boat. I was completely legal, but they left everything a wreck. Just happened I knew their lieutenant and he got an ear full. They were reprimanded and had to take training.
Over all most are very nice and professional, but it only takes one jerk.
As much as I travel, I rarely run into a warden. This year though, I saw wardens in 3 different states (mostly just riding around). New York I had a warden stop and talk to me, I asked if he wanted to check my license, he say nah. I said, I paid good money for it you need to see it. So he checked it.
I've never had an issue with a warden and all I have ran into have been super cool. However, I assume my vehicle was peaked into in Wyoming because when I came out of the woods I had a wardens card on my driver side window. But that was okay by me, nothing in there illegal.
Just like any LEO you're going to get all kinds of folks. I've had a few occasions to get checked over the years in Indiana and except for one guy the interactions have been overall positive.
Never had an issue with the wardens and appreciate the job they do. They have never interrupted a hunt outside of a dove field.
That lawyer does a lot of supposing and opinion, seasoned with a bit "good ol' boy".
The issues I have seen with quite a few wardens, especially on the TV shows (since I have only a few contacts in my hunting life) is that wardens seem to be more likely to begin with an assumption that everyone is guilty of something. They are probably right more often than not, but it's undoubtedly frustrating when they are wrong.
Quote from: Tail Feathers on August 11, 2025, 11:36:30 PMThat lawyer does a lot of supposing and opinion, seasoned with a bit "good ol' boy".
The issues I have seen with quite a few wardens, especially on the TV shows (since I have only a few contacts in my hunting life) is that wardens seem to be more likely to begin with an assumption that everyone is guilty of something. They are probably right more often than not, but it's undoubtedly frustrating when they are wrong.
I agree and I think you make a good point. Many make the assumption of guilt beforehand and that is why they act the way they do. They assume they are dealing with a lying criminal from the get-go.
I confess I have been somewhat soured from a couple bad experiences. I have a friend who has a deaf son that hunts with him. One year they put his tag on a deer in the rain and it got wet and came off. They put it in their pocket and proceeded to the check station. At the check station a warden noticed the tag was missing and began to attempt to question the deaf boy. His dad rushed over and started to tell them he was deaf. Instead of seeing what the dad was trying to tell them they started yelling and demanding the boy raise his hands and comply to commands, he was trying to sign to them. When dad approached yelling back they all pulled their guns and tackled both of them. In minutes all kind of officers were at the scene. A total sh!t show. A little simple investigation and courteous questioning could of prevented the whole thing. Their reason for pulling guns was dad had his hand in his pocket. All this for a lost tag. Yeah, it pissed me off.
Personally, ninety-nine percent of the interactions I have had with wardens over the years have been nothing but pleasant. I think the same can probably be said from the wardens perspective. The problem is that, in the back of both sides minds, both most likely begin their interactions wondering if this particular encounter is going to fall into that one percent category.
To try to minimize that possibility, the best thing one can do is to make sure he is "legal" in every aspect of his hunting/fishing activity. If one is, he can very likely disarm any interaction with wardens by being confident and friendly from the very start. A cordial introduction goes a long way towards making those encounters not just uneventful, but enjoyable.
Unfortunately, there are criminals among us who don't fall into that "legal in all aspects" category. A warden who does not approach his encounters with sportsmen with an awareness, and wariness, that the next person he deals with might be one of those is asking for trouble.
Furthermore, wardens are trained to approach every encounter with a set of standard procedures that may make the person they are dealing with feel uncomfortable. Those procedures can initially make anyone feel like they are assumed to fall into that criminal category. It is best to quickly and confidently make a warden understand that you are not one of the bad guys with your first impressions. :icon_thumright:
I've had very limited contact with law enforcement, wildlife enforcement or otherwise in my life, but figured out a long time ago that as in everyday interactions with the general public, a smile and courteous conversation goes a long way. Attitude is often reciprocated.
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Can't say I have many negative experiences. The one young lady who waited at my truck for me to return during bow season was a bit of a stickler, but it wasn't horrible. I won't go into too many details, but I had killed a deer about 2 weeks prior, tagged it, and checked it in. However, since I hadn't written the tagging confirmation # on my license, I could have been fined $250.00. The fact that I showed her a screenshot of the confirmation # from the DNR website and it matched the date of the check-in and photo of the deer on my phone was enough to avoid a fine but not a warning. Let's be honest, though. It was the fact I was good-looking and manly that kept me from getting a fine.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250829/4347f41679f458d492856f0a90ec2b93.jpg)
Joking aside I've only had two un pleasant interactions out of dozens with wardens, actually have a dozen or more in my phone, any license, access or legality questions and I call, always helpful! I send that meme to a good friend who is a warden a few times a year!
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Game Warden told me one time there is no ignorance for the game laws and a judge will back him up... :jackson:
I didn't argue
Quote from: Greg Massey on August 29, 2025, 10:02:39 AMGame Warden told me one time there is no ignorance for the game laws and a judge will back him up... :jackson:
I didn't argue
Used to be true. Now you need two volumes of books to keep up with game laws, not so much true anymore.
Thankfully turkey regulations themselves are pretty much straightforward in most places. But access rules can be a bear to decipher.
I've only had just a few encounters with game wardens. It's seems like my local wardens in Alabama are pretty cool. My hunting license is currently suspended because I made a mistake two seasons ago in TN. I got confused on the dates and game checked a bird two days after the season was over. I looked at the previous years date. I realized my mistake and called left two messages explaining what I did. Never heard back anything so I assumed I was ok but a new lady game warden moved into the county I game checked in and decided to throw the book at me right before turkey season started. About 10 months after my accident. I was wrong and made a mistake but she would not reason with me at all. Obviously I wasn't trying to poach a turkey but she didn't care.
