Run in with the Virginia Game Warden? "Tell your stories" 2024
dhpol reply :
Run in with the Va Game Warden? "Conservation Police" Tell your experiences......fishing or hunting......
burleytog reply :
With the exception of one particular officer, they have all been courteous and very professional.
SMfisher reply :
got drafted by one to help with the Pulaski County Kids Fishing Day. I see him all the time where I fish so when they started this Kids Fishing Day he gave me a call to help out.
burleytog reply :
I've hunted and fished with a former warden for the last 16 years. He exemplified professionalism. I was sad to see him leave that job. Doing a better job now as a sheriff though.
A good GW is one who enjoys the outdoors as they exhibit a great deal of common sense when dealing with fellow outdoorsmen. There are an ever-increasing number of CPO's who are only there to be in LE, not protect the state's woods and waters.
Sam reply :
Every conservation officer I have met has, as Burley says, has been a great guy or gal.
I was given a Junior Warden sticker when I had everything required by law on my bass boat when my wife and I were checked on Chick Lake. The two conservation officers were very nice, friendly and professional.
These guys are your friends. You treat them nice and they will treat you nice.
You screw with them and you have B-I-G problems.
Remember, in Virginia the conservation officers have more powers than our State Police and county sheriff departments.
What this means is that they can stop your car, boat or ice chest and search it at anytime and anywhere without any need for the same types of causes or search warrants the State Police or county deputies need.
So get a copy of the boating guidelines and equip your boat correctly; watch your speed; don't drink while in the boat; don't run through wake zones; and be a lady or gentleman and you will not have any problems. 
basscrusher reply :
I've had 3 in the last year or so. Can't say I've enjoyed any of them. The 2 more recent ones went smoothly enough, but the one not as recent was bordering on lunacy. I was fishing the pond here in NoVA across from the Westfields Marriott (now closed to public, but not then) when 2 wardens rolled up. I was the only person fishing, and some dude was just walking around the pond sightseeing. One of the wardens asked me for my license, which I produced, then kept badgering me for some special permit since it was "corporate property". I kept telling him I wasn't aware of any permit, and he kept referencing some sign that didn't exist. Finally he hollered and asked his partner if I needed a special permit, and the partner looked at him like he was nuts and just said "no, he doesn't need anything besides his fishign license."
I was off the hook, but boy did they go after that pedestrian. He wasn't holding a rod or anything, but they asked him for his fishign license and he didn't have one. They looked in the bed of his truck and saw some saltwater boat rods and surf rods, then came over to me again and grilled me about whether or not he was fishing. I repeatedly told them that in the 5 or so minutes he had been there he had not produced a rod (and I was telling the truth) but they kept trying to get me to say this guy had been fishing when they rolled up. And the "crazier" of the 2 wardens kept insisting he saw the guy fishign when they pulled up.
Needless to say, I was very happy when they left.
at least this isn't Maryland. A friend of mine got caught in MD without his MD license, and the DNR agent said he'd let him off the hook with a warning (and no $150 fine) if he abandoned all his gear streamside. This friend happened to be an Orvis pro-staffer with over $1000 worth of Orvis fly gear on him. my friend laughed and said he'd take the fine.
dhpol reply :
QuoteI've had 3 in the last year or so. Can't say I've enjoyed any of them. The 2 more recent ones went smoothly enough, but the one not as recent was bordering on lunacy. I was fishing the pond here in NoVA across from the Westfields Marriott (now closed to public, but not then) when 2 wardens rolled up. I was the only person fishing, and some dude was just walking around the pond sightseeing. One of the wardens asked me for my license, which I produced, then kept badgering me for some special permit since it was "corporate property". I kept telling him I wasn't aware of any permit, and he kept referencing some sign that didn't exist. Finally he hollered and asked his partner if I needed a special permit, and the partner looked at him like he was nuts and just said "no, he doesn't need anything besides his fishign license."I was off the hook, but boy did they go after that pedestrian. He wasn't holding a rod or anything, but they asked him for his fishign license and he didn't have one. They looked in the bed of his truck and saw some saltwater boat rods and surf rods, then came over to me again and grilled me about whether or not he was fishing. I repeatedly told them that in the 5 or so minutes he had been there he had not produced a rod (and I was telling the truth) but they kept trying to get me to say this guy had been fishing when they rolled up. And the "crazier" of the 2 wardens kept insisting he saw the guy fishign when they pulled up.
Needless to say, I was very happy when they left.
When was this? and any good encounters?
