Game or fish warden run ins ! Good & Bad

Big Tuna got me thinking about how some wardens are over anxious to arrest people even when there is no cause. So maybe we can share some stories about different incidents some of us have run into over the years. Not all wardens are a problem some are very professional , but I have found some deputies that are trying to impress people tend to be over zealous !  
 
We were stopped at a major deer hunting road check many years ago on Rt. 66. Quit a few wardens were checking vehicles on the Marionville main artery road. We had no guns , no deer , no weapons, no alcohol we were actually on our way to visit friends at another camp. After a bunch of questions they searched the trucks covered bed. They spotted an old blanket in back with red color on it. The one warden insisted that's animal blood ! What did you guys kill ? My buddy says that's red paint from painting my truck can't you see it's red ? Smell it too ! Then he sees red drops on the bumper and insists it's blood. My buddy scrapes a dot off the bumper and shows him it's paint ! He tells my buddy don't get smart or I'll find something to arrest all you for !! Man I wanted to deck this SOB .....talk about being hassled and harassed for no reason !  
 
Enjoy the snow today !  

All of my run in's have been fine.

The only negativity on my end is that they never seem to be around when you see suspicious activity going on.

Lots of good interactions with game protectors over the years.  Only one adverse that stands out was about forty years ago shore fishing on the backwaters of Shenango Lake.  There was a dirt road off to the right on 846 before you crossed the bridge.  Would have been like opposite the celery patch.  It was a chore to just get back there, dirt roads, more like trails, lol.
This particular day my cousin and I are fishing and it's a typical July day.  About 90 degrees and no whisper of wind.  Car with a man and woman drive by and ask if we are having any luck!  I don't even remember if we had caught anything.  Five minutes later they come back, guy gets out, tells my cousin he is being cited for not wearing his license.  Mind you, it's hotter than hell, all we have on is shorts and sandals and his license was on his hat, which was on his camp stool, that he was SITTING ON!!!
Don't know why but I think I remember the deputy's last name started with an A..  Anyhow, cousin goes go courthouse to pay/ plead his case, and they actually dismissed it and let him go, no fine.
Ah, the good old days.
 
 

opsman , same thing happened to a friend of mine just like you say 90 degrees vest lying on ground by feet. Warden read him the riot act on wearing his license but didn't fine him. My friend said really ? This is the only state out of three that requires this stupid law of wearing it. 

Years ago I was bear hunting on the mountain in Somerset county.  There was a gated road where I parked.  I parked about 10 yards from the side of the gate, not disturbing anything.  When I came back to the truck there were 2 wardens and 2 deputies waiting for me.  One asked why I parked there.  I was hunting of course, all on public land.  He then ask what if an emergency vehicle had to go down the gated road.  I couldn't believe it, I told him and he could plainly see in no way did I obstruct the road.  His reply to me:  "We don't know if this a fine or not, if we find out it is you'll be hearing from us"!  I was to dumbfounded to start swearing.  I still shake my head whenever I think about it.

Only lost respect for one waterway patrolman and to this day wouldn't give him the time of day.  Winter time and; for lack of memory and sound mind, will say during the mid eighties (any question about the memory thingy??) I was at Two Mile Run County Park and was coming off the ice.  I passed a gentleman and his son who were fishing, maybe 100 yds, straight out from the dock.  Of course me being me, I had to stop and inquire (known today as referencing a future "spot burn") as to their success.
 
As I spoke with the elder of the two I learned the younger lad was his son and dad tries to get his son out and do as much fishing as possible.
 
Well inquiring minds just had to know, how's the catching, and that's when I was presented with several nice trout by the son, with an enormous smile on his face, who could barely pronounce words nor form a sentence, but of course, that big grin said it all.
 
I continued to the parking area, arriving  the same time a PFBC vehicle pulled in and I immediately went into "damage control".  Questions began flying through my mind; did I have my license, did I have my drivers license, was I wearing the hat holding my license, on and on.  Then I saw the warden, coming strait at me and when I saw that familiar face, I became light headed, feeling dizzy and thinking.......  UH OHhhh!
 
As he grew closure with each step, I began reaching for my hat praying; please let me be wearing the right one, now eye to eye and waiting to hear those terrifying words "show me your license" but to my surprise, the warden walked right by me continuing his long quick strides to the lakes edge.  Cupping his hands to his mouth I hear "you on the ice I want to talk to you".
 
Well inquiring minds need to know and, me being me, I just had to stay and see what might occur and I wished I hadn't!!  Very first words to the father [who had to walk to the lakes edge] was "show me your license and ID"  immediately followed by " I need your license and ID too" never even looking at the son.
 
By now, I'm thinking what a piece of work this warden is, making people walk to him instead of going out on the ice.  But hell that wasn't low enough, when the boy didn't produce a license, dad began to explain the situation and was rudely interrupted with how "old is the he boy".  The father barely got the word eighteen from his mouth before the warden had his ticket book in hand and began boasting of sitting in the parking lot of the park office, watching the boy picking up fishing rods.
 
You be the judge.
 
 

I too have had good and bad experiences in 40+ years and with the bad ones I just chalk it
up to "Once an "A" hole always an "A" hole!"  And nothing is going to change that individual.
They enjoy the power of the badge.But I believe that the majority do a great job and try to be fair in most situations without trying to be cynical.

