Interactions with 2 Wildlife Officers Recently

[DeerCamp]

Recently, I had an interaction with 2 of TWRA's officers.

We were fishing at a local lake, and I saw them boating their way towards us near dusk. We ending up talking for almost 20 minutes, swapping hunting stories, sharing some local tips and just really enjoyed chatting with them. In the end, they could have written my buddy a ticket (even though the violation wasn't intentional) but they helped him correct the issue instead.

It left me thinking that every interaction I've had with TWRA (minus one old crabby guy at a check-in back in the day) has been overtly positive.

I think these guys (and gals) do a near-thankless job, probably don't get paid enough and put themselves in potentially dangerous situations frequently.

I would just like to post a public appreciation for the work they do.


P.S. - if we could speed up the Quota draw process, that would be swell.

 

[mike243]

All of my run ins with them have been fine except 1 time hunting I think Willamette property, We had the permits but flagged him down and asked why caution tape and signs were all over the roads at the properties, he said it was disputed boundary's and If we parked there and went in he would write us a ticket, the properties were marked with the signs but locals had something on him I reckon, finally found a couple places that we could hunt and that MF left rule book guides for hunting that property 2 more times, I ran into him and flagged him down and asked why he did that, said it was to make sure I understood the rules. never been back. that was off the Bucksnort exit a long time ago.

 

[Wrangler95]

Sure thankful to them,we had a great officer in my county but hope the new one is good also!

 

[knightrider]

Sure thankful to them,we had a great officer in my county but hope the new one is good also!

Bill was the best !!!

 

[BSK]

Every interaction I've had with them has been positive. In fact, very positive.

Except for that scn guy... ;)

 

[tellico4x4]

Since my place is on Wayne/Hardin line, I dealt with the officers from both counties for over 20 years. That have always been class acts & great to deal with.

 

[Omega]

I have had many interactions with them, and except for once, even when I had been written up, the interactions were relatively pleasant. The one unpleasant experience I will place that into the category of a bad egg, afterwards I found out he was pretty well known for being an ass. But I think if you just treat them as people that are just doing their jobs most interactions will be pleasant enough.

 

[Wrangler95]

Bill was the best !!!

He was,sure hated to see him retire!

 

[Iglow]

Ever time I've come across a TWRA officer checking license or boat compliance etc. to a man they were friendly, nice and professional.

 

[mike243]

I been cked fishing more times than hunting, miss them cking lic and plugs at the dove fields, I can count over 3 shots from the same shotgun some times. I'm never upset about being cked for anything but buying a dang beer to go with my supper almost 62 and they can't tell I'm over 21?

 

[ROVERBOY]

Sure thankful to them,we had a great officer in my county but hope the new one is good also!

He checked me for fishing license once, at Moody's Boat Ramp on the Obey River. And I wasn't even fishing. Never understood that.

 

[dogmatik]

Bill was the best !!!

I totally agree!
Had nothing but great interactions with him.

 

[XCR-2]

Anybody just never run into an officer? I've hunted and fished all my life and can count on one hand how many interactions I've had.

 

[AT Hiker]

Anybody just never run into an officer? I've hunted and fished all my life and can count on one hand how many interactions I've had.

I've ran into three off duty officers while hunting.
99% positive they were hot spotting my area, benefits of the job I suppose .
Never, ever a bad experience.

 

[Gravey]

Haven't had many encounters but the couple I have were good. A few years ago I was back at camp after the morning hunt and I hear somebody pull in. It was the game warden along with the guy that was taking his place. A members dad was in a golf cart that had stopped down the road and they were letting me know. They offered to bring him to camp but he told them he'd wait for his son. Well we chatted a few minutes and they left so I was getting my stuff together to go see what was wrong with the golf cart when he came pulling in. He didn't have an orange hat on and I asked if they had said anything to him and he said "yeah they told me to make sure I put one on".

 

[BSK]

I been cked fishing more times than hunting, miss them cking lic and plugs at the dove fields, I can count over 3 shots from the same shotgun some times. I'm never upset about being cked for anything but buying a dang beer to go with my supper almost 62 and they can't tell I'm over 21?

Of course they can tell. But company policy requires them to check your ID. If they don't do it, they can get fired. My daughter worked at Walgreens, and she was required to check everyone's ID for alcohol and cigarettes, even if the purchaser was clearly 80 years old.

 

[Swampster]

A couple have stopped and talked to me on my property before. They were both young, polite, and seemed to have good people instincts. Wish I would see more of them.

 

[mike243]

Hooters girl took my license and started to walk away with it, asked her where she was going, said she had to input my info into the register, I told her bring it back and cancel our orders for drinks, no menu wanted me to look online was the first strike, last strike trying to steal my info. Done with that outfit, not all companies have lost their common sense but a lot have imo

 

[Tenntrapper]

My daughter has had her lifetime license since right after she was born.
A few years ago, several of us went squirrel hunting. I had ask my daughter if she had her license, she said yes. I guess because we were already there, and she had forgotten it, she didn't want to mess things up...so she lied about having it.
After the hunt, we were back at the vehicles. We were backed into a logging road into the property. This property is at the end of a small dead end road (pig path). Only on rare occasions do you ever see another vehicle back there. The guys we were with were parked between us and the road.
As we were loading our stuff into the vehicle, I hear a vehicle coming down the road...very slowly. There is a curve just above where we are parked, so you can't see anything. In just a minute, I see the front of a dark green truck easing around the curve...it's the GW.
I make the comment...we about to get checked. Daughter, who is with me behind the CRV, with the back hatch open, suddenly gets very concerned. It looks like she's about to cry. I say to her..."you don't have your license...do you?". She says no.
By this time the GW is already checking those with us. I walk around our vehicle, and start talking to the GW. Daughter is hiding behind car about to chit herself. GW asks...who is that hiding behind the car? I tell her what's going on, figuring she's about to throw the book at daughter. She has her license...she just forgot it. She tells me to have her come over to us...and I did. I'm thinking we about to get our butts chewed out...and cited. Instead...she asks the daughter...do you have your phone with you? Dumb question...what teenage girl doesn't... . Daughter says yes, so the GW helps her load the app on her phone and pull it up electronically. Never even fussed about it. Was just being helpful.
Ironically...daughter has never forgotten her license again...

