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Game Wardens

7K views 50 replies 17 participants last post by  dukhntr 
#1 ·
Just wondering...

In the last two years hunting KS, I've seen a game warden once, and I've hunted at least every weekend of waterfowl season that I'm not in the field training, and sometimes during the week. (I'll trade one full comp day for 2 mornings off). The one time I saw one, he was on the side of the road, sitting, talking on a cell phone, and waved me by. Never had my boat inspected (one season in the boat) or had my license checked, and that even goes for fishing during the summer, and never hit a check station/inspection station. Not saying there are serious poachers here, but always hear pre-shooting hour shooting, and many other things that make me suspicious.

Maybe its just a regional difference. But back home (Idaho), it seems like every other time I go out, be it duck, deer, elk or other, I run into a game warden, checking bag limits, license, equipment, ect. We have check points all over the place, possibly because there are fewer roads that force hunters through a choke point on the way home.

I'm very surprised though after these two years. Is this normal? Is it because Idaho only has fish and game, and Kansas is Wildlife Parks and Tourism, spreading man power and money thin? Granted it is nice not having to stop for a game warden to spend 30 minutes going through my boat/trailer and truck when I'm tired as hell, but overall that's a good thing for people not doing the right thing.

Speaking of not doing the right thing, I've been out the last 3 times with 1 to few life vests... Horrible me.
 
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#2 ·
I have thought it is a bit strange as well. I usually get checked once sometimes twice a season, and like yourself, i am out every weekend from teal to the end... Good news is, when i do get checked, they are pretty good dudes.
 
#3 ·
FowlPwrcat said:
I have thought it is a bit strange as well. I usually get checked once sometimes twice a season, and like yourself, i am out every weekend from teal to the end... Good news is, when i do get checked, they are pretty good dudes.
That's good to hear, considering most other LE I've ran across is KS, are less than cordial. Seems like I'm always dealing with some cop over one of my soldiers, so that could be the reason :rolleyes:

Same in ID though, some of the best guys you'll meet, usually more than willing to point you to the right 'spot'. Them and the sheep herders in east ID, they'll tell you where the holy grail is at for a 12 pack. Wish we had some in KS.
 
#4 ·
Just because you don't see them, doesn't mean the game wardens aren't out there doing their job. That said, I wish KDWP&T could tear loose some of the money they throw away on the "T" part and hire three or four more Law Enforcement Officers.

As it is, they have to perform triage in their line of work; a guy shooting 15 minutes early on Cheyenne Bottoms is given less priority than a guy who habitually spotlights whitetails on Quivira at 2AM.

That, and the fact that most LEO's have a "specialty" that they pursue....and not many specialize in waterfowl violations. At least, not around here. That's neither a "good" or "bad" thing, it just IS.

I have noticed this: as long as you are doing it right, you most likely won't see a LEO. If you were violating, though, I'll bet you'd see a lot more LEO's.....they have a sixth sense that way. :thumbsup:

LEO's around here are the coolest of the cool, in my opinion.
 
#5 ·
Its true some of them have a sixth sense. Ive been hunting Jamestown for over 20 years and the head man out there has a way of knowing pretty much everything that happens. Ive seen guys breaking laws and he always seems to be just around the corner knowing exactly what they are doing. He is fantastic at his job.
 
#8 ·
I am personal friends with my LEO, just called about a spot-lighter..great guy..have had some "not-so-good" in the past,
only checked once waterfowl hunting, didn't want to check us, but wisea** with us demanded his moneys worth.. so got
checked..asked why staying around us ?? was watching others..AND.. hiding with us AND got-em...came back when we
were leaving and helped pack out stuff..had an older man with us fall on the bank and without him would have had to call
EMS..was great guy..just not to law-breakers...my hats off to them and their job..
 
#9 ·
I generally run across one once a year (depending), though I don't hunt that much I have only seen then on the state lands but I am sure they do go else where. It does make a lot of sense not seeing any when there are 60 some Natural Resource Officers and a 100+ counties to patrol. I will agree that the ones I have met have been very friendly and will give advice on where the birds are.
 
