I was speaking with a game warden one time and he said that if he sees you fishing on a private pond on your land, he can come o

[Sarge01]

Sarge may correct me on this but from what I understand, at least in WV, DNR authority meets or exceeds that of the state police so they can go where they deem necessary, IF I understand it right.

You are just about right. Open any coolers or containers where fish or game may be kept, truck backs car trunks etc. As far as private ponds. the owner does not need a license to fish in it but the general public does

[Solitario Lupo]

Guess it depends on the state but if the owner lets it be fishable to the public then you would need a license. Other than that if you own it then you don’t need a license. Some wardens are just plain idiots with to much power.

[CADYTANI]

Game wardens would be promptly escorted off my pond. No public resources there to be monitored. If I were shooting ducks Bluestacks Lucky Patcher Kodi, that would be another matter.

Do you think this is right? Public waters, no question. But if i build a pond on my land, pay to have it stocked with fish, I should be able to do whatever I want with it. Its mine!

[Black]

Damn right man. When get down to it, it's legalized extortion. Nothing else.

[Ha]

Technically If you have permission once to go fishing there you can go back at least 3 times but the 4th time you should probably ask. But that's just me. I don't know how all land owners are but my neighbors are pretty nice and probably wouldn't care if I fished at their pond without permission. Oh and the game warden thing is bullshit!

[Dan Lindsey]

I agree mate, they shouldn't be able to do that unless they have probable cause that you are doing something illegal.

It's just one more prime example of government over reach. America is now a bonafide police state. Take a look around.

[Maymaysdad]

I respect the laws and game wardens as long as they are not the few trying to make a name for themselves! I am in the middle of a home remodel, live in a VERY rural area, nearest neighbors are 500 yds away and are my family, as I mentioned I am remodeling so I have a lot of scrap material to take to dump, have it in a pile in my field beside my house (wasn't paying 700 buck a week for a dumpster) and when the pile is big enough I haul it off to dump LEGALLY! Well a new opossum cop in our area stopped by and left a warning for me to get it cleaned up! This just rubbed me the wrong way, I keep my property very clean, kept and improving and I get a warning because I was waiting to take a full load rather than ten small loads! Why not go and stop real crime rather than messing with folks that are trying to improve their property?!

[Ncarl]

I call BS on the warden. but maybe its different in your state.

[99explorer]

Wading birds pick up fish eggs on their feet and transfer them to other bodies of water as they travel. That is Mother Nature's way of stocking ponds.
So, even if the owner does not stock his pond, it would soon have fish living in it. Just sayin.'

[007]

Thanks Sarge. I wasn't sure. Got the lights back on? Friends in Charleston had to abandon ship and seek refuge at a motel in Clarksburg, still no power.

[DEER30]

Please do not mistake my disbelief of this law as a dislike for game wardens or the DNR. I have only spoken with game wardens on three occasions and they have all been pleasant. This particular one was as well and we were just shooting the breeze while he was checking my license on a Virginia trout stream.

I know the wardens have a tough job and are usually spread thin over large areas and they have my respect.

[fezzant]

In Colorado, any law enforcement officer can enter private lands without permission to check a hunting or fishing license. However, if it's your pond that you stocked, no license is required, and they can't come on the check you. When I was working as a ranger, we would not generally cross your property unless you requested it or we had some other cause (like we knew you, and knew the person fishing wasn't you).

[buckhunter]

Game Wardens have a tough job. I'm all for any advantage they need to catch the bad guys. I have had nothing but pleasant conversation with every Warden I have ever met. Of course, I am always legal.

[FirstBubba]

DEER30

In which state do you reside?

My state? No license required on a private pond on YOUR property.
Private pond or not, if you're NOT the owner, a "license" IS required.
I suppose ticketing a "guest" on a private pond would be up to the discretion of the officer.

[BippityBoopityMate]

I agree mate, they shouldn't be able to do that unless they have probable cause that you are doing something illegal.