Searchs by conservation officers

I was talking to a guy at work that said that the CO in this area, actually pats down people on ruitine checks.
Has anyone else had an experience like that?

Was then when they were hunting or fishing? I’ve been checked alot goose hunting and they have never patted anyone down but they will sometimes go through your belongings looking for lead shot. Could that be what happen but to a more aggresive degree?

Really don’t care for the idea of it, but I suppose they do just about anything they want. Looking for lead shot could be one explanation though. Good point ERon

It’s his safety I know I sure would. Good for him. He is an officer of the law so he has all rights to.

I have to disagree to a certain extent.
For his own safety, he could handcuff you while he searches your vehicle and guns, all the while parked along a public roadway, where EVERYONE can see you. That doesn’t make it right. He’s still justa fish and game officer.

Actually, CO’s are allowed more leaway (Freedoms) to do their job than any other branch of law enforcment.

A pat down does seem strange, but I won’t question it. He is usually dealing with people in secluded areas who by all likelyhood are carrying some sort of weapon at this time of year, and god nows there are alot of crazy people out there.

I’m sure, what happened in Rice Lake Wisconsin rides in the back of those guys minds everyday also!

I’ve got mixed emotions on this subject….If i’m not posing a threat, there’s no reason in my mind for him to have to pat me down…

However, recent events such as the cold-blooded killings up north may warrent wardens to use more caution….

If i get approached and I comply with unloading my weapon for the officer and my own safety…i don’t feel i should have to get patted down additionally…The majority of us out there are still law obiding citizens..

On a side note, it all depends on the warden….just like people, there are plenty of pricks out there…..I know i felt i was harrassed one time bow hunting when i was stopped ….which doesn’t make relations better on either end…..

I also can see both sides of the situation. If there is a threat, or a feeling of one, then it is warranted. If not, there is no need for one. I have only had a bad run-in with one CO, and he was just a plain jerk. But, it seems like I have a magnet for the CO’s to come and check me out, whether it be fishing or hunting. I actually like to be checked, then I know they are around and doing their best with what they have.

You know SB, I have to agree with you .

If a CO sees me stuffing a duck in my jacket…or something else that gives him reason to believe a law was broken…no problem, do your job..BUT a random pat down for no reason?

I don’t think so.

So some of you are saying that a CO can walk into your house and check your closets and (heaven forbid) your bedrooms…without any reason?

I do know that CO are one rung down from God, but law abiding citizens shouldn’t be touched…unless they are suspect of breaking a law.

If in fact that is the law…it’s wrong.

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If there is a threat, or a feeling of one, then it is warranted

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I think we are talking about two differant things here. If a CO feel he’s threatened, there are differant way of handling the threat.

In a threatening situation….the last thing I would do is get close and personal with the threat.

If there’s deadly force involved (car, knife, stick, gun)…the pat down comes after the threat has been dealt with and before he’s taken to jail.

There’s never a need for personal contact except for when a person is suspected of a crime, being arrested….or saving a life.

(In my warped opinion)

Man, I need some ice! I’m getting way to opinionated lately!

No more for me!

I personally don’t care if he is the president, if I haven’t given him reasonanble doubt for a search, he darn well better not touch me. As a matter of fact, I would probably end up in jail because of it. I refuse to give up my personal freedoms granted to me by the constitution.

Having said all this, I’ve never had a situation come close to exscalating to a search of my person. I intend to keep it that way by being cooperative and forthcoming since I don’t have anything to hide.

I stay neutral for obvious reasons…but as a former deputy sheriff I will concur that the Game wardens and Federal Marshalls have the broadest search/seisure parameters allowed by law.
He controls whether there is probable cause for a body search. You have the right to file a complaint with the Department if you feel you were unduly harrassed.
I’ll bet it was a 1st year warden…you learn very fast that being a pr-ck results in being respected like a pr-ck.

