....do you encounter a Game Warden, Conservation Officer or whatever they happen to be called in your neck of the woods ?

It's been over twenty years since I've been asked for my license here in New Jersey. Last year in the Poconos in Pa. they were on the lake a lot during the week I was there. I have the $90 summons to prove it. I had a non resident license. The boat I was using, which came with the rental house, was not registered. I would have been fine had I used the oars for propulsion. The minute I mounted a trolling motor, a registration was required. It was noted as such in the last page of the house rules. Obviously I didn't read the rules

Anyway, maybe it's because I fish the little out of the way places and not the state areas that I don't see them. Also, the ratio of wardens to the area they have to cover is huge here. Or maybe it's that they see me but I don't see them (binoculars ?)

Other than the summons, that's been about it for me. He wasn't a d*ck about it either. Very professional.

How about you ?

In 28 years of fishing, I have only encountered one game warden and that was over 25 years ago.

On average, less than once a year. In fact, I think I've been carded the last couple times by Sheriffs, rather than Wardens.

Peace,

Fish

Twice in 40 years. Most recently about 15 years ago! The "nanny" state I live in spreads law enforcement to it's extremes. Their solution is to put the law abiding citizens in jail and free the criminals. Then, tax us to the hilt. I'm looking at moving to Texas myself!

I think the DNR has more pencils pushers nowdays then actual GUNG HO out to get ya wardens KINDA SAD i wish there were more ,I fish a area on the patuxent river right out from there headquarters and only got checked once in 2 yrs

I think the DNR has more pencils pushers nowdays then actual GUNG HO out to get ya wardens KINDA SAD i wish there were more ,I fish a area on the patuxent river right out from there headquarters and only got checked once in 2 yrs

Yeah, it is sad. I just got back from a local spot. There were a total of 8 other fishermen there during the course of my stay. I did not see a visible license on ANY of them > Kinda makes me wonder.

Once a year...Usually in mid-summer.I just show him my license and he says "Thank you,good day,sir".I won't see them again till next year... :-/

Maybe five or six times in my life.

Never. None of my family/close friends have ever been carded either.  

Maybe a sign I need to get out and fish more!  

When a certain DNR guy whose name rhymes with MORAN, every time I went fishing in the last 3 years, a couple of times twice in the same day. He would stand on the shore and bellow COME TO THE SOUND OF MY VOICE

Havent yet to meet his replacement

Depends on the lake around here.

Rayburn   Once every 3-5 years

Toledo      Never

Conroe      Every year or two

Nacogdoches   Nearly every trip. City owns the rights and patrol it like city streets. GW and local cops are always out there.

only once, in about 16 yrs.......

Not at all last year, twice so far this year.

Twice in over 45 years.  Once while on the water in the U.S. and once while in Canadian water.

But, as an afterthought, several times in Indian Reservation waters by Indian Wardens where a permit was required to fish in those areas (Lake St. Clair and Florida).

once or twice a year, the DNR guys out by my neck of the woods seem to have a pretty good memory.  They seem to card me once at the begining of the year, and then ignore me, or just ask whats biting.  Good bunch of guys and gals patrolling western dupage.

Between hunting and fishing usually 3 or 4 times a year sometimes more.

Been out 4 times so far this year, been carded twice here in the finger lake region of NY

3 times this year.

I mostly see the game and Fish biologists out and about on the lake, asking what luck we had, size, condition and where. ( These guys are also good for tips as to where the bass are hitting good).

We have a Game Warden at the ramps every tournament, but usually busting on the airboaters for violations.

Over 20yrs of fishing and no encounters with one! Heck, i don't even know how ones uniform looks!!! I NEVER see them anywhere, big lakes nor small ones!

Deer hunting and fishing in Southwest Georgia, I have seen Game Wardens in the woods and on the water, but never been ask for to show anything.  At Deer Camp, the Game Warden ask he could put his bees in and near our camp site.  We gave him our names and he said to give our wives his phone number to call during deer season if a emergency came up.   2 years later,  one did, and he came to our camp site to get one of the husbands.  Yes, he came to eat super and share stories/lies a few times for 3-4 years.

The same can be said for the Federal Game wardens on Fort Benning.

On the water, the game wardens seem to be more interested in safe boating, not those fishing.

Hunting in the South, very rarely and usually only on opening day. In Colorado my group was checked almost every outing because the Wildlife Officers had prior problems with clubs sharing licenses.

On the Tennessee River the TWRA is very active near the dam where we fish. However, we have gotten to know the officers and they usually just come by to chat. Occasionally, the regulars get a new "boss in training" and we have to go through the whole deal,

but that's fine.

Overall, I would like to see a greater presence.

8-)

In NC you don't need a license to hunt on your own land; you just need a big game report card. As far as fishing, I usually only fish farm ponds and the river I live on. I've never been checked by a game warden.

Funny but I just was stopped this past weekend, in the middle of a frenzy of good size bass. I couldn't find my whistle but they let me slide with a warning. That was the first time in over 6 years I have been stopped.

Twice in the 28 years I've needed a license.I also wish they would check everybody more often.

It's a lake issue where I fish. Lakes that have planted trout seem to  have wardens checking for fishing license.

WRB