Years ago,like 35 years ago. I had a smooth little pack of 13" beagles all related to each other. 5 little demons,fast and close on the line. I killed two bunnies on two chases,about 4:15 almost to my truck,they jump one and the chase is on. Well it's almost quitting time so I unload my citori 20 gauge.  The dogs are running this rabbit ragged and at one  time brought it by me as close as 25 yards. If you ever had a good dog you know it's almost impossible to get them when a rabbit up. Finally they hole the rabbit,I get them on leads and walk out on the tractor path. Apon arrival Mr. Warden pops out of the darkest shining a flash light in my eyes. He asked to check my gun,sure here it is broken and empty. Next take your license out ,here it is,he never even looked at it! He said he went to night school and could read in the dark.lol Smart****Next empty your game bag, two bunnies. He asked me when the last time I shot,I told him I didn't know the exact time but it was before 4:00 PM.. He proceeded to tell me he's writing me up for hunting after dark,blocking land owners drive,and thought my dogs where running a deer,which might be also a violation. Well to make along story shorter,he could prove anything,because nothing happened. I had permission to park where I did,gun empty,no shot fire after hours and no deer,because my hounds don't trash. Just a big 45minute hassle,acting like he had all this power and authority.

After trying for years to hunt this goose mecca the landowner finally caved in.Their numbers reached over 300-400 and they where causing havoc in his lake and 500 yard asphalt driveway. I explained that if he just let me hunt I would do it right and get rid of more geese than if he let several hunters  on his property. I had a good plan hunt every other day,and let them feel safe to return. The plan worked like a charm, I would limited out each day I hunted. It was almost the end of the season ( Sept.) So I bumped up the plan tried a evening hunt. Well nothing shows up, and I pack up two bags of shell decoys with 4 dozen in each bag,and my two shotguns,yea two. The birds would all come together,it was.all or nothing, so I used two shotguns my Browning gold,and a old.11-87. Well I get back to the truck,a shotgun over my shoulder a bag of decs on my back, a bag of decs in right hand and the shotgun in my left. Out jump two deputies in the dark,first words spoken now we got you! I sort of chuckle to myself, but not out loud. First question,unload your gun,I said witch one,that sort of got them puzzled,I told them I had two and they where both unloaded and plugged properly..Well you know they got to check it out so I give the the guns and 4 shells,well that checks out. But one warden thinks two guns is illegal,then he checks my license,duck stamp,proof ID. They they ask me how many I got,my answer is none,they say that impossible,you had to shoot more than your limit. Again I tell them no kills,and if they were so smart they could see both guns where clean and oiled and have not been shot. Well you know when your in the right,you may get a little cocky and stir the pot a little,now the older warden gets really ****ed,he said he'd have to search my decoy bags. I said be my guest. He proceeded to dump them and take every shell out and look inside,like I had a filleted goose breast hiding in it.After he finds nothing,I told him to put the decoys in the bag like he found them,well he's really getting more ****ed off. After a considerable amount of time he figured it out. Now they go back to their vehicle for a talk,or call to someone that new the laws. After retaining me for more than a hour,they come back and tell me there going to cut me some slack and not write me up. That's when the **** hit the fan. I light into them call them some choice words and pack my stuff in my truck. On the way back to their vehicle I overheard the nicer of the two start ****ing to his parder why he gave me a hard time,the older mean one said because he ask the landowner to hunt and got a big NO about hunting on the property. I wonder why ? What a jerk.

Ice fishing Pymy,at tuttle walked parallel with the causeway,walked out maybe 1000 yards,my son and I are picking through crappie and perch. We iced 24 nice fish between us,no eyes. Upon arrival at the shore Mr. Warden starts asking questions. You have a license,yea,who's this with you my son,he doesn't look like you, yea he looks like his mother. What the hell does his looks got to do with anything? License check  good ID good. Next question how many rods where you using. One each we where jigging? Even if I said 10 apiece how could he prove it ? You got some eyes in there? No,you sure yea. I going to dump your bucket,ok go for it. He dumps the bucket of fish and counts them out. I said you no there no limit on panfish don't you ?oh your right. Just making sure you weren't hiding a short eye. I tell him thanks for assuming I'm guilty of a violation,and please put my fish back in the bucket,he reluctantly did and we went on our way. Just doing his job? Don't think so must of had a bad day.

Every day, down to earth people ain't perfect! If good grammar is a must for you try WQED sites. We're just regular folks who play on the water not walk on it.

CAPTAIN HOOK
On a good note to wardens, we were fishing on a small trib in NY and got checked by a Niagara County Fish Warden. After talking awhile, and some friendly conversation, he made us a suggestion and a drew us a map on where to fish on the Niagara River. It turned out to be the best information we could have ever received. Fished the Niagara River for many, many years after that encounter !  

I have lived in WNY for 65 years, and have never heard of a County Fish Warden.  Need an elevator pass?
 
Seriously, F+G laws are the responsibility of the State, EnCon officers are NYS Police who concentrate on Environmental Conservation Laws.
 
You may have hit the guy doing the Creel Survey's, En CON would check licenses, the other guy asks you how long you fished, what you caught, etc.

If it weren't for spell check I wouldn't even know what I was saying.!?, I no 1 of dem goes there

Not I says me, I would never do that! Just you big city people speak so pretty. My kids got me one of those apps where you talk it types, but I got tired of arguing with it cause it couldn't understand half of what I said,.!?