Behind the Badge - Timing is Everything
Timing is Everything
District Game Warden Zach Biberdorf
Being a game warden in the southwest part of North Dakota means you do not check many waterfowl hunters. This year, on opening day of regular waterfowl season while I was busy checking big game hunters, I was surprised to also encounter some waterfowl hunters.
I learned that day, a game warden being in the right place at the right time is half the battle.
I was on my way to our regional office in Dickinson to drop off some equipment. As I was crossing Highway 85, I noticed someone in their underwear retrieving ducks from a pond just off the highway right of way.
Above them on the bank was another person with a shotgun in their hand watching. I thought to myself, “I get to check some waterfowl hunters”, and they were not where I would expect.
Once I crossed the highway and turned around, I watched the two individuals for a few minutes. One of them got out of the water, and the other headed back towards their vehicle across the highway.
I timed it so I arrived at the vehicle at about the same time as the individual who had retrieved the ducks. Once we both got to their vehicle, I asked to look at the birds they had and the hunting licenses for both individuals.
The boyfriend, who was carrying a gun and the ducks out of the field, said he was not hunting. He told me that he came along to retrieve the ducks for his girlfriend as this was her first duck hunt. He said that only his girlfriend was hunting but forgot her hunting license in the pickup. He said that he’d told her to run back to the vehicle so she could show me the license when I got there.
I did not believe this one bit, but I let him think I did.
I then asked if they had any other guns with them. The boyfriend said they did not but that I could look in the vehicle if I wanted.
Once his girlfriend came out of the vehicle, I asked to look at her hunting license. She showed me her current license.
I then asked them several more questions and looked at the ducks before letting them go. After they left the area, I went back to where they’d been hunting and waited down the road away from the water.
I knew that the boyfriend was lying and not telling me what truly happened.
Around this time, I decided to look up both of their names in the ND Game and Fish licensing system. My suspicion was correct. The boyfriend did not have a hunting license, and the timestamp showed that the girlfriend bought her licenses as I was talking to the boyfriend, which was why she’d run back to the vehicle before I got there.
I knew that the boyfriend had been hunting but how would I prove it as I had not seen him shooting at the waterfowl? The boyfriend had also been overly friendly and even let me look in his vehicle for a second gun. I told myself if they did not come back that I would take a walk to look for anything they may have intentionally left behind.
Around that time, they came back and parked by the water. Once they saw me waiting, they left. I realized it was time to have another conversation with them to figure out what really happened.
I pulled them over to talk to them again. I told them that I had some more questions and that being honest would be the best thing for them to do.
Both admitted to hunting waterfowl without a license. The boyfriend said that he hid his gun in the field so I would not see it. I then walked out to the location of the gun with the boyfriend.
After, we met away from the highway, talked some more and I issued them citations.
Game wardens everywhere deal with people lying on a regular basis.
When people don’t tell the truth when given the opportunity it can affect the decision of the game warden, prosecuting attorney or the judge.
This can cost the individual more money in fines, and sometimes privileges being taken away.
In the end it is always better to be honest, as the truth will come out sooner or later.