Game Wardens CAN Be Cool

[CamoGuy]

Yesterday was opening morning here in WV. It snowed all night and by daylight there was about 1/2" of snow on the ground and it was about 30 degrees. I hunted along some fields hoping to catch early morning birds trying to warm up in the sunlight. I did see 1 hen but never heard a gobble all morning.

About 8AM I was geting cold and I decided to head back to my car. I put my vest in the trunk and slipped my gun into it's case. I sat down in the car, took a drink of soda and then noticed movement in my mirror behind me. It was a game warden...

I will leave out the words that I spoke to myself but I bet you can guess. The wardens in our area have a rep for being ****h0les and I was not looking forward to this.

I got out and he asked to see my license. I gladly showed it to him then crapped my pants when he announced that it was expired.

I used to live in PA where hunting license are valid from July to June, here in WV it is from Jan to Dec, so my license I bought in October expired Jan 1st and I thought it was good til June.

After about 30 minutes of waiting while he did a background check on me, he issued me a warning ticket and gave me 5 days to renew my license and drop off a photocopy of it at his office.

Pretty cool if you ask me. Court cost alone in our county is $125. He could have written me a ticket that cost me over $200 and taken away my right to hunt for the rest of the year if he wanted. I am sure glad he didn't.

[AdvantageTimberLou]

I think most game wardens are cool, its when you cocck an attitude towards them. Have to remember they are trying to protect our game and our rights as hunters and stop the poachers who ruin it. Their just doing their jobs and outside of the uniform their probably really good guys to hang out with. They just wear a uniform that scares you, but if your not hiding anything they can and should be your best friend in the woods.

Lou

[redbeard]

Yup, be polite and they are usually that way back. I've met some rookies that weren't but then again you find that in all professions of power. They have a dangerous job and do it with pay unbefitting the profession. I once was untangling both kids lines from a tree on the hooch one year when one came by and asked for my license. I reached in my pocket and realized it was in the truck. He asked what color it was, I replied I didn't know but this year's WMA stamp had a turkey on it. He took pity and let me ride.

[Missed160]

Most of the time I think as long as you are curtious & they can tell you are honest, they wouldn't cause you any problems.

One time though, we had a bad experience with one. We were duck hunting at Thief Lake wildlife area. 2 of my friend were duck hunting together, one of them was standing out of the boat in the cattails, about 5 yards from the boat. The warden came in the boat, checked his license & made sure he had a plug in his gun & was shooting steel shot. Then they went over to the boat & checked John, who was sitting in the boat. He was all legal when the warden said he was writting him a ticket. John asked what for, the warden told him he was over his limit, there were 2 redheads in the boat, the limit was 1 per person. John & Pat both argued that one was Pats, he was standing within 15 feet of the boat. The warden said it didn't matter, they were in Johns "posession", and gave him a ticket.

When he was done, John asked him what he would have done if both of them were standing in the water, who would get the ticket? The warden didn't have an answer!!

[Swamphunter]

[ QUOTE ]
I think most game wardens are cool, <font color="blue"> its when you cocck an attitude towards them. </font> Have to remember <font color="purple"> they are trying to protect our game and our rights </font> as hunters and stop the poachers who ruin it. <font color="green"> Their just doing their jobs and outside of the uniform their probably really good guys to hang out with. </font> <font color="red"> They just wear a uniform that scares you, but if your not hiding anything they can and should be your best friend in the woods.
</font>
Lou

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow!! Thanks Lou!! What if we replaced the word Game Warden with Police Officer, Sheriff's Deputy, State Trooper, Border Patrol, FBI Agent...man there may be a pattern here!

Thanks Lou!! Believe it or not...it works the same way with all types of law enforcement.

[OJR]

I have found over the years and working on both sides, if you show respect, you will get it back! If you act like an ----hole, so can the officer and I don't blame them!

If everyone would just cool their heels and show respect for whatever, it would make all the difference in the world!

If you are going to show a heavy hand, expect to get one back!

Simple!

[stevebeilgard]

i've had warden friends for over 30 years. but, if i had an expired license, bet i would have gotten a ticket. lol

[RangerClay]

I have never met an unfriendly CO

Ranger