LHC - Bank Robber reply :
Ive only had 3 encounters 2 went fine, and the gw's were professional. The one time they got me up set, I was fishing and had caught a striper, and for whatever reason decided to keep it. It was the first day of striper season, so they ask me if i know when the season started and what the legal lenght is, to which I replied didnt it start last week and isnt 18inches the limit. Well I guess they didn't like that I was a little off, and gave me some attitude, telling me it was the first day of the season, I was right about the lenght they asked if i had a measuring tape, I didnt but knew the fish was good to keep. Well turns out they didnt have one either, so one hands me his leathermen, which had a 3inch ruler on the outside. I put it to the fish and it was easily 6 times almost 7, meaning the fish was at least 18inches. Well that wasn't good enough they wrote me a ticket and took the fish. I was cursing my self for about half an hour, when the nicer of the two gw returned with my fish and said we measured it at the truck and it was 18inches, it was 20.
mrbassky reply :
Its probably different everywhere but here in Kentucky it seems 1 in 3 are jerks. I think alot of it has to do with the fact you can get a game warden job here with 2 years law enforcement experiance of any kind. So we get the nutty Barney Fife deputys looking for a better job and those cops that are on power trips. As for other Fish and Wildlife employees most have been curteous and very nice. I think if they looked for people with college degrees in Wildlife or something close to it they would have much nicer Game Wardens.
As far as run ins the most interesting is when I ran into a Alabama Game Warden on Guntersville. He pulled his boat next to ours and checked our livewell when he noticed we were bass fishing. He took every fish out and measured each one. We told him we were releasing them all after pictures anyway but I guess that made us more suspicious. All the fish were legal of course. But I was impressed I wish all game wardens did this and he was really nice.
cmatthews6485 reply :
I have only ran into 1 and he was nice he just came up asked for my fishing license and i showed him and then he left
NOVA Angler reply :
I've had a few run ins with Game Wardens the most recent being last year on Beaverdam Creek Resevoir in Ashburn. My buddy and I were out fishing on the resevoir last spring in my gheenoe. My buddy only fishes once or twice a year so he decided to chance it and not buy a license. Sure enough, we got checked and he got a ticket. Otherwise they were really nice guys. We had a 6-pack of beer which they pointed out is another no-no but they just asked us to keep it hidden so nobody else saw it. My buddy offered them one, but as you can imagine they declined.
Red Bear reply :
QuoteI've had a few run ins with Game Wardens the most recent being last year on Beaverdam Creek Resevoir in Ashburn. My buddy and I were out fishing on the resevoir last spring in my gheenoe. My buddy only fishes once or twice a year so he decided to chance it and not buy a license. Sure enough, we got checked and he got a ticket. Otherwise they were really nice guys. We had a 6-pack of beer which they pointed out is another no-no but they just asked us to keep it hidden so nobody else saw it. My buddy offered them one, but as you can imagine they declined.
that is one place i will never fish without a proper license. it has been heavily patrolled by game wardens since the 80s. but back then they didnt care if you had beer at all, in fact my uncle knew one of them he met there who would sit around and get drunk with my uncle. its the only place ive ever fished that ive seen game wardens checking people, i remember my mom getting a ticket there for not having a license on the church side when i was a kid.
back then the place was cleaned up real nice along the banks and i wish it still was. i remember on the church side to the left of the floating dock thats there now used to have a nice clean bottom with a bunch of small rocks/stones/pebbles on the bottom. we used to wade out into that. its a shame that place is so overgrown now, i must get me some sort of watercraft to get out there and fish it. anyways sorry if i went off topic...
JCrzy4Bass reply :
My two cents,
I'm in Woodbridge, Va and fish everything from puddles to lakes to rivers, don't matter to me as long as there is fish.
I've gotten asked twice outside of trout season at Lake Accotink to present my license which is fine because I see people there poaching ALL the time and it gets on my nerves especially when they are good sized bass. Both times they have been professional about it and did the have a nice day sir as they left.
I've also gotten checked with my dad at Burke Lake. This one was kinda rude to be honest, new kid just got named warden type deal on a power trip. Our whole boat passed inspection and we both had a life vest on but because we didn't have a third or a "throw" he said to basically go get one or get off of the lake... seriously? And it's not like he was even nice about it.
Honestly though, I'm glad these guys are out there doing there jobs and wish there were more of em. For anyone who fishes around Bull Run or other places on the rez or even out of Occoquan we all know how many people around here poach and how many don't have valid licenses and litter all over the shoreline. It's actually down right sickening to me.