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Quote from: aclawrence on September 04, 2025, 08:27:18 PMI've only had just a few encounters with game wardens. It's seems like my local wardens in Alabama are pretty cool. My hunting license is currently suspended because I made a mistake two seasons ago in TN. I got confused on the dates and game checked a bird two days after the season was over. I looked at the previous years date. I realized my mistake and called left two messages explaining what I did. Never heard back anything so I assumed I was ok but a new lady game warden moved into the county I game checked in and decided to throw the book at me right before turkey season started. About 10 months after my accident. I was wrong and made a mistake but she would not reason with me at all. Obviously I wasn't trying to poach a turkey but she didn't care.
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The new generation seem to be the ones that cause the most ruckus and problems. You did deserve a ticket but self reporting should have gotten you some form of leniency. When I ran a check station we had people self report a few times and the old veteran officer in our county always downgraded the ticket because, they self reported. I feel bad for you, doing the right thing. Call me a bum, but I don't think I would ever self report just because I've heard this story more then once. I am a law abiding hunter, but we all make mistakes. I think I'm keeping mine to myself.
Quote from: eggshell on September 05, 2025, 12:27:40 PMQuote from: aclawrence on September 04, 2025, 08:27:18 PMI've only had just a few encounters with game wardens. It's seems like my local wardens in Alabama are pretty cool. My hunting license is currently suspended because I made a mistake two seasons ago in TN. I got confused on the dates and game checked a bird two days after the season was over. I looked at the previous years date. I realized my mistake and called left two messages explaining what I did. Never heard back anything so I assumed I was ok but a new lady game warden moved into the county I game checked in and decided to throw the book at me right before turkey season started. About 10 months after my accident. I was wrong and made a mistake but she would not reason with me at all. Obviously I wasn't trying to poach a turkey but she didn't care.
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The new generation seem to be the ones that cause the most ruckus and problems. You did deserve a ticket but self reporting should have gotten you some form of leniency. When I ran a check station we had people self report a few times and the old veteran officer in our county always downgraded the ticket because, they self reported. I feel bad for you, doing the right thing. Call me a bum, but I don't think I would ever self report just because I've heard this story more then once. I am a law abiding hunter, but we all make mistakes. I think I'm keeping mine to myself.
Yes it was on private and I could have tossed it in my truck and no one would have ever known the difference. I game checked it to help out with the data collection and follow the rules lol. I talked to a few other wardens and they all said they never write someone a ticket for something like this when they self report. Especially since I game checked it. They said they would give me a warning and encourage to double check the dates. Instead I got a ticket which I did break the rules but I was pretty upset she suspended my license for six months. Live and learn
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Quote from: aclawrence on September 05, 2025, 07:16:57 PMQuote from: eggshell on September 05, 2025, 12:27:40 PMQuote from: aclawrence on September 04, 2025, 08:27:18 PMI've only had just a few encounters with game wardens. It's seems like my local wardens in Alabama are pretty cool. My hunting license is currently suspended because I made a mistake two seasons ago in TN. I got confused on the dates and game checked a bird two days after the season was over. I looked at the previous years date. I realized my mistake and called left two messages explaining what I did. Never heard back anything so I assumed I was ok but a new lady game warden moved into the county I game checked in and decided to throw the book at me right before turkey season started. About 10 months after my accident. I was wrong and made a mistake but she would not reason with me at all. Obviously I wasn't trying to poach a turkey but she didn't care.
The new generation seem to be the ones that cause the most ruckus and problems. You did deserve a ticket but self reporting should have gotten you some form of leniency. When I ran a check station we had people self report a few times and the old veteran officer in our county always downgraded the ticket because, they self reported. I feel bad for you, doing the right thing. Call me a bum, but I don't think I would ever self report just because I've heard this story more then once. I am a law abiding hunter, but we all make mistakes. I think I'm keeping mine to myself.
Yes it was on private and I could have tossed it in my truck and no one would have ever known the difference. I game checked it to help out with the data collection and follow the rules lol. I talked to a few other wardens and they all said they never write someone a ticket for something like this when they self report. Especially since I game checked it. They said they would give me a warning and encourage to double check the dates. Instead I got a ticket which I did break the rules but I was pretty upset she suspended my license for six months. Live and learn
I would have appealed your situation to a higher authority, AC. What happened to you was unjust and uncalled for. Not only was the punishment you received unfair to you, but that warden has now created a climate where hunters that make mistakes in the field who would normally self-report accidental violations will now be inclined to (as eggshell suggests) keep them to themselves, as well as distrust wildlife authorities. That distrust is not good for either wildlife managers or sportsmen.
Another thing: In recent years, around here at least, we have witnessed an increasing number of incoming wildlife managers and personnel in our agencies that are non-hunters...or worse yet, are actually against hunting. I would not doubt that the woman that threw the book at you probably fell into that class. Again, I would have taken what happened to you up the chain of command.
At a minimum, I would have contacted the Director of your G&F/DNR agency and explained what happened...and make it clear that such actions by the agency wardens only results in negative consequences over time. I would bet that he/she would not be happy with that warden and would hopefully take action to rectify things. Regardless, I would certainly not have let your outcome rest without raising a considerable fuss over it.