game wardens

[GJorgy]

Wish they would show up more at the Samish river when the kings show up. I've called them on LOTS of folks "fishing" under the bridge with their "sparkplug & trebble hook" lures. Only saw a GW come down there 1 time.

[Robert86]

I 2nd that,

More the better! I added this to my cell as well.

[iPodrodder]

If the GWs came to Pine Lake, there would be half the people on the dock as there are now. The WDFW would also have thousands more in the bank, too.

[Marc Martyn]

Mikey-

The GW have more enforcement leeway now than they did years ago. They started packing side arms after a warden was killed by a poacher over in Montana several years ago. They may even have authority to arrest a wanted felon now. Any law enforcement people out there that can clarify that?

[Easy Limits]

I will tell ya it is pretty nice when the warden shows up and catches somebody in the act of illegal fishing. I remember one time on the Green River a guy was fishing for kings using a buzz bomb. The Green wasn't open yet for salmon and especially not open for kings. Me and five other guys were standing on a foot bridge watching the whole time. We called and called and called the poacher hotline. Finally, after about 20 minutes a gammie showed up and made the bust.

[Palmer]

I'm usually not approached by the game warden when I see him because I usually approach him. They're a great resource on game and fish in the area. If you are looking for the best odds at fishing a species in your area then call up the WDFW and talk to a warden. They're an even better resource for game.

[ruthven78]

For those who are complaining about being frequently checked, I suggest puting your license in one of those ID badge lanyards and wear it around your neck...just make sure they are the breakaway kind so as to not hang yourself on a limb or something

Fact I like that idea so much Im going to do that since I have a ton of lanyards..... Im in the medical field and seems every healthcare vendor has a lanyard they are giving out now...I'll just hang it next to my spare keys when not in use.

[gpc]

For those who are complaining about being frequently checked, I suggest puting your license in one of those ID badge lanyards and wear it around your neck...just make sure they are the breakaway kind so as to not hang yourself on a limb or something

Fact I like that idea so much Im going to do that since I have a ton of lanyards..... Im in the medical field and seems every healthcare vendor has a lanyard they are giving out now...I'll just hang it next to my spare keys when not in use.

Yeah thats what your supposed to do. Have your licence vissible at all times, and you can acctually get a ticket for not having your licence vissible. But I dont notice anybody ever doing it, me being one of them, my licence goes into my wallet and thats where it stays. My buddy did it one year and he kept loosing his licence, just not having a certain spot for it and having to switch the licence everytime he changed clothes

[bigastrout]

Yeah thats what your supposed to do. Have your licence vissible at all times, and you can acctually get a ticket for not having your licence vissible. But I dont notice anybody ever doing it, me being one of them, my licence goes into my wallet and thats where it stays. My buddy did it one year and he kept loosing his licence, just not having a certain spot for it and having to switch the licence everytime he changed clothes

I think that it was only a requirement to wear your license when harvesting shellfish or seaweed. But I think that has changed now because I can't find it in the new regs.

[fishnislife]

I think it's great. The only people who usually have a problem with them are the ones breaking laws. If they hassel you for your licence there doing there job. I like when one is around, cause like Palmer said, I go up and talk to them because they are a great source of fishing knowledge. They know what people are catching and what waters are hot. If they are around you notice everyone minds there p's and q's a little more and people always pick up all there crap. If it helps even to get people to stop leaving their litter behind, I say the more the merrier.

fishnislife

[gpc]

Yeah thats what your supposed to do. Have your licence vissible at all times, and you can acctually get a ticket for not having your licence vissible. But I dont notice anybody ever doing it, me being one of them, my licence goes into my wallet and thats where it stays. My buddy did it one year and he kept loosing his licence, just not having a certain spot for it and having to switch the licence everytime he changed clothes

I think that it was only a requirement to wear your license when harvesting shellfish or seaweed. But I think that has changed now because I can't find it in the new regs.

Yeah this is something that never came up when I was being checked by a warden. I always though that was the rule but never was hassled about it. I was thinking if you were in a hike in lake and warden was checking you out with the binocs, and noticed you didnt have a license vissible and he walked the mile down to write you a ticket for no licence, and you did have your license he would write the ticket anyways, because technically you were breaking the law w/o having it vissible...... but if thats only the law for shellfish I guess you would be good either way

[tcb]

Yeah thats what your supposed to do. Have your licence vissible at all times, and you can acctually get a ticket for not having your licence vissible. But I dont notice anybody ever doing it, me being one of them, my licence goes into my wallet and thats where it stays. My buddy did it one year and he kept loosing his licence, just not having a certain spot for it and having to switch the licence everytime he changed clothes

I think that it was only a requirement to wear your license when harvesting shellfish or seaweed. But I think that has changed now because I can't find it in the new regs.

