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Old 06-15-2009, 05:52 PM
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Default Game Wardens, hunting season, your land.

I've owned land out in the boonies for 2 years now. I haven't gotten into hunting yet, who knows if I will.

My question is: If it's hunting season, and I'm not hunting but up in my woods with a gun (which I always have when I go for walks) can the game warden give me any trouble if he comes across me?
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Old 06-15-2009, 06:02 PM
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Off hand, I'd say you need to check out your state laws concerning possession of firearms during hunting season and also concerning your local Game and Fish departments jurisdictional authority. The game warden may stop you, but if you're the property owner I'd say it's most likely you're fine unless you're poaching.
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Old 06-15-2009, 06:04 PM
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Contact your local DEC/Fish&Game office and ask them directly.

In NY, possession of a centerfire rifle/handgun or shotgun loaded with slugs during the open season for deer/bear is presumptive evidence of hunting.
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Old 06-15-2009, 06:05 PM
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you need to check your regulations. I know in Nebraska unless you are going to the range during deer season you have to have a hunting license when you have a centerfire rifle in your vehicle. it would probably be the same if you are just out walking during a hunting season.
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Old 06-15-2009, 06:15 PM
mississippi revolverman mississippi revolverman is offline
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Agree with every one else so far, better check. Something pretty obivous ilike in deer season with a snubie full of shot shells no problem. In Mississippi a Game warden does not require a search warrant and offically "can not be an illegal trespasser".

My take is they are usually good guys. Invite him over for coffe and maybe make a new friend who will be on you side
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Old 06-15-2009, 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by mississippi revolverman View Post
Agree with every one else so far, better check. Something pretty obivous ilike in deer season with a snubie full of shot shells no problem. In Mississippi a Game warden does not require a search warrant and offically "can not be an illegal trespasser".

My take is they are usually good guys. Invite him over for coffe and maybe make a new friend who will be on you side
Good advice to invite him over if possible. A lot of people automatically take a confrontational/adversarial stance with these guys before even saying word one. Most of the time, they are awesome people, underpaid and overworked.
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Old 06-15-2009, 06:33 PM
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Good advice to invite him over if possible. A lot of people automatically take a confrontational/adversarial stance with these guys before even saying word one. Most of the time, they are awesome people, underpaid and overworked.
I concur.

Georgia law states that even on your own land, you have to follow all game and fish laws, unless you are give a variance for game control on agricultural land.

A person must also purchase a hunting license to hunt on his own land, and may need more special stamps if his land is within a "managed" area. Unless a person owns a specified number of acres or more-I think the number is 400 or so...but just guessing, that person must purchase a hunting license even on his own land.
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Old 06-15-2009, 08:34 PM
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from what I understand, if you are on your land with a gun that definatly says self defense and you have no dead game on you you should be fime, but check with your laws just in case
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Old 06-15-2009, 08:52 PM
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Yeah, check with your state game authorities (who are not infrequently wrong on points of law and regulation) or, better yet, look up the state statutes and game regs and read them for yourself. If there are ambiguities, ask the authorities for clarification of their policies. I'm occasionaly the most heavily armed birdwatcher or mushroom collector you're ever likely to encounter, on Arizona public land, where being armed is not prima facie evidence that you're hunting, but your state laws may well vary...
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Old 06-15-2009, 08:55 PM
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Well here in PA I have 102 acres (shared with my brother). I'm always wandering my woods with a gun or two. I also patrol during hunting season to make sure I have no trespassers. I came across the game warden this past year at the edge of my property. He came over to talk to me, but did not directly ask what I was doing or to see my license. I was carrying my 681 in an OWB holster on my hip, and my Mossberg 500 strapped over my shoulder. I told him I was just out for a walk on my land and that was fine with him. We BSed for a good 15 minutes.
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Old 06-15-2009, 09:04 PM
mountaingun629 mountaingun629 is offline
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In Ohio, a landowner doesn't need a hunting license or deer permit to hunt on his own land, but I think all other rules of allowable weapons still applies.