As bass fishermen we are conservation mindful at all times (or should be) and here we have people disrespecting our waterways by not cleaning up, not taking care of fish properly and taking illegal fish. I hope once the economy turns around they get more of these guys out at places like I mentioned.
Sorry if it turned into a rant.
LoudounFisher reply :
I've never seen any wardens. Beaverdam Reservoir is one of the few places I fish.
That dock there is gone. I think it got blown away during the big storm in December. It ought to be thawed out by now so this next time out there in my kayak I will be searching for it.
Dan: reply :
Got checked by a warden for the first time today (I've been checked by local LE before, but never a warden). Totally professional. They checked our gear and our licenses, asked us if we'd seen any illegal fish traps and then left after a few jokes.
basscrusher reply :
I wish the game wardens would do something about the morons at Burke Lake. last Labor day the mexicanos had the nerve to zoom around with their outboard, and no park employees did anything. They also set up lawn chairs on Vesper Island (illegal) and drank Coronas (also illegal). In all fairness, the wardens probably had the day off (holiday) so the punk kids that worked there should have done something.
burleytog reply :
QuoteI've also gotten checked with my dad at Burke Lake. This one was kinda rude to be honest, new kid just got named warden type deal on a power trip. Our whole boat passed inspection and we both had a life vest on but because we didn't have a third or a "throw" he said to basically go get one or get off of the lake... seriously? And it's not like he was even nice about it.
It's the law. Be glad he didn't write you a ticket. You didn't have a leg to stand on.
burleytog reply :
QuoteIn all fairness, the wardens probably had the day off (holiday) so the punk kids that worked there should have done something.
CPO's rarely have a holiday off, especially during the summer. Two of the CPO's I know/knew would hit 3-4 lakes on every holiday.
ChazfromVA reply :
had several run-ins with VA game wardens. Most involved hunting and for the most part they were as courteous as can be. One incident involved some dog hunting . I shot a deer on a property line and some guy who was still-hunting went crazy on me and said i was poaching and stuff.. heck i was 12 and i didn't know the word poaching ! but the guy continued and ended up calling the warden. Heres the best part... when the warden showed he saw how crazy this guy was and how bad he was treating a 12 year old that he called the suffolk police and they came and took the guy to jail for harassment! i couldn't have lauged any harder!!!!!
Dan: reply :
QuoteQuoteI've also gotten checked with my dad at Burke Lake. This one was kinda rude to be honest, new kid just got named warden type deal on a power trip. Our whole boat passed inspection and we both had a life vest on but because we didn't have a third or a "throw" he said to basically go get one or get off of the lake... seriously? And it's not like he was even nice about it.
It's the law. Be glad he didn't write you a ticket. You didn't have a leg to stand on.
I was trying to remember the regulation for that today. If the vessel is over 16' you need a throw, correct?
NOVA Angler reply :
QuoteQuoteI've also gotten checked with my dad at Burke Lake. This one was kinda rude to be honest, new kid just got named warden type deal on a power trip. Our whole boat passed inspection and we both had a life vest on but because we didn't have a third or a "throw" he said to basically go get one or get off of the lake... seriously? And it's not like he was even nice about it.
It's the law. Be glad he didn't write you a ticket. You didn't have a leg to stand on.
I agree with Burley. You're lucky you didn't get a ticket. I'm not saying I agree with the law, but that's another story...
Red Bear reply :
QuoteI've never seen any wardens. Beaverdam Reservoir is one of the few places I fish.That dock there is gone. I think it got blown away during the big storm in December. It ought to be thawed out by now so this next time out there in my kayak I will be searching for it.
haha, i know it was there this past summer and it was chained down. it wasnt very good anyways. that dock was probably more of a hazard than anything, it wasnt very stable. im surprised you havent ever seen a warden out there though
Dan: reply :
that dock really was sketchy.
burleytog reply :
QuoteQuoteQuoteI've also gotten checked with my dad at Burke Lake. This one was kinda rude to be honest, new kid just got named warden type deal on a power trip. Our whole boat passed inspection and we both had a life vest on but because we didn't have a third or a "throw" he said to basically go get one or get off of the lake... seriously? And it's not like he was even nice about it.
It's the law. Be glad he didn't write you a ticket. You didn't have a leg to stand on.
I was trying to remember the regulation for that today. If the vessel is over 16' you need a throw, correct?
There are very few exceptions. I know of tickets being given to boat owners who's boat was 12'-14'.
The Type IV (throwable PFD) must be immediately available (i.e. lying on top of a seat, not stowed in a compartment).
