I found this interesting on Game wardens

[Greg Massey]

Game Warden told me one time there is no ignorance for the game laws and a judge will back him up...

I didn't argue

[Tail Feathers]

Game Warden told me one time there is no ignorance for the game laws and a judge will back him up...

I didn't argue

Used to be true.  Now you need two volumes of books to keep up with game laws, not so much true anymore.
Thankfully turkey regulations themselves are pretty much straightforward in most places.  But access rules can be a bear to decipher.

[aclawrence]

I've only had just a few encounters with game wardens. It's seems like my local wardens in Alabama are pretty cool. My hunting license is currently suspended because I made a mistake two seasons ago in TN. I got confused on the dates and game checked a bird two days after the season was over. I looked at the previous years date. I realized my mistake and called left two messages explaining what I did. Never heard back anything so I assumed I was ok but a new lady game warden moved into the county I game checked in and decided to throw the book at me right before turkey season started. About 10 months after my accident. I was wrong and made a mistake but she would not reason with me at all. Obviously I wasn't trying to poach a turkey but she didn't care.


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[eggshell]

I've only had just a few encounters with game wardens. It's seems like my local wardens in Alabama are pretty cool. My hunting license is currently suspended because I made a mistake two seasons ago in TN. I got confused on the dates and game checked a bird two days after the season was over. I looked at the previous years date. I realized my mistake and called left two messages explaining what I did. Never heard back anything so I assumed I was ok but a new lady game warden moved into the county I game checked in and decided to throw the book at me right before turkey season started. About 10 months after my accident. I was wrong and made a mistake but she would not reason with me at all. Obviously I wasn't trying to poach a turkey but she didn't care.


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The new generation seem to be the ones that cause the most ruckus and problems. You did deserve a ticket but self reporting should have gotten you some form of leniency. When I ran a check station we had people self report a few times and the old veteran officer in our county always downgraded the ticket because, they self reported. I feel bad for you, doing the right thing. Call me a bum, but I don't think I would ever self report just because I've heard this story more then once. I am a law abiding hunter, but we all make mistakes. I think I'm keeping mine to myself. 

[aclawrence]

I've only had just a few encounters with game wardens. It's seems like my local wardens in Alabama are pretty cool. My hunting license is currently suspended because I made a mistake two seasons ago in TN. I got confused on the dates and game checked a bird two days after the season was over. I looked at the previous years date. I realized my mistake and called left two messages explaining what I did. Never heard back anything so I assumed I was ok but a new lady game warden moved into the county I game checked in and decided to throw the book at me right before turkey season started. About 10 months after my accident. I was wrong and made a mistake but she would not reason with me at all. Obviously I wasn't trying to poach a turkey but she didn't care.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The new generation seem to be the ones that cause the most ruckus and problems. You did deserve a ticket but self reporting should have gotten you some form of leniency. When I ran a check station we had people self report a few times and the old veteran officer in our county always downgraded the ticket because, they self reported. I feel bad for you, doing the right thing. Call me a bum, but I don't think I would ever self report just because I've heard this story more then once. I am a law abiding hunter, but we all make mistakes. I think I'm keeping mine to myself.

Yes it was on private and I could have tossed it in my truck and no one would have ever known the difference. I game checked it to help out with the data collection and follow the rules lol. I talked to a few other wardens and they all said they never write someone a ticket for something like this when they self report. Especially since I game checked it. They said they would give me a warning and encourage to double check the dates. Instead I got a ticket which I did break the rules but I was pretty upset she suspended my license for six months. Live and learn


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[GobbleNut]

I've only had just a few encounters with game wardens. It's seems like my local wardens in Alabama are pretty cool. My hunting license is currently suspended because I made a mistake two seasons ago in TN. I got confused on the dates and game checked a bird two days after the season was over. I looked at the previous years date. I realized my mistake and called left two messages explaining what I did. Never heard back anything so I assumed I was ok but a new lady game warden moved into the county I game checked in and decided to throw the book at me right before turkey season started. About 10 months after my accident. I was wrong and made a mistake but she would not reason with me at all. Obviously I wasn't trying to poach a turkey but she didn't care.

The new generation seem to be the ones that cause the most ruckus and problems. You did deserve a ticket but self reporting should have gotten you some form of leniency. When I ran a check station we had people self report a few times and the old veteran officer in our county always downgraded the ticket because, they self reported. I feel bad for you, doing the right thing. Call me a bum, but I don't think I would ever self report just because I've heard this story more then once. I am a law abiding hunter, but we all make mistakes. I think I'm keeping mine to myself.

Yes it was on private and I could have tossed it in my truck and no one would have ever known the difference. I game checked it to help out with the data collection and follow the rules lol. I talked to a few other wardens and they all said they never write someone a ticket for something like this when they self report. Especially since I game checked it. They said they would give me a warning and encourage to double check the dates. Instead I got a ticket which I did break the rules but I was pretty upset she suspended my license for six months. Live and learn

I would have appealed your situation to a higher authority, AC. What happened to you was unjust and uncalled for. Not only was the punishment you received unfair to you, but that warden has now created a climate where hunters that make mistakes in the field who would normally self-report accidental violations will now be inclined to (as eggshell suggests) keep them to themselves, as well as distrust wildlife authorities. That distrust is not good for either wildlife managers or sportsmen.

Another thing: In recent years, around here at least, we have witnessed an increasing number of incoming wildlife managers and personnel in our agencies that are non-hunters...or worse yet, are actually against hunting. I would not doubt that the woman that threw the book at you probably fell into that class. Again, I would have taken what happened to you up the chain of command.

At a minimum, I would have contacted the Director of your G&F/DNR agency and explained what happened...and make it clear that such actions by the agency wardens only results in negative consequences over time. I would bet that he/she would not be happy with that warden and would hopefully take action to rectify things. Regardless, I would certainly not have let your outcome rest without raising a considerable fuss over it.