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Game warden lessons learned
#6852054
08/10/17 08:53 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 208
longgunner
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 208 |
A few lessons learned as we approach dove season from a guy who has been visited on several occasions by game wardens. All experiences have been positive, so just sharing for any new hunters:
1) Always follow the game laws and assume you are being watched, they tend to show up out of nowhere, even on private property 2) If you are on private property and you leave a gate unlocked, there is a much greater chance you will receive a visitor. Game wardens will check gates and those left unlocked are much easier to drive their truck thru! 3) If you are on a dove lease, very good chance they will visit you - they know where the leases are at and they tend to be low hanging fruit 4) Always clean your birds separately. Don't clean them in one big pile 5) Federal Game Wardens seem to be much more thorny than state game wardens - they don't have to live in the communities they patrol. If they travel in pairs, you will see some good cop/bad cop stuff going on 6) Label your zip lock bags with your hunting license number 7) Always always always have a plug in your shotgun for dove season 8) If you hunt public land - SIGN IN AT THE BOX! 9) Having a copy of your hunters education card helps speed things along quickly. If you don't have a hunters safety card, the fact that you may be a military veteran and have served multiple tours in the Middle East is not applicably. Don't argue with them, take your poison and move on. I've seen a few guys try to make this case, and it just frustrates the game wardens. the law is the law. 10) If they check you in the morning and you have your limit, be ready for the "Where are hunting tonight" question! 11) If you drink a cold one after a hunt, don't be the idiot that is drinking it as he is driving off the property while behind the wheel.... They can pull up just as you are driving off.... 12) Treat them with respect and demonstrate gun safety early and often - They are Great Americans doing their job....
Again: Most folks on this forum know and live this stuff, but figured I'd share in case some new folks are hunting for the first time....
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6852103
08/10/17 09:49 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 266
AdanV
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 266 |
I take it Lesson# 4 & 6 is when hunting with others?
I haven't been approached by a game warden when hunting, yet. But I have many times when fishing. It's always quick, respectable, and courteous.
Thanks for posting.
God Bless Texas Arsenal: Savage Axis II - 30-06 Stoeger P350 - 12 Gauge Diamond Edge SB-1 - Compound Bow
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6852511
08/11/17 03:20 AM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 618
nate33
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 618 |
One more thing game wardens like ---------- when he walks up to you, unload your gun----------- that goes a LONG WAY if there is some grey area that comes up.
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6852555
08/11/17 04:46 AM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 17,724
Txduckman
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 17,724 |
I was checked 3 times last year in 3 different counties in one month. They like to visit the outiftters fields. Prior to that, it had been 10 years since I had seen one.
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6852558
08/11/17 04:56 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,029
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,029 |
You left out a big one. Don't shoot Dove from a motor driven land conveyance, Includes while sitting on your truck tailgate or sitting on an ATV. This is a common ticket from GWs.
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6852874
08/11/17 03:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 113
quackiller
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 113 |
Make sure your dog doesn't pick up someone else's cripples on the way out if the field if you're already limited the game warden doesn't discriminate
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6852891
08/11/17 04:13 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 525
Dfwguy
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 525 |
Curious on #10 - if you say you are hunting that evening, they can't give you a ticket for saying it and not doing it?
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6852892
08/11/17 04:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,812
nak
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,812 |
Ok, I have seen this, and slight variations, mentioned many times over the years. What is this statement based on?
4) Always clean your birds separately. Don't clean them in one big pile
We have been doing this for years and never had an issue. As long as all the hunters are present, have guns unloaded/put up, and the total birds is under the limit for the number of hunters, what would be the issue? We all pitch in on cleaning, then split the birds up into separate plastic bags (with name/Lic).
There is nothing I can find on the TPWD website that mentions this, even on the page about processing game. Am I missing something, or is this based upon the fear that someone in the group might be over or have illegal birds?
Any First Person reports of being ticketed for cleaning birds as a group, without some other violation taking place?
Thanks
We all need to practice Whoa more.
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: nak]
#6852905
08/11/17 04:26 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,481
ndhunter
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,481 |
You cannot co-mingle your birds with others. Limits are specific to each hunter.
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: Sniper John]
#6852910
08/11/17 04:30 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,481
ndhunter
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,481 |
You left out a big one. Don't shoot Dove from a motor driven land conveyance, Includes while sitting on your truck tailgate or sitting on an ATV. This is a common ticket from GWs. I still see people sitting on their tailgates or 4 wheelers even as the game warden is approaching them And lock the gates, Warden will move on to another opportunity
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6852920
08/11/17 04:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,452
Dalroo
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,452 |
7) Always always always have a plug in your shotgun for dove season
I learned this one when my gun malfunctioned and I borrowed an extra from a buddy - no plug, and I never even thought to check. $186 - and that was 10 years ago, so probably gone up a tad.
