Game Warden Encounters and Stories

[Alan]

Had a game warden stop me last season while I was still in my truck, and a deer head was visible in the backseat. They laughed and let me off with a warning after seeing I had all the right permits. Anyone else ever had a close call like that?

 

[Broknaxl]

I have volunteered with the Game and Fish folks in my area, along with several Wildlife outfits like AMFO, Arizona Deer Association, and MDF. So I get along pretty good with them. I even got some help packing out my first Elk!

 

[Ballistic Therapy]

Had a game warden stop me last season while I was still in my truck, and a deer head was visible in the backseat. They laughed and let me off with a warning after seeing I had all the right permits. Anyone else ever had a close call like that?

Just curious.
If you had all the permits and licenses , what were you given a warning for ?

 

[old oak]

Many years ago in New Mexico I had been with my friends on an early archery mule deer hunt for about 4 days in the Sacramento mtns, enduring much monsoonal moisture. As we broke camp, I headed out first and passed a G&F truck headed the other way. I made it back to El Paso and was surprised to learn that the others had been ticketed in camp for camping within a 1/4 mile of a tank. Also being from out of state, they were accompanied by the warden down to Alamogordo to pay their fines immediately. It wasn't until years later when I had google maps that I discovered that the camp was over 600 yds from the tank. I guess technology is both a blessing and a curse.

 

[Wooly Bugger]

Many years ago in New Mexico I had been with my friends on an early archery mule deer hunt for about 4 days in the Sacramento mtns, enduring much monsoonal moisture. As we broke camp, I headed out first and passed a G&F truck headed the other way. I made it back to El Paso and was surprised to learn that the others had been ticketed in camp for camping within a 1/4 mile of a tank. Also being from out of state, they were accompanied by the warden down to Alamogordo to pay their fines immediately. It wasn't until years later when I had google maps that I discovered that the camp was over 600 yds from the tank. I guess technology is both a blessing and a curse.

Hunting rules are so specific and complicated too. Like is that rule applicable if the tank is dry?

Only time I have ever interacted with a Game Warden in the field, he stopped by in a relatively urban area to let us know that there was a house nearby and we shouldn’t hunt on the other side of the road. I told him,”Congratulations, he was my first Game Warden, and no one has ever even checked my license!” That inadvertently prompted him to check my license, which had the wrong migratory bird stamp, since I had our purchased it in January and didn’t know that the next year’s bird stamps come out in April. Had to drive to Casa Grande to get the right stamp and might as well have just gone home.

 

[Ballistic Therapy]

I have had lots of encounters with game wardens over the years.
I have never had a bad experience.
It is their job to check you out when you are in the field.