[Buster]

The law is gray regarding scouting. Personally, I don’t run my dog before the season due to the illegality and the snake risk. The law is clear, but our major problem is lack of enforcement with not enough game wardens. The state has now paid for social media ads to try and recruit people willing to do the job at the poor wage that is offered here. People will continue to exploit the land and its resources until the state can enforce the existing laws on the books.

 

[lynn1130]

The poor wage is across the board in this country. My major in college was wildlife management and I then found that I would make less with a master’s than what I was making at a job that I was working while going to school. Those are very dedicated people doing that work. They have to be because they are not in it for the money.

 

[Buster]

It’s tough to be dedicated to a career nowadays with a salary starting ~42k and most openings are in remote areas. Especially when that same level of education will get someone in a lot better money in other fields.

 

[Ramspeed]

Cool job thou...always regrets not doing or following my dream of being a game warden. Come to find out I liked fast cars and fast women. LOL.

 

[Buster]

Being a game warden or game ranger, as they are called here, would take all the fun out of hunting and fishing in one’s leisure.

 

[lynn1130]

Being a game warden or game ranger, as they are called here, would take all the fun out of hunting and fishing in one's leisure.

Many that I know or talk with are hunters and enjoy it.

 

[Buster]

Many that I know or talk with are hunters and enjoy it.

I'm sure there's some that do, but I've been stopped three times this year and all of them said they didn't hunt. One young rookie and two older guys that said they used to.

 

[lynn1130]

I'm sure and with the millennia's in the work force there is a change in mindset about most everything that we believe in. I have been out of the workforce for 20 years now but my daughter's and son-in-law say there is just a totally different way of thinking with the younger group. They do not value or believe in what we do.

 

[HammerGuy]

I'm sure there's some that do, but I've been stopped three times this years and all of them said they didn't hunt. One young rookie and two older guys that said they used to.

3 times this year?
Must be because Klaus looks so suspicious.
I haven't been checked 3 times and I've lived in AZ for nearly 3 decades.

 

[Buster]

Things are definitely changing. I don't want to birdwalk this thread, so I would hope our visiting sportsman treat our resources with respect. Nobody follows every letter of the law (e.g. speed limits), but I hope people consider that these are shared resources. @HammerGuy this has been the most I've been stopped in a season, but I do get around! Once dove hunting and twice duck hunting.

 

[lynn1130]

The difference to keep in mind with breaking G&F laws is that they are there to protect a resource that is not always renewable. Most game management people have that in mind when enforcing so you might get a warning for speeding where you might get a citation, lose your gun, hunting privileges and pay a fine for the violation plus a fine for the animal that was killed.

I know that this turned into more than the title says but it is related to bird hunting so I guess we are close

 

[bearfoot1]

Sorta Close ????

Coming from and working with this department, most of the Field Personnel like their job, wouldn't trade it for a desk job for anything. The state retirement pension is part of why they stick with it, Back in my days, the old friends I had are now retired and enjoying it immensely. No shortage of funds so to speak. To each his own. Been stopped a few times, start talking shop, and they forget why they stopped you unless your being an ASS. , These are our brothers in the field, they do take their job seriously, but are all sportsman or woman doing a job in the field. .

 

[Buster]

I always talk shop with them and have interesting conversations

 

[Ramspeed]

Being a game warden or game ranger, as they are called here, would take all the fun out of hunting and fishing in one's leisure.

Game wardens know where the big bucks are in WA. If they like you they will point you in the right direction. Show them respect it goes a long ways up there, Maybe even here....

 

[Bobby]

Thanks for all the input. We'll be there in a week or so and finish out the season. The pack is itching to run, haven't been on the ground since Mid November.