Game Warden

[Tubby]

Being a duck hunter as well I have had many a run in with State and Federal game wardens. I salute each and every one of them. It takes a lot of courage to walk up to a hunter with a loaded firearm not knowing what type of attitude the hunter may have. (knock on wood, I have never received a citation) I have experinced one perticular GW (name and location witheld) that has numerous times checked us going out to hunt, on the water hunting and once we returned from hunting, all in the same day. Had him beat on our door to wake us up to check everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. Cursed at us, threatened us and harassed us. I was nothing but polite to him each time. I can't tell you how many times I had to dump out my shells out of my pouch to get the magnet treatment to them. I gave him respect yet received none. I know that if you come off with an attitude with someone in their position expect to get an attitude back. This GW in perticular did have a lot of hunters under his watch and I can only imagine the responses he got from other hunters. Probably less than plesant. He didn't think twice to interpreting the law "his way". What he "assumed" was going on. There were several things in the Outdoor Annual and the Waterfowlers Digest that were not spelled out in black and white and some people received citations for that. I had a few shared e-mails with David Sinclair and got the "grey" areas cleared up. Mostly referring to cold storage and processing facilities. There were several hunters that called to complain on said GW harassing them. It took over 6 years for something to be done. He was removed for 2 years but he's back in the same county again. Good thing my waders are almost dry rotted, I doubt I have the patience now.

[sarga]

those guys do an awesome job protecting wildlife and their enviroments for future generations to enjoy and appreciate.

[hoythunter02]

I had two check me in in Cushing,Tx at the Polk pick it up. I was coming out of the store and saw a uniformed man standing by my truck and trailer. I said "how are you doing sir"?, he replied "fine and you"? I said "great". He said" looks like you had some luck". I replied "no sir, not yet, I'm on my way". He said "Well you have blood all over your 4 wheeler". I replied" Yes sir that's from last weekend". He asked to see my hunting license and I showed him my license and he immediately turned it over adn saw my log was filled out correctly. He said" you mainly bowhunt don't you"? I replied "yes sir". He and his partner were really cool and he said he wouldn't take anymore of my time. I made the evening hunt.

Thanks to TP&W for all that they do for this great state!

[JW]

Yeah I would say most Texas G Dubs are very helpfull and great folks. Ever now and then you run across a possum cop but not too often...

[Bweger]

I am 46 years old and have lived and hunted in Texas all my life. I have been checked by several GW's and I have yet to have a bad experience with any of them. I have had the opportunity to just sit and visit with a few of them and I asked lots of questions and they were more than happy to answer them. I am sure there are some that are not the most pleasant people in the world but they do have a very dangerous job. Oh I have never been ticketed or received a warning in all the years I have been hunting but I have had a couple Wardens try as hard as they could to find a reason but they were polite while they were doing it.

[jetlag887]

Just obey the game laws and don't worry about the wardens, I have never had a problem with them at all. Show them respect and let them do their job. It's just as easy as that.

[AtTheWall]

They have a very tough job to do and the risks involved with dealing with armed folks afield is pretty nerve wracking. I've worked with several through the years during my Coast Guard days....including those that represented the Feds through the National Marine Fisheries Service....all were well managed Organizations and most importanly....the folks that enforce all game & fishery laws were top-notch!

[pig_sticker82]

I tend to agree, a State Trooper has to ask permission or get a warrant to search a possible dope head's car, even if he has already been puled over for a traffic stop... usually only the dumb one's grant such permission.

I guess maybe the difficulty in getting a warrant so far out in the boonies or weekends? I just think they should at least have some justifiable reason for searching you.

I was in a Criminal Justice class in high school and the teachers buddy was a GW. He said that the reason that they have the ability to search or enter private property is becaus the crimes are usually not violent (against humans) in nature and the act can be coverd up quickly. All in all what they do is legal, maybe not the right thing to do sometimes, but your the only one that knows your not doing anything wrong!!!!!

[GR5]

The wife and I were catching white perch on Lake Conroe. This one particular boat house had brush all around the outside edges and we were doing rather well. This guy comes out of his $700,000 house and proceeds to call me curse words i haven't even heard. My wife got real scared and we left with the trolling motor. Long story short, after the warden got through with him he smiled and waved every time I came by

[Loneaggie]

I've been hunting in Texas since I was 13, so two decades basically. I've been checked by GW both hunting on public and private land as well as on the lake. I've never had anything but good experiences, even when I didn't keep up my end of that bargain.