Hey all, quick question. My wife and I were fishing with the kids and these two wardens check us. One being all conversational and asking about every single piece of gear I have on the boat. Dumb questions “So you like your livescope? [no I hate it lol] You like this boat? You like your graphs? Where you get your thumper?” Etc

So while he’s doing that his buddy writes my wife a ticket for a license 30 days expired (honest mistake, we own it)

As his buddy hands her the ticket the goofy question one asks her “so do you like livescope?” Like he was making some sort of point.

I’ve only ever had 2 other interactions with wardens and I guess it just struck me as odd they were being weird about my stuff. On top of that sticking her with a ticket vs a warning… first time, no prior issues, cooperative…

Is this all pretty normal for warden behavior? Or are my expectations out of whack.

Just weird he asks her that livescope question right after giving her the ticket.

Ah well, just wanted to see what y’all thought. Fire away

Not a clue, but sounds like you might be concerned about potential live scope banning.

Maybe just new and enthusiastic

I got pulled over years ago, doing 80mph up Sheffield pass (with a trailer on). Just topped the crest and a DPS nailed me, he said to me, “I’ve been thinking about buying one of these Dodge Rams with the Cummins. Looks like they run! I think you just made my decision, slow it down and have a safe trip”. First time in my life a DPS just gave me a verbal warning and didn’t even write it up. The GW just might be fascinated by LS and is curious.


That was the strongest pulling truck that I’ve ever had, almost miss it.


Maybe the GW was playing good cop & bad cop. Most of the ones I’ve talked too, weren’t overly friendly.

Maybe he was just friendly?
I know a couple of very friendly GW, not everything has an angle.

Some people just cannot take a risk, whether intentional or not. I am the one whom always gets caught ! Go figure !

How far past the expiration date do you think should be allowed without enforcement of the laws?

I get that it was out of date. I said that. It was just the asking my wife about livescope when he hands her the ticket. She doesnt give a rip you just gave her a ticket my man... and shes the type to beat herself up over it for forgetting to renew 1 mo ago... so why you asking her about livescope now? Not the time for small talk. We were trying to decide if he was angling but a poster said maybe not maybe just friendly.

Maybe. Dunno. I got it off my chest Im good. Happy fishing folks.

look on the bright side, you didn't go to jail so it's a win/win even with the ticket.

Buchanan as well as all the highland lakes get a lot of Game Wardens right out of the Academy since their Academy is fairly close in Hamilton.

Regardless of the interaction, I would rather see them out there checking folks than not. I am totally in favor of enforcement.

Maybe TPWD sent out a memo asking anyone who interacts with fishermen to get their thoughts as it is a hot topic right now and how else would they start to gauge the communities take.

We were on Buchanan one day and there were three boats of game wardens with three per boat doing a training exercise. One of them come up and check us out, they were very friendly and left, next cove over it was my neighbor warden who was quite the hard arse and check us and I mean he checked everything even though he knew me and finally left as well. The next cove over here come the third boat approaching us, I laughed and said we had done been checked by two of your boats and so and so was the last one to check us, he laughed and said you guys go on if he checked you out you guys are bound to be good. LOL It just shows you most are good but there is always that one!!!.

+1

I have known good and bad .you can never tell what you are going to get. I had the same one stop me 3 times on the same day within 4 hours and each time he acted like he had never seen me before.