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I personally don’t care if he is the president, if I haven’t given him reasonanble doubt for a search, he darn well better not touch me. As a matter of fact, I would probably end up in jail because of it. I refuse to give up my personal freedoms granted to me by the constitution.

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On a side note, you must not have gone through airport security lately. For the past couple of months (since the two Russian jets were blown up by two women carrying explosizes strapped to their bodies), TSA screeners have been allowed to pat down passengers that repeatedly set off the metal detectors, or who have been preselected for additional screening.

Sounds about right to me…we all wanted to change the world at one time

The airport searches pat downs are completely differant. You are still in control…if you don’t want a pat down…you don’t fly. But you still have the option…

On a side note…as someone posted above…I too like to get checked. I also have great respect for the men and women that make up the CO’s/ police/sherrif/patrol. It’s a tough job.

But I have the most respect for the retired folks in this line of work. (for obvoius reasons! )

Heres an article that preety much states that officers need search warrants to enter shacks, and that it may violate the constitution.

http://www.minnlawyer.com/story.asp?storyid=1857

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/595112/posts

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The airport searches pat downs are completely differant. You are still in control…if you don’t want a pat down…you don’t fly. But you still have the option…

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Brian: I don’t see how they are different. True, if you don’t want a pat down from a TSA agent, then don’t fly. Why doesn’t the same apply to a pat down from a CO? If you don’t want a pat down from a CO, then don’t hunt (fish). You still have the option here to…participate (fly, hunt, fish) and be subject to a search of your person. Don’t want the search? Then don’t participate. Take the train, take a car, or take up golf (ick!).

I’m not trying to stir the pot here. I know my local CO’s by name, have been checked by them or other area CO’s on a fairly regular basis, and have never had a single problem with any of them. They are doing a difficult job with very limited rersources, and I appreciate all that they do to protect and preserve the natural resources we all enjoy. I wish we had more CO’s. I wouldn’t mind showing my license and opening my livewell for somebody at a boat launch every single time I went out.

I am concerned, however, about the slippery slope here. Some nuts blow up an airplane, so we pat down airline passengers. Some nut murders six hunters while deer hunting, so now apparently we pat down hunters. What happens when some nut blows up a gas station or a grocery store? Are we ready to get patted down for a tank of gas or a loaf of bread??? I’m not sure that I am.

As far as the co’s entering the fish house I say let them in wihtout a knock. Sure it could be embarrising some times if you were maybe doing some thing with the wife, girlfriend but you’ll get over it. there was another case where they found a meth lab in a fish house and had no warrant either. If you are complaining about a co or law enforcment doing there job then maybe you wont complain when the drug dealers get you little girl hooked on meth, crack or another horrable drug. Give these guys a break it seems that people are the first to complain when they get checked over and first to complain when they need them to be around. Just my 2cents not trying to start an argument.

I don’t think CO’s should be able to enter without a knock. I think that is way too much latitude for them. Even though you’re fishing, or whatever , you still have your 4th ammendment rights against unreasonable search and seizures. Fishing in a shack with a closed door does not raise suspicion to a level of that should entitle someone to enter without permission. This country was foundeed on freedoms. Freedoms from a number of different governmental intrusions.
Bill of Rights
I’m not excited about comments about drug pushers hooking my kid(s) on some horrible drug. That’s not the job of a CO. That’s my job. The authorities are supposed to make sure the bad guys get caught when they are guilty of a crime. Not to make sure that everyone is innocent.
Just my $.02.

Well said Steve!!!

Very well said!!!

I know this is a touchy subject to some, but in my opinion if I had nothing to hide, why would it matter whether they pat me down or not or enter a fishouse without knocking? Maybe a slight inconvenience? Time well spent in my opinion by a CO.

Just my two cents!

Hey guys as a law enforcement officer I just wanted to make a short reply. Tom was right it was probably a new recruit or someone being cautious. I know any time I have someone get out of a vehicle when I stop them or deal with them I ask them if they care if I pat them down. If they aren’t in a controled area, such as in a vehicle I am doing it for my safety and theirs. I don’t have many that say NO. They realize what is going on. The ones that do say no either want to know why or are hiding something. I guess this is different than if a warden is doing it.