 

[Solo Hunter]

He was,sure hated to see him retire!

Was this by any chance Bill Ward?

 

[Rackseeker]

I never understood why some people have bad attitudes towards game wardens. If you are following the regulations and the law you don't have anything to worry about. They are just doing their job. Very rarely see them in my county anyway during hunting season.

 

[Wrangler95]

Was this by any chance Bill Ward?

Bill Moulton

 

[scn]

Bill Moulton

Bill was in my first LE training class when I came down to Nashville and took over the officer training. He was a great officer and an even better person!

 

[Wrangler95]

Bill was in my first LE training class when I came down to Nashville and took over the officer training. He was a great officer and an even better person!

Sure was,he did a great job here in Clay county,hated when he retired!!

 

[Kmushrooman]

Have met a few of them in the woods and on the water. Very brave people to go out in the backwoods and deal with folks. I really appreciate them.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Had several encounters with our game warden over the years, genuinely good guy. The one before him was ok, only talked to him s few times. Haven't met the new one yet.

My daughter has had her lifetime license since right after she was born.
A few years ago, several of us went squirrel hunting. I had ask my daughter if she had her license, she said yes. I guess because we were already there, and she had forgotten it, she didn't want to mess things up...so she lied about having it.
After the hunt, we were back at the vehicles. We were backed into a logging road into the property. This property is at the end of a small dead end road (pig path). Only on rare occasions do you ever see another vehicle back there. The guys we were with were parked between us and the road.
As we were loading our stuff into the vehicle, I hear a vehicle coming down the road...very slowly. There is a curve just above where we are parked, so you can't see anything. In just a minute, I see the front of a dark green truck easing around the curve...it's the GW.
I make the comment...we about to get checked. Daughter, who is with me behind the CRV, with the back hatch open, suddenly gets very concerned. It looks like she's about to cry. I say to her..."you don't have your license...do you?". She says no.
By this time the GW is already checking those with us. I walk around our vehicle, and start talking to the GW. Daughter is hiding behind car about to chit herself. GW asks...who is that hiding behind the car? I tell her what's going on, figuring she's about to throw the book at daughter. She has her license...she just forgot it. She tells me to have her come over to us...and I did. I'm thinking we about to get our butts chewed out...and cited. Instead...she asks the daughter...do you have your phone with you? Dumb question...what teenage girl doesn't... . Daughter says yes, so the GW helps her load the app on her phone and pull it up electronically. Never even fussed about it. Was just being helpful.
Ironically...daughter has never forgotten her license again...

Great story. My oldest daughter wanted to be a game warden and even went to UT Knoxville with intentions of pursuing that goal, she was in their wildlife management program. She decided that she didn't really want that life after her first couple semesters. That said, I could have seen her doing the same with your daughter.

 

[mike52]

Jim Hooper was a class act in Wilson county. Would wright his mother a ticket if she was in the wrong, but if wrong your wrong. Got promoted to lieutenant some years ago and has retired.

 

[BSK]

Met Jason Shapton today, the Wildlife Officer for Robertson County. SUPER nice guy.

 

[sallee-bo]

Haven't had many encounters but the couple I have were good. A few years ago I was back at camp after the morning hunt and I hear somebody pull in. It was the game warden along with the guy that was taking his place. A members dad was in a golf cart that had stopped down the road and they were letting me know. They offered to bring him to camp but he told them he'd wait for his son. Well we chatted a few minutes and they left so I was getting my stuff together to go see what was wrong with the golf cart when he came pulling in. He didn't have an orange hat on and I asked if they had said anything to him and he said "yeah they told me to make sure I put one on".

True story. Back in '75 my cousin and I were going deer hunting on my family property in Weakley county. There was a hunting club across the road from us and when I pulled up to our gate the GW (I believe his name was Ellis) was talking to 4 or 5 of the hunting club members. Well, my cousin didn't have an orange cap and as we started to open the gate the GW stopped us. Said my cousin couldn't hunt without orange on his head. I opened my trunk and got a fluorescent orange frisbee, punched two holes in it and tied it to my cousin's head. The GW just shook his head and laughed. Of course as soon as we got out of sight he took it off. Put it back on when we came out.

 

[rifle02]

True story. Back in '75 my cousin and I were going deer hunting on my family property in Weakley county. There was a hunting club across the road from us and when I pulled up to our gate the GW (I believe his name was Ellis) was talking to 4 or 5 of the hunting club members. Well, my cousin didn't have an orange cap and as we started to open the gate the GW stopped us. Said my cousin couldn't hunt without orange on his head. I opened my trunk and got a fluorescent orange frisbee, punched two holes in it and tied it to my cousin's head. The GW just shook his head and laughed. Of course as soon as we got out of sight he took it off. Put it back on when we came out.

It's what they say.. truth is Stranger Than fiction!