Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Game Warden Heavy Handed or Plain Wrong?

My son was holding his salmon yesterday while it bled out, and the warden wrote him up because he had not filled out his punch card yet.

My son is law abiding, he had already put 3 fish on his 5 fish punch card. He had it filled out as far as marking yesterday as a day he was fishing. He was actually looking for his pen when this warden walked up.

We did fill out a citizens complaint against this warden, but I suspect this is going to be typical American injustice. the Judge will listen to him and then give him the maximum fine. The warden will be told by his supervisors that he must be doing something right because the citizens are complaining about him.

What the hell has happened to this country anyway?

I hope your son can get things worked out but I think he is going to have to pay the fine and move on. He will know in his heart that his intent was pure.


ddj

Sorry to hear that things went sideways for your son. For some reason, the people we are hiring as peace officers these days, seem to have trouble with the appropriate application of discretion.

Sounds like over-stepping his bounds to me. I am not sure what was accomplished of a positive nature by writing this citation. (Was he wearing mirror sunglasses?)

Up here I mark my catch before resuming fishing, or even re-baiting. I'll bleed or gut and gill before putting on ice and before marking my catch but that is all done within a minute of landing.

How much time had passed between landing and bleeding?

Top Ten:
1. Kennedy's
2. Federal Reserve
3. United Nations
4. Liberalism
5. Congressional Retirement Pensions
6. Entitlement
7. Welfare
8. George Soros
9. Blue Gums in the White House
10. Illegal Immigration

But, don't get me started.

my buddy caught a redfish a few weeks ago, he layed it down so he could get his tape measure from his tackle box. game warden walked up and gave him a ticket for a under size fish before he could even measure it.

My son had spent less than two minutes before being cited. My son is about 140 pounds and this was a nearly 40 pound salmon. He was catching his breath and had slit the gills, he was was standing right where he landed it.

When I think of all the game we let walk away for petty reasons. The turkey I didn't shoot because I thought there was a house nearby. The deer we let go because we were not sure where the property lines were, or because we couldn't get far enough off the road due to brush. It is sickening.

Revenue enhancement.

Two minutes? The warden in this case is wrong, IMO.

Amen about the discretion, although I'm sure it varies by individuals. This particular case sounds ridiculous to me.

Seems a friendly "son, nice fish but you need to punch that card first" from the warden would have been a most effective way to make a point and give your son a decent impression of the wardens. Now this single warden has tainted his profession in your son's eyes.

Shame really.

as we say here in NJ,the Warden acted like a douchebag. now your son will look at wardens as if they are the enemy rather than a teammate in keeping hunting and fishing healthy.

Yep that is what it is all about now a days. tom

I think that you did the right thing by going ahead and filing a citizen's complaint. They may have a few on file for this guy already, and if not, perhaps he'll get a few more and something will be done about him. Small consolation, I know, but someone has to take the first step.

Sure sounds that way to me.
There is always two sides to every story ( and the truth usually falls in between..)
But if explained to the judge, it sounds like he should get off.

Sounds like a dik to me.

This. Tell it to the judge. They aint all bad and sometimes use their judgment.

With only the information given, I would:

File the complaint (done!)

Review the exact wording of the law - then, if reasonable -

Tell it to the judge (you only risk court costs in addition to the fine - which may go away. Maybe even get a lawyer.....

DO NOT just pay the fine and let it slide if you still feel justified.

If the law reads "immediatly on landing the fish" then get the judge to define "immediately" in concrete time terms - it may not help you, but will establish precedent.

If you win, file a follow-up complaint for the initial infraction, plus time off work, etc. And do point out the negativity of contact for his supervisor's benefit, as pointed out in a post above.

A letter to the editor might not be out of order either.

Done about him, because he wrote a citation on a violation? Most cases of complaints after a citation are looked at as the citizen was pissed and retaliated by filing a complaint.

The best thing is go to court and explain it to the Judge. The Judge can either concur with the GW or drop the charge or reduce the fee. You won't have to pay more by going to court.