I've interacted with them on multiple occasions and always found them to be polite and professional. Had them hang out with us a few times while ice fishing. They have been a great source of information as well about what is getting caught and where. In rural upstate NY they actually make pretty good money compared to the average income in those areas as well and have great benefits and retirement.
Like any occupation there are good and bad...I respect them for what they do, but I did have one stalk me for a couple of weeks, felt like he was trying to catch me breaking any law (to no avail). He did bust another guy who wandered onto game land and was target shooting with his son...initially I thought he was being a bit of a twit...till I had the same thing happen but I was down range on the backside of a tree with shot raining down around me...the warden was nowhere to be found that day. The father with a pile of black walnuts was having his kids shoot them as he threw them into the air on the other side of the adjacent field--I chased the jackass to the parking lot when I heard 'hurry up and reload'. -Bill
I have met a few and thought all of them were great guys that were passionate about their job. Two thumbs up from me.
My only problem w. Wardens or Agents is that there's just not enough of them to go around. The problem is you have 1 agent that is covering about 10 to 15 counties at a time here in Missouri, so a lot of times they can't react quickly or are just too busy to handle situations. Everyone knows that so people are willing to risk doing stupid things figuring there's no chance their going to get caught. I've had good interactions with the agents, but then again I've never been doing anything wrong when they checked me. I also believe that what we might interpret as them being jerks, is more than likely their attempt to be in control of the situation at all times, never letting their guard down. It would be a pretty scary job, knowing that most people are armed when you approach them.
I am fairly sure this is the case most everywhere. I'm not positive about all states, but here they can enforce all laws if and when they need to. Speeding ticket, warrants, you name it.
Same in MD. DNR agents have more jurisdiction than state troopers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk www.skyangler.com
Oh yes. I heard of an incident with a guy I didnt know personally, but a friend of a friend type situation..anyways, he killed a deer without a permit, brought it home in his truck, quartered it and put it in his freezer. Somehow, suspecting an anonymous tip probably, but the game warden found out and came by, asked for the permit for the deer, the guy came clean entirely and told the warden everything...the warden confiscated the deer, his gun he shot the deer with, his truck he transported it in, the knives he used to quarter it, the freezer he had it in, and on top of all that wrote him a hefty fine and I'm pretty sure took away all his hunting and fishing rights for a year...now personally I think he deserved every bit of what he got. But I was shocked that the game warden had that much power to do all that...but then again this story is entirely hear-say...so who knows how much of it is actually true..but still..
The one's I've met are power trip cop wannabes. Obviously they aren't all like that but I'd say a good majority of them are.
The warden in charge of the county my land in MN is in is worthless. Don't get me wrong he's great at his job and a good guy. But he's still worthless as he is the only warden for 5 county's. It's insane if you think about how much area he has to cover. Sent from iPhone
In Tennessee they are...they can come in your house with no warrant. They make good money here...TWRA pays them pretty good IMO...lol. I have never had a run in with one in going on 26 years of hunting. I've met them on the road before...that's about it...lol. Now the last 10 years I have been hunting basically on my own land 101 where I live. The few I have talked to have been decent and answered what questions I had for them about hunting over salt licks. Were allowed too as long as whatever we are using is 51% salt of more.
He didn't say he hunts. He just said he was checked. The CO was probably curious about a guy out in the woods wearing Toms.
I've only ever come across one CO that was kind of a dip. Lunch time at my cabin in WI (rifle season) and a truck blew a tire 80 ft from our driveway. I was helping the guy change his tire and a CO came and almost wrote me a ticket for not wearing my orange. I had no weapon. He was kinda rude. All other COs I've met have been really nice and helpful. Especially up here in MN.