Myron
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Old 06-16-2009, 04:09 AM
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What would a warden be doing on YOUR land? Even if it isnt posted, most places have a law that says even if the land isnt posted you still need written permission. Wouldnt that be something like a LEO camping in your house without permission waiting for a burglar? Now, if he saw you shoot a critter on your property from a public road or area, that could be different. Still since the law varies in many parts of the nation, why not just call up your local conservation dept to find out? Many years ago I once was stopped on a old road and asked whether I was hunting or target shooting. I found out later in checking out the way the question was put, that in that area, day and age, it seemed you could hunt, but not target shoot. Go figuer! (was california, of course.)
Once many years ago I worked for the wisconsin state conservation dept. I was assigned one day to check a couple lakes for the area biologist just to see what kind of fish was being caught from a research standpoint. I walked up on 3 people that appeared to be a grandpa, son and grandson. All 3 were carrying fishing poles. They were walking towards the lake, maybe still 30 yards from the water, and me comeing up on them about 70 yards away. They froze with that deer in the headlight look, then from 70 yards away yelled at me, "we aint fishing, the boy is!" I couldnt help cracking up laughing! I just said, I aint checking licenses today, just want to see what kind of fish is being caught! I noticed they seemed to be real poor people. That was 47 years ago. I never was gung ho.
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Old 06-16-2009, 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by mississippi revolverman View Post
Agree with every one else so far, better check. Something pretty obivous ilike in deer season with a snubie full of shot shells no problem. In Mississippi a Game warden does not require a search warrant and offically "can not be an illegal trespasser".

My take is they are usually good guys. Invite him over for coffe and maybe make a new friend who will be on you side


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Old 06-16-2009, 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by ChadW View Post
My question is: If it's hunting season, and I'm not hunting but up in my woods with a gun (which I always have when I go for walks) can the game warden give me any trouble if he comes across me?
Yes, I guess here in Indiana game wardens (conservation officers) can give you a lot of trouble, but on your own land, I think only the most obnoxious ones would.

We have had a few "ladies" in the business who have developed very bad, but apparently well deserved, reputations for pulling stupid stunts along this line, and others. (I am sorry if this remark appears sexist/discriminatory. It is not.)

Doing what you describe, I have bumped into a few of the male officers over the years, usually while walking my dogs. They have always been professional with me, and one of them (apparently something of a handgunner himself) was a downright pleasant young fellow to talk with. He happened to catch me with an S&W revolver that day and remarked that were it not for rules and regulations, he would be carrying one himself. Good lad!

The overzealous females must have been reassigned to other districts. Haven't heard much about them lately. Hopefully - and all the better.
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Old 06-16-2009, 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by ChadW View Post
I've owned land out in the boonies for 2 years now. I haven't gotten into hunting yet, who knows if I will.

My question is: If it's hunting season, and I'm not hunting but up in my woods with a gun (which I always have when I go for walks) can the game warden give me any trouble if he comes across me?
XXXXXXXXX

I own a few acres out in the boonies too. So fat out that we have dial-up internet and can't get any better except Hughes Net.

I carry a pistol on me most of the time for snakes and trespassing yankees. I usually have a centerfire rifle of some kind in the seat of the truck as well. Coyotes, wild hogs and such aren't invited or welcomed on my little piece of heaven. Would a game warden say anything about it. I seriously doubt it. In season or out of season carrying a gun doesn't "assume or presume" you are actively seeking to shoot an animal in season. Now carrying a loaded long gun in your vehicle up and down a public road is somethign else. But on private property around here............about the only thing a game warden would ask is "How far you got that thing sighted in at". Might even ask to hold it and look through the scope at something and hand it back to you and say "Nice" and be on his way.

I've been stopped coming in the pass at St Andrews the last three times I've been out. All three times there were 2 Game Wardens in the boat. Of the three times, each time one of the same guys would be in the boat. They don't even ask for license, just "how'd you do" and maybe ask you to lift the cooler lid.

One of our local game wardens fishes with me in the Gulf quite a bit and we're taking his 8 year old son out 2 weeks from now.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that possession doesn't imply intent....at least not on my property in my mind.
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Old 06-16-2009, 06:21 PM
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XXXXXXXXX
I own a few acres out in the boonies too. So fat out that we have dial-up internet and can't get any better except Hughes Net.
Yep same here. my brother and I share 102 acres in PA. I had a post recently complaining about my inability to get TV thanks to this digital stuff. The cable company wont run the cable through the woods... it too tough for the wimps.