Dalroo Deep in the Heart of Texas How about that Brandon!
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6852939
08/11/17 04:56 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 208
longgunner
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 208 |
two follow ups:
NAK: We were once scolded by a federal game warden for cleaning birds in a pile. He said that they could not discriminate who's birds were who's. We were accused of allowing some hunters to shoot over their limits to offset others who had not. "Kinda odd that all of ya'll got your limit and finished at the same time!"
Regarding the "where are you hunting tonight" question: Lots of folks limit out in the AM and then hunt somewhere else in the evening. This is illegal. If you have reached your limit or are close to reaching your limit but will be hunting again that night, expect a second visit by the game wardens.
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: ndhunter]
#6852950
08/11/17 05:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,631
SnakeWrangler
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,631 |
You cannot co-mingle your birds with others. Limits are specific to each hunter. I know two groups personally that were cited for this.....total birds isn't relevant....limits are individual....
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6852957
08/11/17 05:11 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,631
SnakeWrangler
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,631 |
You left out a big one. Don't shoot Dove from a motor driven land conveyance, Includes while sitting on your truck tailgate or sitting on an ATV. This is a common ticket from GWs. I still see people sitting on their tailgates or 4 wheelers even as the game warden is approaching them And lock the gates, Warden will move on to another opportunity If they hear a lot of shooting you can bet that are willing to take a stroll to check things out..... 1) Always follow the game laws and assume you are being watched, they tend to show up out of nowhere, even on private property
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6856499
08/15/17 01:30 AM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 333
claypool
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 333 |
Might also add that if shooting collared dove and not counting them in your limit, make sure the GW can easily identify them.
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: SnakeWrangler]
#6857459
08/15/17 07:32 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609
SapperTitan
Taking Requests
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Taking Requests
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609 |
You left out a big one. Don't shoot Dove from a motor driven land conveyance, Includes while sitting on your truck tailgate or sitting on an ATV. This is a common ticket from GWs. I still see people sitting on their tailgates or 4 wheelers even as the game warden is approaching them And lock the gates, Warden will move on to another opportunity If they hear a lot of shooting you can bet that are willing to take a stroll to check things out..... 1) Always follow the game laws and assume you are being watched, they tend to show up out of nowhere, even on private property
where I dove hunt its 7 miles from the gate to the hunting spot, that's a heck of a stroll haha
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: ndhunter]
#6857499
08/15/17 08:00 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,265
HOF
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,265 |
You cannot co-mingle your birds with others. Limits are specific to each hunter. I'm calling racism on this one...
Searching the world over for the perfect Chile Relleno.
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6857504
08/15/17 08:04 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
Just be respectful if you want it in return.....
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6857518
08/15/17 08:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 162
TXAg08
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 162 |
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6857585
08/15/17 09:00 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,991
ChadTRG42
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,991 |
Or, do like we do, and just invite the game warden with you to hunt! We know ours well, and he's hunted dove, duck and deer with us. We are in Stephens County.
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6858915
08/16/17 11:00 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 208
longgunner
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 208 |
I've seen Game Wardens glassing folks from a long while off and then showing up at the end of the hunt when you are most likely to exceeded your limit.... Bottom Line: Follow the game laws and all will be ok...
Have a great season,
JR
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6862686
08/20/17 06:08 PM
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 14
BPurvisJr
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 14 |
this will be my first dove season. good info here, thanks for putting the thread out there.
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6862712
08/20/17 06:37 PM
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 8,349
Herbie Hancock
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 8,349 |
I don't understand why they want you to have your hunters ed card on you when the number is listed on your license.
It takes beer to make thirst worthwhile - J. Fred Schmidt
The internet is an I.Q. Test, people post their scores in the comment section.
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Re: Game warden lessons learned
[Re: longgunner]
#6862721
08/20/17 06:54 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,301
scalebuster
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,301 |
two follow ups:
NAK: We were once scolded by a federal game warden for cleaning birds in a pile. He said that they could not discriminate who's birds were who's. We were accused of allowing some hunters to shoot over their limits to offset others who had not. "Kinda odd that all of ya'll got your limit and finished at the same time!"
Regarding the "where are you hunting tonight" question: Lots of folks limit out in the AM and then hunt somewhere else in the evening. This is illegal. If you have reached your limit or are close to reaching your limit but will be hunting again that night, expect a second visit by the game wardens.
There is no law against cleaning birds in a pile. He can scold all he wants to. But can't write you a ticket for anything.
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