License check. Is this legal?

Gestapo tactics nailed it. That's what it seemed like. That doesn't fly with me.
But it really was a conversation to learn. The fact it riled some of you up is interesting.
 
At least he checked you before you started hunting. He could’ve waited till all your guns were loaded and dogs out and then drove up. Had a buddy once drop us off and then drove down the road to block. CO approached him right as he was starting to block. Bad timing, wish he would’ve waited 30min. Very seldom is a honest guy doing anything wrong, no harm no foul.
 
I think the comparison of the CO to the gestapo or gestapo tactics for performing a license check of persons reasonably believed to be engaged in hunting or to be engaged in hunting is a reach. Even if the CO chose to perform a stop on the vehicle and perform the license check that way, if it is within the scope of his duties and authorized powers to do so, then the CO is in the right.
The fact that the CO chose to use discretion and not perform the stop while on the road and wait until the next destination was arrived at shows that the CO probably has a better understanding of said authority and a good understanding of justification and desirability.....
If the CO is within the legal authority, it doesn't matter if one "likes" how the contact is made, except unless the CO would have just waved and done nothing?
 
Bob Peters said:
The timing of a stop and check is something you don't think about until it happens. In my opinion it would be weird to have pulled you over and check on the roadside, I'm glad he didn't do that. Following the group to the next field and checking there was the right thing to do. My buddy was at the boat ramp one time, warden was there, and my buddy asked him to check him right there. The warden refused but checked him later that day out on the water. I suppose if he was missing life jackets or license, can't give a ticket in the parking lot before the boat is floating or a lure is cast.

South Dakota does large operations every year. Game check points on the major highways heading back east. You pull up to a stop sign, they ask if you have any game or fish in the vehicle, if the answer is yes you drive aside and they check your coolers and licenses.
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Funny I have never witnessed this and have probably made 50 plus trips there in the last twenty years. Probably because it’s only on the roads that lead back to Minnesota.😂
 
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Quailnerd said:
We got checked in sd last year and after a couple laughs he showed us a bad ass hunting spot.. hope we meet again next week!
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I had the same experience on my 1st trip to SD just a couple years ago. Did the license check and answered a couple of information gathering questions about us by the CO. Then it turned towards helpful information by the CO on some better properties to start on than the one we were on, to going over the map. After about 45 minutes we parted ways.
 
Co are humans too one group gives co tough time just think of how co will deal with the next group they encounter work with them give no more than they ask for move on
 
A couple of years ago I stopped at a convenience store for a six pack after pheasant hunting. When I left the store a Game Warden was beside by truck and and wanted to see my license. I wasn't hunting but I did have my dogs in the front of my truck. I've been checked many times before but this felt kind of weird. I wasn't hunting and a lot of people carry their dogs in the front of the their truck. I felt like arguing with him but just complied and showed him my license. I might have been able to win that battle since I wasn't hunting but figured I would probably lose the war overall. As it was, I saw him a couple more times that year and he just waved.
 
"No license" is likely the most violated offense they encounter, hunting or fishing. I have zero issue with them checking me for compliance...I hope they find the slobs with over the limits/trespassers while they are out...assuming those guys are out there.

airmed, you were stopped after you finished hunting, a prefect time to check you for license and limits, what were you prepared to argue about?
 
remy3424 said:
"No license" is likely the most violated offense they encounter, hunting or fishing.
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The most common type of violation here in the hunting realm is deer hunting over bait. They've tried to severely increase the punishments for it too, and yet it continues to happen quite often.
 
I was in the middle of a town, about 90 miles from where I was hunting. Other than having the dogs in my pickup there was nothing to really indicate I was a hunter. My vest and gun were stowed out of sight and I wasn’t wearing orange so as far as he knew I was just a guy buying a six pack.
It just struck me as weird that he checked me as I walked out of a convenience store in the middle of a town. He didn’t ask me if I had been hunting or if I had shot anything, he just wanted to see my license.
I thought that if he had seen me when hunting 90 miles from there he would have checked me there or at least asked me if I had shot anything when he asked for my license.
Like I said, I complied with his request and I don’t mind being checked, and I don’t do anything illegal, but would it be okay if he checked me when I walk out of church?
 
You know some times officers are looking for someone or something that we are not privy to. I had a Border Patrol officer shove a Glock in my back and order me against the wall while in the customs area at DFW airport. I was escorted into the area to do work for a vendor. The escort raised hell with the officer but I had to show id.. They were on high alert for a international criminal.
 
I guess that could have been it, I do look like a terror loving terrorist but I don’t think many of them have hunting licenses!
 
Well, maybe an out of state plate on a hunting rig with hunting dogs in it was enough to peak his interest. I almost alway take off my coat and hat (any orange) when am driving, before and after, to avoid stops of that sort, a GSP in the front seat would likely be enough to assume I have been hunting, if it isn't 8:00 am.
 
Just to play devil's advocate here. If he hasn't seen you in the act of hunting how can he ask to see your license? And let's say he asks a guy, who has been hunting illegally without a license, all that guy has to say is "No." If he was not witnessed hunting, self-incrimination or a third party witness is the only way to get a ticket. I've been checked twice by federal and 5 times by state C.O.s while hunting. I never got a ticket. Always happy to see them and chat. Last week in Grant county SD state truck pulls in, I go over to show license and he says "I don't check those, I'm the habitat guy. "😂

When we were leaving Sunday got wind of a state check point. We decided to take an alternate route on the way home to avoid the hassle and scout a new area.
 
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