Lets see you can almost bet that everyone that is out hunting and even fishing is armed. I know that you would all love to go up to someone you don’t know holding a gun and confront them….oh and needless to say you are a warden who many don’t like. I would never want to be a warden. It is tough enought being a deputy. A warden has to deal with people who are armed and you are likely in a remote location. That is always safe now isn’t it.

I don’t know what any of you do for jobs. I do know what I do is dangerous and what a warden does is even more dangerous. He deals with armed people he doesn’t know, clothing and vehicles(cars, trucks, boats) that could be hiding anything. He also has to now deal with ice shacks that have meth labs in them that are potentially bombs waiting to explode. I know our wardens here very well and have been checked by them and never would bat an eye if they wanted to pat me down. I know all of you have rights….and that is fine just remember the freaks and weirdos out there have those same rights.

I agree with the 4th amendment but hunting and fishing are privliges that we have. If this were your home I would agree get a warrant. Besides if you dont have any thing to hide what harm is it.

I think that it is important for COs to do what they need to do to get the job done. I have no problem giving them a few minutes of my time.
I also believe that protecting our right under the constitution is very important but frankly I am getting sick of every other criminal hiding from justice behind their rights under the constitution.
My two cents.

Lenny Jamison

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I agree with the 4th amendment but hunting and fishing are privliges that we have. If this were your home I would agree get a warrant. Besides if you dont have any thing to hide what harm is it.

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Then why don’t they just do random checks of vehicles anymore? Why don’t they just stop people walking down the sidewalk in downtown St Paul? Why not just tap your phone to make sure you’re not doing anything wrong? I guess it’s just a slippery slope. You give up one right, pretty soon we’ll have a discussion about giving up on another right because it will help law enforcement. I’m not anti-police/sherrif/CO, I’m for maintaining as many of the rights that our fore-fathers fought so hard for.
Besides, if I’m trying to talk the wife into a little something something in the shack, she certainly won’t want to have anyone poking their nose in the door without knocking! So, maybe, just maybe, I could have something to hide!!

It is all about freedom and rights. And I thought that fishing and hunting became a “right”. Maybe I’m mistaken???

Again, it is all about freedom. Freedom that we shed blood for. If you keep giving up a little hear and a little there, pretty soon you will hear this statement:

“This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, out police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!”
Adolf Hitler. 1935

Maybe some laugh and think it is a joke……

But there are limitations and laws are in place to protect the INNOCENT!!!

Aside from looking for lead shot, why would a ‘fish and game officer’ feel the need to pat down a person? That’s what this thread was originally about.

Botton line. If they ask, you can certainly say no.

Try it, it works…..

-J.

Herb;

Conceal and carry. That would be the only reason.

I need to add more here. I don’t have a problem getting patted down for safety and comfort of a CO or cop, if I broke the law. At that point, I would expect to be cuffed, again for safety of me and the cop/co. But to do a routine pat down, I’m against. There is no need for a routine CO check of license, game quantity, or anything else for that matter just to “see if you might maybe possibly be hiding something somewhere”………

If I broke the law for whatever reason, I would understand the pat down. But that is it.

If I was asked if I could be patted down, I would demand why first, before making any decesions. The only way I would agree to it, is if I was caught breaking the law.

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Aside from looking for lead shot, why would a ‘fish and game officer’ feel the need to pat down a person? That’s what this thread was originally about.

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Acually he didn’t say what the person was doing, you know ice fishing, hunting, whatever.

The warden was looking for concealed weapons. Here you think he is just fishing or hunting….and then what do you know he has warrants for lord knows what and he isn’t going to go to jail. Think of what could happen there. It’s all about SAFETY…not rights! No one wants to take away your rights….is all they want to do is take away the danger…DO YOU BLAME THEM FOR THAT???