#10 ·
cluckmeister said:
Its not a sixth sense, its call a high power spotting scope
That helps, no doubt. But I could have the same scope and I wouldn't see one tenth of the stuff they see. These guys are pros, and having pro-grade equipment is but a small part of the job they do. Knowing how/when/where to use it is the key. :thumbsup:
 
#12 ·
aunt betty said:
Once you get a few white hairs in your beard the frequency at which you get checked decreases.
Ive noticed the same thing. The last time I was checked was about 5 years ago when I was a kid of 59. The GW introduced himself and said he like to check a few things. I laughed and told him he could check anything I had but two things, One was the ham sandwich I was eating and the other I wasn't dropping my pants and bending over for. I guess that sat the stage to forgetfulness for him because he ended up not checking anything but the birds we shot. I did tell him about the dumb guys shooting the heck out of cormorants thinking they were mergansers. He went to his truck, grabbed his ticket book and was off their way.
 
#13 ·
I don't mind getting checked if I have my stuff together, but once I got a ticket that I thought was somewhat "chicken s**t". I was hunting Kyle West from a 12" boat. The marsh is shallow enough to wade anywhere you want if you don't mind the mud. Without thinking I had neglected to have PFD's in the boat and he wrote me up. Live and learn.
 
#15 ·
I once got a ticket for no life jacket in my pirouge, and ever since then i have made an extra effort to have one with me. I just got checked the other day, and i had a life jacket with me, because of the ticket that i got years ago. They did me a favor, because i do need to have that jacket with me all of the time. It is a good habit for me to have. :thumbsup:
 
#16 ·
I ran across this thread randomly......I'll tell ya like this, if you're not seeing gw's BE THANKFUL! At least I know I would be if I never ever saw one again here in NC. I've been all over the southeast(never to Kansas though) and have encountered gw's in every state I've been too and every one that I meet is the same. Lowest form of life on earth as far as I'm concerned. I've never ever seen one anywhere help someone out or protect something that needed to be protected. I've had green jeans feel my crouch up on many occasions for no reason at all. I can't imagine the ones in Kansas being any better, but I hope they are for yall's sake. I plan on coming to kansas in a couple years, and would almost bet on it that the first encounter I'll have will be with mr. green jeans. :hammer:
 
#17 ·
We got checked coming back from kyle west a few years ago on the teal opener. We had everything in order except that I wasn't actually wearing my inflatable belt PFD. Both guys were really cool about it, just informed me that it didn't count if I wasn't wearing it and they left it at that. Learning experience for me as I wasn't aware of that.
 
#18 ·
cbass12 said:
We got checked coming back from kyle west a few years ago on the teal opener. We had everything in order except that I wasn't actually wearing my inflatable belt PFD. Both guys were really cool about it, just informed me that it didn't count if I wasn't wearing it and they left it at that. Learning experience for me as I wasn't aware of that.
On that note, I've noticed the game wardens around here aren't the brightest, or there are some BS'ing hunters. Unless your under 12, you aren't required to wear your PFD, unless you on a PWC. So if they're telling you opposite, I would argue that to the court if I ever got a ticket.

In addition, I was out walking the fields adjacent to Milford pheasant hunting, and had some duck hunter inform me that I better be careful cause the game warden has been giving tickets for not wearing hunters orange. I informed I'm he's either full of **** or the GW was cause the reg summary book doesn't say anything about requiring HO during pheasant hunting, its only suggested, and in the KS statutes on hunting the only mention of HO is for rifle deer season. (I'm a legal nerd, I read stuff like that for fun). That's another ticket I'd fight over.
 
#20 ·
they will write a ticket to generate rev. the outlook on it is most people wont fight it and just pay the ticket. Just like unconstitutional checkpoint arrests and tickets.
 
#21 ·
Some of your stories are pretty comical. I've been checked more then a few times in my days and I have never had any issues. Be respectful to them and they will be respectful to you. Pretty simple. Same way when I am on patrol. Be a jerk to me and I will be the same way....I love seeing wardens out and about. There are a lot of poachers out there...ALOT!

And "unconstitutional" check points? Gimme a break!.....Abide by the law and off you go through in little to no time....
 
#22 ·
Most of the guys who bitch about law enforcement are the ones with "problems" anyway.

