So I had an unusual run in with a game warden in CO last year. I was in Idaho hunting then met up with a buddy in Colorado to help him with his hunt. I was the caller and he was the hunter, but I did have my bow in the back of my truck. We were hunting out of our truck and walking in a few miles every morning and night. My bow stayed in its case and my buddy packed his in his case every night we came back. We came back one night and were getting some meals ready to only be approached by a game warden. He came and asked for both of our license, I explained to him that I had been hunting in Idaho earlier and don?t have a Colorado tag, only my buddy did. He continued to drill me and ask why I had my bow in the back of my truck (it was in its case) and assumed that I had been hunting in Colorado. We went back and forth for awhile and he ended up having me put it in the cab of my truck. He explained to me that it?s a judgement call on their part. I?m happy that we came to an agreement but has anyone else had this happen? I mean there have been multiple times where I?ve brought two bows on my trips with two people and one person with a tag (the backup bow always stays in its case).. Sometimes I bring two just Incase something happens to my bow. I?ve tried to look more into this but can?t find much on it. Just want to see if anyone else had something similar to this
two bows, two people, one tag
- Thread starter colesmall
- Start date
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,332
I wouldn't be too worried. He can call it a judgment call all he wants to, but unless he saw you walking through the woods with the bow, there is now way he could do anything about it. I've actually heard of guys carrying their rifle after filling a rifle elk tag so they could hunt coyotes. That one would be a little more difficult to argue, but I believe the guy who did it didn't end up getting in trouble.
Odd.
I know people that bring a spare bow.
I think if I was game warden suspecting what he was, I would have stage you out and seen if you had the bow with you while out looking for elk.
In your shoes, I would alo\do have my bow for plinking and practicing at camp.
I know people that bring a spare bow.
I think if I was game warden suspecting what he was, I would have stage you out and seen if you had the bow with you while out looking for elk.
In your shoes, I would alo\do have my bow for plinking and practicing at camp.
You would be surprised how many guilty people would fold under a little pressure. He was just doing his job. If he really thought you were hunting without a tag, he probably would have played it cool and left. Then slip back later and try and catch you. The wardens are spread thin and busy. It was only slightly suspicious so he gave it a little try and moved on.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,332
cnelk said:
Good advise Brad.
I have been "drilled" by a warden before and it does make one uncomfortable. I've also had pleasant interactions with wardens. Some who have became friends. That said, it is a tough and sometimes dangerous job. And it is a judgement call. Called circumstantial evidence. There's not always eyewitness evidence or a smoking gun (dead animal). It sounds like it played out like it should. I've wondered what I would do if I tagged out and wanted to "call" for a buddy but not leave a $1500.00 bow in the truck or camp? Maybe leave the arrows and release in the truck?I guess that's why it is a judgement call and we trust the wardens to make the right call in the end.
Not to change the subject too much but, according to the Idaho DFG;
Definition of Hunting, Hunting means chasing, driving, flushing, attracting, pursuing, worrying, following or on the trail of, shooting at, stalking, or lying in wait for any wildlife whether or not such wildlife is then/or subsequently captured, killed, taken or wounded.
Now wouldn't "calling" be attracting? I guess that would be a "judgement" call. I know, I know, I don't see it as hunting but it technically could be called that.
Not to change the subject too much but, according to the Idaho DFG;
Definition of Hunting, Hunting means chasing, driving, flushing, attracting, pursuing, worrying, following or on the trail of, shooting at, stalking, or lying in wait for any wildlife whether or not such wildlife is then/or subsequently captured, killed, taken or wounded.
Now wouldn't "calling" be attracting? I guess that would be a "judgement" call. I know, I know, I don't see it as hunting but it technically could be called that.
Almost 30 yrs ago, we were elk hunting the old 3rd season in November. The snow was deep and it was cold.
One evening, we were sitting around the wall tent eating some elk stew we had made with some fresh elk meat we got.
Then someone outside said 'Hello the tent!'
In came this guy who was dressed as a hunter, orange and had a rifle. He asked if the Forest Rd was 'such and such', and I said no its 'this'. He said his truck was parked up at the top and was a little turned around
We invited him to sit down and have a bowl of stew and we'd give him a ride to his truck
So, after we ate, me and a buddy and this guy jumped in my truck and drove up the rode a couple miles. The road was snowy and we were talking about the elk we were killing.
We were nearing the top when the guy said, 'Stop here I can walk the rest of the way"
I said 'Nah, we'll take you up there'
Well, in a little bit, we came around the corner and here was a DOW truck parked....
He confessed he was a GW and said we were hunting the way the DOW wants hunters to do it - shooting elk, having a good time, being legal.
He is now the NE Region Manager and I saw him at a banquet last year and I talked to him about that time and he remembered it and laughed.
He still says he was turned around while hunting, I say he was undercover
One evening, we were sitting around the wall tent eating some elk stew we had made with some fresh elk meat we got.
Then someone outside said 'Hello the tent!'
In came this guy who was dressed as a hunter, orange and had a rifle. He asked if the Forest Rd was 'such and such', and I said no its 'this'. He said his truck was parked up at the top and was a little turned around
We invited him to sit down and have a bowl of stew and we'd give him a ride to his truck
So, after we ate, me and a buddy and this guy jumped in my truck and drove up the rode a couple miles. The road was snowy and we were talking about the elk we were killing.
We were nearing the top when the guy said, 'Stop here I can walk the rest of the way"
I said 'Nah, we'll take you up there'
Well, in a little bit, we came around the corner and here was a DOW truck parked....
He confessed he was a GW and said we were hunting the way the DOW wants hunters to do it - shooting elk, having a good time, being legal.
He is now the NE Region Manager and I saw him at a banquet last year and I talked to him about that time and he remembered it and laughed.
He still says he was turned around while hunting, I say he was undercover
That's a great story! My buddy, who I knew before he became a warden, used to put a flannel shirt over his uniform and fish out of his boat until he had moved close enough to the next boat before revealing he was a warden and checking licenses. I have hunted with him numerous times and even camped out in his front yard.
Old Homer had a reputation of always getting more fish than anyone else. The local warden was suspicious of him and decided to check up on him one day. He went undercover and ask Homer if he would take him fishing.
The next morning they got in the boat and rowed out in the middle of the lake. Then Homer reached in his tackle box, got out a stick of dynamite, lite the fuse and tossed it in the water. That is when the warden flashed his badge and proceeded to arrest Homer. Now old Homer was no fool. He handed the warden a stick of dynamite and lite the fuse. Then he calmly said, " You gonna talk or are you gonna fish "!!!!!!!
The next morning they got in the boat and rowed out in the middle of the lake. Then Homer reached in his tackle box, got out a stick of dynamite, lite the fuse and tossed it in the water. That is when the warden flashed his badge and proceeded to arrest Homer. Now old Homer was no fool. He handed the warden a stick of dynamite and lite the fuse. Then he calmly said, " You gonna talk or are you gonna fish "!!!!!!!