Yeah this is something that never came up when I was being checked by a warden. I always though that was the rule but never was hassled about it. I was thinking if you were in a hike in lake and warden was checking you out with the binocs, and noticed you didnt have a license vissible and he walked the mile down to write you a ticket for no licence, and you did have your license he would write the ticket anyways, because technically you were breaking the law w/o having it vissible...... but if thats only the law for shellfish I guess you would be good either way

Guilty! I've never kept it anywhere but in my tackle box.

I have also been checked about once a year. and as long as you are ok (they check boat safety equipment too). I have never had any problems with them.

I also wondered why guys who fish say, fresh water, wont spend the whopping $19 to get a license when a spool of line costs $9. Then I had the discussion with my brother (works for a large sporting goods retailer) and learned the state catches deadbeat dads during license signups.

[gpc]

Very true. Im not a deadbeat dad, well because its kind of hard to be a deadbeat dad when you dont have any kids LOL. But when I was at fred myers the day brfore opening day I was talking to a man who had his truck loaded, resevations made and was on his way to blue lake. He stopped by fred myers before he left town to pick up bait and his licenece, and because he hadnt paid on his child support he was going home to un pack his truck, couldnt get his licence. I felt kinda bad becuse he was taking his kids with him to fish and they were all crying because they knew there vacation was over before it started. If it were me I still would have taken my kids fishing regardless if I could fish or not. But what a terrible way to start off opening day

[Aaron]

They may even have authority to arrest a wanted felon now. Any law enforcement people out there that can clarify that?

I believe they have the same authority as a State Patrol Officer or Sheriff.

[bigastrout]

They may even have authority to arrest a wanted felon now. Any law enforcement people out there that can clarify that?

I believe they have the same authority as a State Patrol Officer or Sheriff.

I was told that they are state patrol officers and they can do anything any other state patrol officer can do they just specialize in the game laws.

[gpc]

They may even have authority to arrest a wanted felon now. Any law enforcement people out there that can clarify that?

I believe they have the same authority as a State Patrol Officer or Sheriff.

I was told that they are state patrol officers and they can do anything any other state patrol officer can do they just specialize in the game laws.

Iv seen some with police lights in their Silverados. Iv never seen them turn them on but they are red and blue. I dont know if they have sirens, but if they have lights then sirens would only make sence. So Im guessing they could even pull you over if they wanted too. I wouldnt think they could pull you over on a regulsr street, but in a refuge or a wildlife area I dont know why they couldnt pull you over. Some wildlife area have posted speed limits a lot of people dont go by them, so if your going too fast dont you think they could pull you over and write you a speeding ticket?

[Palmer]

They may even have authority to arrest a wanted felon now. Any law enforcement people out there that can clarify that?

I believe they have the same authority as a State Patrol Officer or Sheriff.

About 2 or 3 years ago they received some extra training to qualify for the same duties and responsibilities of any police authority. This way they can help police the back roads and may expedite a call for back up by another police officer or park ranger. Some Rangers run accross illegal activites in the backwoods. Back up can be an hour away and a game warden might by chance be in the area to assist. I heard this info in a news report on KOMO radio.

[Kayak Doug]

And just a heads up to any wardens who read this, I live next to Idlewood Park on Lake Sammamish and I dont know how many times I have walked down to the shore in the park, and seen people fishing with multiple hooks on one line...not treble hooks, but several single hooks. I have watched in passing and they take any fish that seems to latch onto it. I see wardens on the lakes going after drunks wake boarding, thankfully, but I havent seen them hit the park. Just a tip, if you're a warden and get bored, head down to Idlewood Park and visit some of the fishermen there. Multiple poles/single person are seen down there too.

[dbaker]

Three hooks on one line is legal. Page 32 in the sport fishing pamphlet.

[Kayak Doug]

Well I'll be jiggered...I could have sworn it wasnt legal for some reason....lol...Thanks Dbaker.