Carrington reply :
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteI've also gotten checked with my dad at Burke Lake. This one was kinda rude to be honest, new kid just got named warden type deal on a power trip. Our whole boat passed inspection and we both had a life vest on but because we didn't have a third or a "throw" he said to basically go get one or get off of the lake... seriously? And it's not like he was even nice about it.
It's the law. Be glad he didn't write you a ticket. You didn't have a leg to stand on.
I was trying to remember the regulation for that today. If the vessel is over 16' you need a throw, correct?
There are very few exceptions. I know of tickets being given to boat owners who's boat was 12'-14'.
The Type IV (throwable PFD) must be immediately available (i.e. lying on top of a seat, not stowed in a compartment).
This is correct, i currently store mine underneath the console and its an ok place to have it only because most wardens will let you go but some will say its not immidiately available even though it is. also some of the wardens will try and pull stupid stuff on you and either tell you that you have to have it strung to something and this is 100% wrong. if they say this to you just take your ticket and goto court and show them the exact rule to the judge saying that it dosnt. just trying to help from my own experiences.
preach4bass reply :
I grew up in Virginia, and only got checked by the GW once while fishing. It was the day before my High School graduation and I took a foreign exchange student fishing for the first time. The GW approached us and asked to see our licenses. I showed him my license, but my friend just sat there and gave the GW a blank look. When the GW found out she didn't have a license, he started to write her a ticket, but I explained that she would be leaving the country the next day. He put his ticket book away, laughed about it, and told us to keep fishing and enjoy ourselves.
burleytog reply :
I had never had my license checked until 2006. I guess I never fit the bill.
Friend and I were out on the lake, I see a certain brand of boat go by in the main channel. Having just spent the previous weekend fishing with one of the local GW's and talking about their patrol boats, I instantly knew it was them. I think he may have recognized us and decided to chat.
That would have been fine had there not been another GW in the boat with him. So we had to show our licenses. Had I known the demeanor of the other GW, I probably would have thrown a fit about how I didn't need a license.
I've been fishing for 28 years (needed a license for 17 of those years) and I've only had my license checked twice. The above incident and once on another lake last summer. Hell, there were a few times when my friend was patrolling that I would offer my license and he wouldn't even check it.
Wayne P. reply :
I met two Conservation Police yesterday while fishing at Briery Creek Lake. Both were friendly and courteous.
I thanked them for taking care of the lake and it's users.
MountaineerLegion reply :
I've had numerous encounters with wardens in VA. Each and every one was polite and professional.
My first experience was hunting geese. It was the early goose season and this was about my second hunting trip ever. I didn't own a single piece of hunting clothing. We were hunting in shorts, flip flops, and t-shirts. We were in an old run down blind that is never grassed up or used (there are no blind licenses west of I95). Anyway, I'm talking with the guy who is kinda showing me the hunting ropes when "poof" a warden was standing in the door to the blind. I was amazed how he materialized out of nowhere. So he checks our licenses, checks to make sure we're shooting steel and checks to make sure our guns only hold three shells. We checked out fine and the guy laughs and said, "I was certain you two were up to no good, you just didn't look like hunters...I guess you never know". He chats with us for a few minutes and told us to enjoy our hunt. Nice guy.
Second time I was hunting wood ducks with a friend. I got my limit but my friend was one short. He had knocked a bird down but we couldn't find it. After dragging our canoe back to the truck he heard a bird back on the beaver pond. Not one to end a day short a bird if he could help it he said he was going to walk back the 100 yds to the pond and try to jump shoot it. He took about four steps into the woods and BANG. I thought he just wanted to say he missed and avoid the walk all the way back to the pond. About 15 seconds later he walks out of the woods holding a flapping wood duck. I almost fell off the tailgate of the truck I was laughing so hard. He had stumbled across the bird he had knocked down. Anyhow, a game warden walks up and wants to know whats so funny. We told him the story and he laughs and says he figured the way we were whooping it up that we must have been drunk and were surely way back here in the woods taking more than our limit. He checks us out and again everything is fine. He hung around and told stories with us for about twenty minutes and told us to have a good day. Again a nice guy.
Adding to those encounters, I have to attend a special briefing every year because I hunt in secure areas on a military base. There is a warden there every year. He always takes time after the meeting to talk with anyone who wants to talk. Since he is out in the field all the time he routinely tells me where he's been seeing birds and he's not blowing smoke...I've taken his advice several times and found birds.
whoopbazz reply :
This is from Cayuga Lake in NY.
