Here Comes The Game Warden
By: Steve Wayne
With nearly 30 years in conservation law enforcement, I have had the opportunity to come in contact with thousands of fishermen, hunters and people enjoying outdoor activities. The majority of those individuals were ethical people who were enjoying the great outdoors and abiding by conservation rules and regulations. However, there was a small minority of individuals that were blatantly violating the law by either committing conservation violations, possessing drugs or alcohol, possessing stolen property or were fugitives of justice and running from any form of the law. It is because of those few encounters that all Wildlife Officers (Game Wardens) keep on edge for their safety during every stop. After all, going home in one piece after encountering countless numbers of unknown individuals in a day is the goal of any Wildlife Officer.
A natural resource stop or inspection can be stressful for both the person being checked and the Wildlife Officer. Here are several “Do’s” and “Don’ts” that can make your next encounter with a Wildlife Officer pain-free and sometimes even pleasurable!
DON’T ignore the officer. The old idea of pretending not to look at or even notice the officer is unnatural and can even create suspicion in the officer’s eyes. It is a natural human reaction to pay brief attention by looking at any uniformed law enforcement officer whether it is a city cop, Highway Patrolman, or Wildlife Officer on the water or in the woods. You do not have to stop what you are doing to stare at the officer. A simple glance in the officer’s direction is much better than the unnatural reaction of looking away and intentionally not making eye contact with the officer. That is easily picked up by the officer and raises his/her suspicion. One hot summer day, I was patrolling a well-known fishing hole and noticed a group of fishermen catching bass at a spillway. As I approached, it was obvious to me that every fisherman (except one) took notice of me approaching in uniform. This individual raised my suspicion by turning away from me and not even looking once in my direction! My suspicions were validated as I inspected him and discovered that he was in possession of over the limit of bass!
DO be polite and cordial to the Officer as he/she approaches you. The officer is usually coming into an unknown situation. In the officer’s eyes, they could be approaching a person committing a violation or even a person with an outstanding warrant for their arrest. A simple “hello” goes a long way in reducing a stressful situation for the officer. You may want to move fishing rods or gear out of the way or help the officer as he/she approaches. An attentive sportsman willing and ready to assist the officer can add to a pleasant stop and can easily show that you are one of the “good guys”. A few years ago, during the crappie season, I pulled up to a group of boats that were catching fish. I picked out the closest boat to me and began idling up to it to conduct an inspection. Immediately, the fisherman in the boat waved a friendly “hello” and began to clear his rods away from one side of the boat to assist me at pulling alongside. As I approached, I noticed 2 fishermen in another boat quickly packing up their gear in an attempt to leave the area. I immediately decided to back away from the “friendly fisherman” to check the 2 anglers in a hurry to leave. An inspection of their catch revealed they had 67 crappie over the limit!
DO cooperate with the Wildlife Officer. They may ask for licenses, documentation or safety equipment. By complying with the Officer’s instructions and providing these items as quickly as possible, you will expedite the inspection and quickly return to your activity. Most officers desire to conduct an inspection with as little delay as possible. Arguing with the officer or making statements such as, “I pay your salary” does nothing but cause a delay and increases the likelihood of law enforcement action being taken against you. I remember a time when I stopped a hunter for a minor violation. I simply intended on issuing the man a warning and educate him about what he was doing wrong. Immediately the man began to yell and shout obscenities at me. I attempted to diffuse the situation by calmly explaining the violation and the fact that I was issuing him a warning instead of a citation. The man refused to listen and continued to yell at me, “I will see you in court!” After repeated attempts to calmly educate the man while he was shouting obscenities at me, I finally gave him his wish – a mandatory court appearance to see the judge.
DON’T lie to the officer! This almost goes without saying, but you would be surprised how many people do it. Most Wildlife Officers have heard “every excuse in the book” when encountering a violation and it’s refreshing to hear the truth! This could help the officer make a decision in your favor whether or not to take law enforcement action if encountering a violation. On the opening day of duck season, I watched a hunter from a concealed location kill several ducks and put them in his boat. I approached the man and asked if he had killed anything or had any ducks in his possession. The man stated, “No, I do not.” An inspection of his duck decoy bag revealed over the limit of ducks. Since the man lied to me and showed intent on breaking the law, I chose to issue a citation instead of a warning.
DO ask for advice on locations, techniques, and seasonal patterns. Most officers are on the water or in the woods every day and are more than willing to provide you with the hottest lure color, technique, or the location of a trophy deer! Many Wildlife Officers will give you their card or contact information to assist you with this type of information for future trips afield. A simple phone call to the officer while planning your trip can help you plan the trip of a lifetime! A few years ago, I was patrolling a wildlife management area when I noticed a trophy 8-point deer. A handicapped hunter stopped and asked for advice and I told him about the deer. The next morning the hunter bagged the biggest deer of his life!
Most outdoorsmen and women are passionate about their hobby, which can often consume every waking thought during their day. It is during those times when stopped and checked by a Wildlife Officer that can put any person out of a state of relaxation and enjoyment into a brief moment of stress. By practicing the “Do’s” and “Don’ts” outlined above, a can make the most of any encounter with an officer and actually benefit from the contact!
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