Writing tickets. Yeah they love to write tickets. Nothing more they like than to spend the day in court on their day off because of some D-bag is wanting to fight a ticket they deserved.

I love to see these "illegal" check points. Helps get the turd bags off the streets who have no insurance on their car, no license, or warrants because of unpaid tickets they probably didn't deserve.

You would be amazed at how many people have suspended licenses and NO insurance just waiting to run into your car and leave you with the bill. Oh, I'll just take them to court. Yeah go ahead. It's hard to squeeze blood out of a turnip. So they go to jail. Think they really care? Nope, because they probably just got out 2 days ago. You still end up paying for your damaged car.
 
#23 ·
Moved here in 2006. Been checked about 5 times, no problems with the Wardens always been professional and courteous.

NOW to tell on myself. 01 January 2013 going to field hunt geese with 3 other guys on a snow covered wheat field. Forgot to get a license. 0230 in the morning I get up and remember I needed a new license. I tried, tried and tried the state's website to get a license. It was not working :mad: I went hunting, no I shouldn't have but did. So we are laying in the field and a warden drives by. He drives by 3 times. No I didn't run for the hills. Figured if he came out I'd take my whippin like a man. Finally he stops and comes out. He had a LOOOOOONG walk to get to us. After some chit chat, the Warden asks for licenses. He checked guns and all. The hunt had been a bust, 1 other guy had shot 1 goose. I told him my story about the website, told him I was in the wrong and for him to write me a ticket for No license. Hey It was MY FAULT, no excuse give me a ticket. This same warden had check me earlier in the year at a boat ramp and remembered me. He said we would have to walk back to his vehicle for him to get my info. We were at the time picking up. I told him instead of walking back I'd give him a ride to his vehicle. Then he told me something ASTOUNDING!!!! He said he couldn't write a ticket!!! All he could do is take my info and pass it on to the County Attorneys office and they would generate a ticket if they chose to do so?????? What???? I moved here form Virginia and had NEVER heard of such B.S.!!! I told him so. That's ridiculous. We talked about it for a short bit. I was shocked.

After our conversation he asked me if I was going to get a license. I said yes, as soon as we pack up and leave. He let me off with a warning.
 
#24 ·
You cops take your jobs too serious. Enforcing some of the most unjust laws ever known to man. Setting up entrapment checkpoints holding innocent peoples progress up with the flashing lights and asking for ID etc. Don't get me wrong I do like cops and they do have a purpose, but there are somethings that just irk me. One of them is the macho authoritarian need to be in power over people. The other day I saw a cop texting while driving as well as speeding 78 in a 65, without his emergency lights on in street clothes. I dont think he was going to a call because he was out of his jurisdiction. I called him in. I got a call back from the HP and they told me that cops were allowed to text and drive. How the hell is that constitutional? 28th amendment. Go on hold your head high. When it all comes down you are just as screwed as the rest of us.
 
#26 ·
duckdozer said:
You cops take your jobs too serious. Enforcing some of the most unjust laws ever known to man. Setting up entrapment checkpoints holding innocent peoples progress up with the flashing lights and asking for ID etc. Don't get me wrong I do like cops and they do have a purpose, but there are somethings that just irk me. One of them is the macho authoritarian need to be in power over people. The other day I saw a cop texting while driving as well as speeding 78 in a 65, without his emergency lights on in street clothes. I dont think he was going to a call because he was out of his jurisdiction. I called him in. I got a call back from the HP and they told me that cops were allowed to text and drive. How the hell is that constitutional? 28th amendment. Go on hold your head high. When it all comes down you are just as screwed as the rest of us.
Well, you certainly have your right to believe/feel what or how you want. LEO's are legal to text. Is it smart to text and drive...no it/s not. Is it smart to go into a theatre/school, mall, etc after an active shooter who's loaded with rifles and shooting people? Again, no it's not. But we do it. And we would do it knowing we were going to get shot and or get killed. Come take a ride with me for a weekend and see what we deal with on a daily basis and your perspective may change. That said, there are some real jerks in Law Enforcement with power trips. It's the same way in any authoritative position..wether it's Military, LE, business owners, etc...
 
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