We are fishing a tourney it turns out to be around noon or so. Quitting time is 2. Anyhow, up pulls the fish warden and sheriff...they share boats up there. The warden does the safety insp. No probs. Now he wants to check me personally. Lic. is good (this was a non resident seasonal). Now he says how many fish you got? I told him a limit. And your still fishing???!!!! he screamed. I told him a tourney limit is 1 less than the state limit...I posess 5, am allowed by state law 6 . Now he says, hand them over into my boat so I can check them for length. I looked over the boat into the water and said NO WAY! He looked at me really ticked and said what? I told him last year I lost a tourney cause I pulled a fish out to re-dink, and he flopped out of the boat...I lossed by 2 oz. I told him you wanna dink them you crawl in here and dink them ON THE FLOOR! He said, just open the lid so I can, look in. He looked in, he said fish. I told him the smallest one was 14 1/2. He agreed. Now on to the guy in the front of the boat, Tom.
Now 10 minutes has passed that we haven't been fishing, and I'm getting irked. I can win this thing with one more good bite.
I said to the warden, can't you leave us alone we are good honest tournament fishermen, we can't cheat or we would be DQed. By this time he has Tom's lic out. He bought a 2 day non resident. He never filled out the days it was good for! I'm like you gotta be kinding me (his idea was to not fill it out and maybe sneak it for the next weekend). Turns out that it is not the buyers responsiblity to fill it out, but the sellers. So we get off with nothing. The warden took down all the info from the lic.
Now here's the kicker. The next year Tom goes to the same store to buy his lic. Turns out the Fish and Game pulled his permit to sell. The owner says last year I let some guy fill out his own dates on a 2 day lic. and he left them blank. I lost my permit and got find. If I ever see that SOB again I'll kill him.
Exit Tom in a hurry!
By the way I won that tourney.
;D ;D
Coonedawg reply :
This is from South Carolina.
Me and a buddy were fishing a small state-run lake and on our way to the ramp one afternoon we were flagged down by two game wardens on the bank. On our way over there, we recognize who they were. One of them is a good buddy of ours, who happens to be a neighbor of mine, while the other is a peckerhead with an attitude problem. Well the good game warden knew our boat and lisc. would all check out and be in order, but the peckerhead wanted to check us, so we obliged. Well everything was in order until he asked for our whistle. In SC, every boat must have a boat horn or a whistle. Our whistle was stuck between the the side of the boat and another piece of metal on the boat. He said if we couldnt produce an accessible whistle then we could get fined. After that my buddy nonchallantly put his lips together and started whistling. Me and the nicer game warden almost keeled over from laughing so hard. The peckerhead warden went and sat in the truck after that, while we chatted with the nicer game warden. It still brings a smile to my face everytime I think about it.
Bountyhunter reply :
I grew up across the street from, and was practically raised by a Chief Conservation Officer. Long retired now. If I had a nickle for every story, and every lesson passed on by this man....
He's a long time, champion Turkey caller, and sitting around listining to the turkey tales, and listening to him call on the back porch is still one of my favorite things. He's getting old now, losing his memory a bit, gets winded easy and his legs arent what they used to be. I took him to the woods today, looking and listening for ole tom, and you could see him light up. I was a little worried about getting him off in the woods, but he nearly walked me to death. We spent two hours wandering around and I broke a sweat. He was listening and looking for sign, and getting excited about fresh tracks, it was cool. I'm taking him back next week (season opens Monday, whoo hoo) and see if we can bag him. He told me today that he wants to call one more to him, and I hope I'm there when he does. This man dedicated his entire life to conservation and protecting our wildlife, as well as our rights to get out and enjoy it like it was meant to be. God Bless him and those like him.
1inStripes reply :
QuoteI had never had my license checked until 2006. I guess I never fit the bill.Friend and I were out on the lake, I see a certain brand of boat go by in the main channel. Having just spent the previous weekend fishing with one of the local GW's and talking about their patrol boats, I instantly knew it was them. I think he may have recognized us and decided to chat.
That would have been fine had there not been another GW in the boat with him. So we had to show our licenses. Had I known the demeanor of the other GW, I probably would have thrown a fit about how I didn't need a license.
I've been fishing for 28 years (needed a license for 17 of those years) and I've only had my license checked twice. The above incident and once on another lake last summer. Hell, there were a few times when my friend was patrolling that I would offer my license and he wouldn't even check it.
He checked my license once right before I started dating my wife. After that he would just spook me while trout fishing. I've never been checked while hunting and only that one time while fishing.
David Russell reply :
Bountyhunter - That is awesome!
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