I usually have positive interactions with our local wardens. On the contrary, I have some buddy’s in Canada who get checked regularly while moose hunting and even fishing. They get checked by the same couple wardens and are asked the same questions several times and even separated at times. I had a group of duck hunting buddies in the states that say this has happened to them while duck hunting. Same questions over and over while separated. Both cases are during prime hunting/fishing hours and on the moose deal, several times in same season.

My question is, does anyone know how long you have to stand there being interrogated? When/can this turn into impending your right to hunt/fish?

Stop times can vary widely. There is no set time limit.

If the officer can articulate reasonable suspicion of a crime then a lengthier time would be warranted...

Btw...this is referring to a traffic stop, but GW conpliance checks will fall into this broader category...

They're trying to trip you up , multiple questions to see if there's a difference in answers, even slightly, and you're separated to see if there's any collusion with fellow hunters, cause everyone is guilty!, if only they look hard enough.....

I found that if you talk endlessly about nothing you will only have that issue ounce, the next time they will wave and drive by unless they have serious business. That was from my younger days now it’s just good chat time and catching up.

I had some buddies that were ice fishing on some back slough on the Mississippi. The warden stop and checked them 3 days In row. On the third check one of the guys said you check us tomorrow and there will be 4 of us leaving and you won't be the one leaving. Never saw him again.

Darrel always stops to chat when I see him in the Bush.
Get along great with all the Game wardens,always have.
Even got a couple tickets over the years,no biggie,they have a job to do-same as a cop giving you a speeding ticket.
One warden here had a bad reputation as to going out of his way to catch miscreants.
One day I seen him up north at the end of the road system with his skidoo,a sleigh and about 6 5 gallon gas cans and some overnight equipment.
I asked him where he was going,he said he heard some guys from Quebec were illegally using some fly in outpost camps on several remote lakes and fishing.
From where he was he had about a 70 mile skidoo trek thru the bush.I later read about the bust-he caught them all by himself,lol
That same warden helped me get my first RTL.

Yeah we were on the Mississippi backwaters one time and got drilled by a warden after he sat undetected 40 yards away for a half hour watching us eat lunch.This was my buddies first time out deer hunting for the year and the warden asked him 5 times how many deer he shot this season-unbelievable I think he’s the head warden educator now.

Thanks SW.

gcs,

I know what they are doing, just wondering how long they can legally do it.

LW

That was my go to also!

It just seems like standing there wasting the last hour of shooting/fishing light answering the same questions is wrong. Especially if the probable cause was to check license and that part is done. You should be able to say "well, we're going to get back at it, have a good day" and walk away.

Why not ask for your license back and say your done answering questions?

Yup, that’s the question. Why not? What can happen? When is it legal to walk away.

I know our regs say it is unlawful not to show your license when asked by an officer, but doesn’t say how long you have to hang around after.

It sounds like I may be in the minority but I have NEVER had a negative experience with a CO. They have all been polite and doing the job they are being paid to do. I did have one scare the snot out of me in the dark one time out on the ice but I understand why he did it.

That’s largely been my experience too.

Same here.

You don't have to be an arse to a GW, but you also don't have to stand there (after the initial compliance check) and chat unless the GW has suspicion of a violation. Simply ask him if he is investigating a violation. If he says no...then just advise him/her that you'd like to go back hunting.

Someone being a rude arse to me, for no reason, would almost guarantee a return visit and/or a closer look at the area. If I'm not rude to the sportsman then the sportsman shouldn't be rude to me. I always tried to treat people like I would want to be treated.

The person that said to me what Danny Clifton says above always flipped a switch for me...and made me wonder wth!!

Thanks Boco. It's always good to hear of sportsmen's cooperation and support for our GWs.

Once again, my over all experience is positive with CO's, and I've had a lot of interaction with them. But this deal in Canada year after year, same wardens, no tickets. Just seems like harassment to me.

Just have one question. How can a game warden just walk up to you while hunting and ask to see your license. I have no problem with it but don't he have to have a probable cause to stop you. A cop can not just stop you for driving down the road.

If they took the money out of it, they wouldn't even do it .

Looking to right tickets, job justification.

Call them to put a wounded elk/deer down they will look into it.

Just my Montana experience's with them

Game Wardens are different. Regular law enforcement needs reasonable suspicion or probable cause to interact with you. Game wardens do not. They can check for compliance anytime. 'Check you creel' is the legal verbiage they use.
Read your states game laws, you give your 'implied consent' when you voluntarily purchase a hunting or fishing license. If you're engaged in hunting or fishing activities, they can check your creel at any time.

This^^^ is not the case in Georgia. ALL fines goes to county in which the citation was issued. The state gets NONE of the $$. Must be different in Montana. Here in Georgia, ALL state officers turn all citations in to the county courts where they were wrote for disposition. That county sets the fines and collects all the money.