Had a warden come check us at camp, everything was good, tagged correct etc. I didnt ask but how the hell did he get on my property without my combo. It has a gold combo masterlock. Do they have some superkey that they can open it with?

Ours climbs the fence and hikes in. Even with the gate unlocked, he parks on the road and walks in.

On our old place, they had their own lock somewhere on the chain.

Yeah they either have their own lock or they have a list of all the combinations

Generally they just climb the fence if it is locked or the gate is closed. Dont need permission. Generally, I have no problem with them doing their job and want them to do so.

However, several years ago in the Hill Country, had several GW that started waking us up out of bed to check us after a member failed to shut and lock the gate back after driving back into the lease from the afternoon hunt.

The rancher or land owner normally know the Game Warden and they provide him access(copy of key or combo) to the property. Sometimes you will see 2 or 3 locks on the chain, one of them might be for the GW. I've seen the ring of keys some Game Wardens have with hundreds of keys on it. The rancher or land owner probably feels its a good idea for them to have access for any number of reasons.

Our gw just walks up to camp. He is a really nice guy.

GW magic wand...

I gave GW comb to my gate and a key to cabin, told him he is welcome anytime.

Do you have a reputation where they need to check you?

Used to do the same in San Saba, they would come in and have coffee ready for us when we came back in from hunting.

Have always given GW keys an comb to places I have, So far I have never had issues with poachers, trespassers, or vandalism. Words get around fast when GW has access. When you follow all TPW regs you dont have to worry about GW droppn in.....

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I agree with all of these replies that have to do with letting, and I mean 'letting' GW's on the land. The only time they can legally come on private property is when they, just as all law enforcement agents, have a reasonable doubt/belief that a crime is being committed.
Contrary to popular belief, a game warden has no more authority to come on private property without a warrant or the landowners permission other than his observance of a crime. (This does not disallow them watching through binocs.)If someone doesn't believe me, please post the law that says a game warden has the right to come on any private property anytime, anywhere he/she wants.
Please post the law that says a GW can walk a mile into your private property and just 'nose around'.
I'll wait.
But as to what I said before.... they are most welcome.
I, along with all my fellow family/hunters, have always SOUGHT OUT and told the local GW's and told them that they are always welcome.
My grandfather, on our old quail lease, had a tin shack with water and electricity so they could make coffee, or hot chocolate. (Heck of a lot closer than town.) Later, after they were invented, he put in a micro-wave for their breakfast burritos.
I WANT Gws on the property I hunt. I have, and never will, have a problem with being checked. That's what we PAY THEM FOR!
But please people, there is nowhere in the constitution that gives them any more leeway on private property than any other agency.
Please don't take me wrong, but the U.S. constitution still works for all government agencies, including the GW's.
God Bless Them.

You sure about that nonsequitur? Pretty sure the GW has authority to go anywhere anytime, with or without reasonable cause of a crime. Can you post something that says otherwise?

Matt, they are required to have the same burden of proof as any other LEO. They can't just walk around on private property for no reason.

Ive had one tell me, "son you would be suprised how many gate combos are 30-06."
Needless to say we changed the combo but we still let the game warden know what it is. They are out at our place all the time. they never check us though.

I know they can't just go onto people's property for the heck of it, but they do not have to "observe" a crime being committed in order to gain access to your property.

Only if they have reason to believe hunting is going on. If not than they can not enter without probable cause.

The possible crime doesn't have to be on your property for them to be there. From my experience, 99% of the GW's are great people. Did have an instance of one that was less-than a good person about 20 years ago, but he eventually lost his job over transgressions.

The GW's use my place a good bit to keep an eye on the road hunters. We're one of the highest spots in the county and they can see many miles in several directions. If they wanted to stay 24/7 I wouldn't have a problem with it. Of course, I'm not breaking any laws so I don't have anything to worry about.

Well years ago when I was in LE they had a lower standard of proof for entrance and contact than we did... I sure can't quote the case law, and I am not a lawyer, but I have seen several cases where they could make a search stick when I couldn't have...


There's some on here, maybe they will chime in or at least send us a PM...

But before I denied one access, I'd be sure I was correct and had a lawyer lined up, you'll need it.

I am very anti government, but the game warden's are the least of our worries... they are always welcome...

Other LEOs need a warrant to search you. A game warden does not. There is a difference.

If a state trooper pulls me over and asks "what's in the ice chest," I can tell him to shove it. A game warden can check without a warrant.

Brad, you hit the nail on the head. If they have a reason to believe that you are engaging in any hunting or fishing activity, that gives them reasonable cause.

So if you are at a known deer lease, during hunting season, that gives them reasonable cause. That has always been my take on it.

You still waiting?

Sec. 12.103. ENTERING LAND; USE OF INFORMATION OBTAINED BY ENTRY; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) To enforce the game and fish laws of the state and to conduct scientific investigations and research regarding wild game or fish, an authorized employee of the department may enter on any land or water where wild game or fish are known to range or stray. No action may be sustained against an employee of the department to prevent his entering on land or water when acting in his official capacity as described by this subsection.

You left out subsection
(b)In the event a GW doesn't have the right to enter said property, what are YOU gonna do about it??? Get a lawyer? Yea right how much will that cost you? File a complaint? Sure go ahead, but be ready to be checked daily by the GW and possibly harrassed by every other LEO he has coffee with within 100 mi. radius.

I learned a long time ago, dealing with LEOs that your best course of action is always "Yes sir" and "No sir" and NEVER try to quote the law to them.

They're generally not bad guys, if you're not a "bad guy".

I agree, I'd rather have them on my side than the other way around.