I’m about to upset some people. But.

I see several suggestions on here, no today or last week but randomly. To call the GW on when to shoot a deer. I understand some are trying to be responsible. It seems it’s a waste of the GW time. If in question on antler size, don’t shoot. Kinda unfair to ask a guy to make a judgement over a picture.

I know two of my County GW-s. I know him well enough to text him. The only thing I ask is rut stuff. But ONLY because I’m far away and have a fairly personal relationship with him.

Just me, but I don’t see a need to ask which deer to shoot.

Never thought about it but I could see this becoming a problem given the popularity of game cameras and it being so easy to send photos to officers. If I were an officer, my standard response would be if you’re not sure, don’t shoot. The rules that govern antler restrictions are simple and easy to understand IMO. I agree. Why bother an officer with something that you should be able to determine yourself.

Have a warden friend. You’d be surprised how many times a day he’s called and asked simple questions like season dates, bag limits, 2 buck counties or asking him to come look a trail cam pics of mt lions or young bucks that don’t make 13” etc.... He does his best but it drives him crazy. He tells me all the time people either can’t read or have no reading comprehension because 90% of his calls are stuff that’s in the free handbooks or easily found online. He jokes that the “find your warden website” will be his downfall. Anybody can google his number and call him anytime.

He is a good guy, answers every call and usually gives the info they need.

My two best friends are GWs from two neighboring counties, both took an earlier retirement, and went another direction. The stuff that 8pointdrop mentioned, they got tired of it. Their cell phones ring over the stupidest stuff. People just don't have any common sense nor the initiative to look information up, especially when it is readily available.

The 13" rule has been around for a long time. If you can't judge 13", don't shoot.

Thank you for your topic Roll-Tide!

Too many lazy/uneducated people pursuing the hunting lifestyle.

This!

Just make sure GW isn't at the processor. Problem solved on a questionable deer...

or learn something quit being lazy save yourself a boatload of money and process it yourself

That too

I was with you all the way up to "Roll-Tide!" Unfortunately, I pretty sure you guys are going to "roll" my Tigers. We'll see...

You just never know with college football.
Some of my most entertaining seasons were because of an unlikely Alabama loss.

If love the picture text while in the stand after hearing a shot, is this 13 inches? Happened last year. I got 12 15/16ths... Kid said 13 so it was 13.

Our GW comes by quite a bit and although he is all business, he seems like a nice guy and never had a reason to write us a ticket or anything.

A couple years ago a high fence a couple properties over released pheasants and we don't have a season for them. We had a couple show up on our place, we took pictures, but that was about it.

He came by to do a check and I brought up the pheasant and asked if we could take one, even though there is no season, since they were released birds. He turned his camera on and started filming, LOL. He said no and asked if I had any pics, which I did on my phone.

We never shot any and haven't seen them in a while, probably got eaten by cats or coyotes. That I thought was a fair question, but when it comes to deer AR, if you are not sure, then don't shoot.

I would have never thought to text a pic to a game warden and ask if 13in...


If I was a gw I would have a canned response along the lines of it’s up to the hunter to know if the deer meets regulation.


Glad I am not in an ar county

Maybe that's the only buck they have on their property, and just have to kill something so they can try to justify all that money they spent on a lease.

that is a total waste of time for the GW. Agree with the others, people need to learn to judge deer on their own.
When in doubt shoot a doe, no guessing then!!

shoot it and leave it lay if it's not
legal just like a whole lot of people
do but don't ever talk about

Ha! I can't even get the GW to call back within an hour when I catch poachers in the act. I doubt he'd call back quick enough for me to take a shot at a questionably legal buck.

I find it interesting that some will call a GW for anything while at hunting camp.
Trespassing, theft, assault, vandalism, suspicious vehicle, etc. I would call the sheriff for any of those things, at home or at the ranch.
I call the Game Warden for things concerning... game.

Let’s start shunning those who say “check with the GW”.

^^^This^^^

Their job is to enforce the law's that are in place, not be your personal biologist!

Yeah I wouldn't bother a GW with anything like that