Game Wardens...

[WTRDOG]

How often does everyone see the Warden's around while fishing and if so are they a pain in the arse in your area.Seems they use to check everything out more years back,not so much anymore.

[GitRDoneIke23]

I've seen 1 once.

-Ike

[daviscw]

I only see them during deer season.  :

[frogtog]

I've been checked 13 times on the same body of water and most of the time by the same two wardens. They check everything including boarding my boat and taking my fish out and measuring them. I have got to the point that I think it's Harassment or Profiling. I only see them checking Bass fishermen. One more check and I do intend on contacting the NC Wildlife Commission. They also use a Golden Rule

to check the fish with and those things are bout as accurate as I am at spelling, they bend real easy and will make you have a short fish in a heart beat. I always just lay my Gator Board on the deck and tell them to use mine. >

[Hookemdown.]

I've hardly ever see wardens around here.  I think they're understaffed quite badly.

[burleytog]

It helps if you know the warden.  Gutting his deer for him always helps too.  

[burleytog]

I think they're understaffed quite badly.

That can be said for every part of the country.  The county my farm is in has one game warden and the county has about 400 miles of roads.  There's just no way for him to do much of anything.

[bass slayer 17]

its hit or miss and when they do find ya they have to check every little thing and write tickets for something stupid

[Daniel My Brother]

I fish a lot in Southern Illinois, and they are waaaay understaffed.

That said, there's a warden who fishes the same lake I fish, and he's out there every Sunday night just after dark to check the boats as they roll in.

There are NO lights at the ramp, and he'll sit in the dark until you pull your boat out, then he'll shine his light on you. It's enough to make you jump out of your skin!

Aside from that, he seems like a decent guy. The first time he checked me I got a warning for no whistle in the boat. Since then he seems more interested in the fishing report than checking my boat.

[Uncle Leo]

Illinois is understaffed. I seen one in the last five years.

[daviscw]

I've never seen a game warden "patrolling". The only time I see them out is when they respond to a poaching / trespassing call.

[KYbass1276]

I see them all the time.  Although they may just be driveing by or what have you.   I personally don't mind being checked by them there just doing there job that we pay them to do.  I actually enjoy it, gives me someone to shoot the bull with.   I find that if your not doing nothing wrong then whats to worry about.  Thank them and tell them hope to see you agin goes along way.

[Speedy]

Well i see game wardens quite often..... but it probly helps that my town has the regional offices. Really they seem to be more at certian busy fishing areas or days when the river is really crowded. (like the 4th of july)

From the officers i have talked to most of them seem nice.

[Dan:]

I've seen them ONCE

[billbrum]

I see them every few trips to a busier lake and they can be a huge pain from time to time.

[MALTESE FALCON]

There is a DNR office right on the lake, about one mile from one of my favorite smallmouth hang-outs. Believe it or not, I haven't been checked since 1997. I see their trucks all the time around the house, but I never see them on the water.

Falcon

[grimlin]

I'm gonna say twice....but i've never been checked this year yet.

[Spencer W]

I've been checked several years ago, just a boat check to make sure everything was good.  Our warden's do a great job around here, but the state is understaffed and there are limited funds.  When they do write a ticket the money from the fines go to the school system and not the game and parks. :-?

[Gatorbassman]

I used to fish a Public Fishing Area four or five times a week for 12 years. It had five Warden on duty during the day. I have never been checked by any of them.

[Muddy]

Our former warden on Mauch Chunk was an incredbily decent and polite fella, he retired 2 years ago. The currnet mook is an intolerable jackazz. He called me in 3 days in a row, he stands on the shore and bellows" Come to the sound of my voice" like he is God calling Moses or something He wanted to check my Lic.;Regi for the boat, flotation device and sound maker. I have all.

Now this is ELectric Trolling Motor lake so it takes a bit of time to fine THE DIRECTION OF HIS VOICE and then you gotta go all the way there!! I asked why, with other boats all around me , did he pull me in 3 consrcutive days? He unsnapped his 45 on his hip, Guess I posed a threat to his and my saftey. I also asked if the last 2 days I was totally legal why pull me in today, he said YOUR LETTERS AND NUMBERS ARE NOT FAR ENOUGH APART ACCORDING TO PA LAW> I flipped a bit, then calmed down b/c I was getting no where I really wanted him to draw his little cap gun.

I have seen him sct in similar horriblr actio to others and a lot of regulars are getting pizzed off. He is a buffon and sooner or later he is gonna get fired.

[IDbasser]

I have been checked twice this year by the game wardens, and my boat inspected twice by the Sheriff Dept while at the docks.  All at different places.  Last year I got checked a few times too.  They are usually nice here.  They will BS with you while checking, then leave you to keep fishing.

[slomoe]

twice this year. Once by the game folks, and once by state police.

[ring fry]

When I lived in SE Nebraska the game warden was a good friend of mine and a pretty good golfer.  He would bring me beer that he had confiscated from minors and take me fishing in places no one else could go.  In SE Kansas I think we have one for four counties with two decent sized lakes, hundreds of public strip pits and one of the best deer and turkey hunting areas in the country.  Waaaaaayyy understaffed around here.

[Avalonjohn44]

I live in NOVA, and in the field, I've have only seen a game warden 4 times in my entire life.  I see them driving and at the courthouse frequently... I've had my fishing license checked more by cops than by a game warden.  

[bassdocktor]

I don't think I've ever seen any while I've fished in Illinois. The only things I've seen is the Coast Guard while fishing one of the rivers. The Coast Guard and Chicago police often stop alot of guys I know on Lake Michigan that are fishing just for safety checks.

When I'm in Michigan I've seen them out a few times in the last few years. Usually only check for licenses. Ususually the sheriff is teh one doing the checking.

For all those fishing in Illinois the reason they are understaffed is they are way underbudgeted. For the last several years the DNR budgets and staff have been getting cut alot. It's actually to the point a few people I know culdn't get jobs in Illinois using their environmental degrees.