I'm not complaining of course. I love my boonies.
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Old 06-16-2009, 07:03 PM
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Yep same here. my brother and I share 102 acres in PA. I had a post recently complaining about my inability to get TV thanks to this digital stuff. The cable company wont run the cable through the woods... it too tough for the wimps.

I'm not complaining of course. I love my boonies.

XXXXXXXXXX

DAMN ! ! ! !

I just looked at your avatar. What caliber guns are those?

My brother has 140 and I have 145 adjoining. We're lucky in that the three sides of our property that isn't bordered by the highway is surrounded by a great neighbor that owns over 1000 acres. Access to our property runs right thru my brother's front yard (full of bad *** cur dogs) and is gated as well. The game warden that I mentioned in my ealier post grew up hunting on our land. He went to school with my brother's 2 boys.

Game wardens around here stay mainly on public lands and waters. Course now, when dove and duck seasons roll around they might slip in and check some "early/late" shooting or check for baited fields. They can and will do that...."uninvited" :-)

SC
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Old 06-16-2009, 07:14 PM
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XXXXXXXXXX

DAMN ! ! ! !

I just looked at your avatar. What caliber guns are those?
Umm..... I have a break action 12 gauge over my shoulder and a Smith and Wesson 681 .357 on my hip

You're lucky to have so much land between you and your brother. I mean.. I'm sure not complaining about my brother and I owning 51 acres each. We were considering buying 40 from my grandmother's 80, but realistically we don't have use for it. Its not connected to our land... It's a ten minute drive. We wouldn't USE it, but thought it would be nice to keep it just to preserve it.
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Old 06-16-2009, 07:21 PM
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[QUOTE=USAF385;982748]Umm..... I have a break action 12 gauge over my shoulder and a Smith and Wesson 681 .357 on my hip

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Are you still on active duty?
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Old 06-16-2009, 07:41 PM
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Are you still on active duty?
I was actually medically discharged after a head injury this past October after after 5 years of service as an aerial gunner. Because of...... "on going issues" I can't be too specific (nothing crazy or anything, I don't want to sound like an "internet ninja"). I was actually cleared a few weeks ago by a Neurologist and I'm thinking about going into the Reserve. I'm also attending school in the fall, so I'll have to see how everything plays out. I was thinking of doing something more fun in the Reserve like in-flight refueling.
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Old 06-17-2009, 12:06 AM
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I was actually medically discharged after a head injury this past October after after 5 years of service as an aerial gunner. Because of...... "on going issues" I can't be too specific (nothing crazy or anything, I don't want to sound like an "internet ninja"). I was actually cleared a few weeks ago by a Neurologist and I'm thinking about going into the Reserve. I'm also attending school in the fall, so I'll have to see how everything plays out. I was thinking of doing something more fun in the Reserve like in-flight refueling.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Go for it Man. Live large while living large is still an option. Good luck to you, which ever direction you go in.

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Old 06-17-2009, 12:08 AM
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I was actually medically discharged after a head injury this past October after after 5 years of service as an aerial gunner. Because of...... "on going issues" I can't be too specific (nothing crazy or anything, I don't want to sound like an "internet ninja"). I was actually cleared a few weeks ago by a Neurologist and I'm thinking about going into the Reserve. I'm also attending school in the fall, so I'll have to see how everything plays out. I was thinking of doing something more fun in the Reserve like in-flight refueling.
no matter what you do thank you for your service and I wish I could join you
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Old 06-17-2009, 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Andy Griffith View Post
I concur.

Georgia law states that even on your own land, you have to follow all game and fish laws, unless you are give a variance for game control on agricultural land.

A person must also purchase a hunting license to hunt on his own land, and may need more special stamps if his land is within a "managed" area. Unless a person owns a specified number of acres or more-I think the number is 400 or so...but just guessing, that person must purchase a hunting license even on his own land.

That's interesting Andy, because the 2008-2009 Hunting Regulations publication says:

"A Resident Hunting License is required for all resident hunters 16 years old or older except when hunting on land owned by them or their immediate family residing in the same household."


I haven't looked at the actual Georgia state law, just the hunting regulations.

Munster
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