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Was wondering how often anyone was ever checked in on while shoot outdoors in WA? How was the encounter? I figured as long as it's not during a ban burn there wouldn't really be probable cause to make a trip out unless someone reported.
 
I wouldn't call them run ins more like polite conversations. But then I'm retired from the BLM and wasn't doing anything sketchy. Plus I've got the proper fire gear and a litter stick with trash bags.
 
I wouldn't call them run ins more like polite conversations. But then I'm retired from the BLM and wasn't doing anything sketchy. Plus I've got the proper fire gear and a litter stick with trash bags.
Yeah doesn't have to run in, polite conversation is okay. I just never see anyone out other than occasional people driving past probably going to hike or looking for a place to shoot.
 
Yeah doesn't have to run in, polite conversation is okay. I just never see anyone out other than occasional people driving past probably going to hike or looking for a place to shoot.
I would suspect my world and yours are a bit different. I'm a retired woods worker and still out there quite a bit most every week so see other woods workers including Rangers.
 
Was wondering how often anyone was ever checked in on while shoot outdoors in WA? How was the encounter? I figured as long as it's not during a ban burn there wouldn't really be probable cause to make a trip out unless someone reported.
Here in Oregon I have had one LEO check on me while shooting on public lands in the past 40 years. We had a large group and the officer was respectful and friendly. He was basically just checking stuff out. He declined the offer to "show us how it is done" with a polite smile and chuckle. I didn't notice him deliberately recording license plate numbers but assume he would do so without making a deal out of it. He did not ask for any ID's. I think he was a Sherriff's deputy.

Most of the time I shoot at less well known, less populated places. The particular place the LEO appeared was a popular safe abandoned gravel pit and surrounded by homeless camps (who would scavenge the brass after people left). A friends half brother who she had just met for the first time was visiting from Russia. Even though that was a couple years ago I am pretty sure he is still smiling and showing shooting pictures to his buddies (Those crazy Americans!!!!). :D He was pretty enamored with my Desert Eagle. I am pretty sure we had more firearms out that day than all of the Russian small arms in Ukraine.
 
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I have. Back when I was 18 shooting at Jones Creek, I had a positive run in with rangers. Young and dumb me was shooting down a road. Now, I was shooting into a burm, and had a clear line of sight for any oncoming traffic, however, it was still illegal. The ranger was a cool guy and politely told me it was illegal to shoot on, next to, or over an established road. He didn't issue a ticket, or even a formal warning.
 
I have had a few run-ins with rangers I did not know on public lands. Only a few times were shooting, the rest were while hiking/camping (mostly checkups on fire safety). All were polite and were just there to make sure we were following the rules and being safe.

I have also been on the other side of those interactions, as a lot of my buddies while I was young worked as rangers or in "ranger adjacent" roles and I would ride along with them for boring shifts. Occasionally we would bump into people and hop out to chat. Some of those got interesting, like illegal campers, but I was only ever along for the "scout" shifts, not the "we actually have to enforce the rules now" shifts. Those were done with a lot more bodies, sometimes with local law enforcement backup (because the rangers, while having actual law enforcement powers, never got any respect. When they wanted to send a message the local sheriff carried a lot more weight with the miscreants than a ranger.)

If you are polite and following the rules you are not likely to have any issues, but I am aware there are departments that like to play the "respect my ahthoritah!" games more than others. YMMV
 
Up at March Mountain they seem to be around semi regularly. Only place I've ever talked to any game official really. I was shooting and didn't have my discover pass displayed. He stopped and we chatted for a few minutes. He asked if I had it, I told him yes, and he was on his way.
 
Several times while hunting - Mount Emily and Northside - we have had game officers come into camp. We typically offer them a seat and something to drink - coffee normally. Be freindly and repectful to them and the same is returned. Never had a problem.
 
Couple times, on Washington State forest land. Both times the ranger glanced at windshields to see if we had displayed a Discovery Pass and then looked over the firing line. First time, the ranger thanked me and the grand kids for picking up trash. Second time, I warned a couple young guys at the pit that the ranger would ask about the Discovery Pass and they were packing up when he approached them. No ticket, but after they left we cleaned up the mess they left.
 
Was wondering how often anyone was ever checked in on while shoot outdoors in WA? How was the encounter? I figured as long as it's not during a ban burn there wouldn't really be probable cause to make a trip out unless someone reported.
As a kid in wa shooting in the woods it was more often than I would like. Never any issue at all but they always checked what you were doing. But that was a long time ago. No recent experiences.

I had DNR guy chew me out in wa before the recent gun ban. Site was not posted or marked in any way and lots of debris from other shooters and big berm so I thought it was ok. He said it was closed but I have no idea how anyone would know that.
 
Met with a few while shooting or hunting....
Had lunch with a Game Warden during a cold azz rain storm during deer season.
We both were grateful for my fire and coffee.
Never had an issue....any interaction has been polite and very easy going.
Andy
 
One time, probably 40 years ago my buddy and I were stopped on our way home at a "checkpoint" for deer/deer tags. We had tags, no deer and no blood on us. Chatted for a couple of minutes and we headed on home.

When I am hunting I don't want to see anyone. :)
 
In over 50 years of hunting and shooting I have only had a couple bad encounters.
When I was a teen, and you could still ride in the back of a pickup, My Dad [who was nearly deaf] was driving a whole truck load of hunters back to camp.
as we were stopping at our camp a ranger pulled in behind us and asked to see licenses and open chambers of all the rifles.
Dad never even saw them and walked away like he was fleeing an interview. everyone in the truck was trying to tell the ranger he was deaf and not running from him. finally, Mom turned him around to see the ranger! Dad about fell over!
The other was in the 90's, 7 hunter's were on a Pheasant hunt using double and single shot break open guns . Someone from Fish and Game came out into the field we were hunting wanting to see licenses, and check our magazines. It must have been his first day because he was reading off a list of things to check. he had a clear plastic hose marked off for how long the mag could be , but could not figure out where to measure on my SxS. after an hour he got frustrated and gave up. He was being such a Dork I was not going to help him.
Other than that they have been pretty good guys. DR
 
I wouldn't call them run ins more like polite conversations.
This has been my experience. Last time was simply a drive-by. He was a DNR ranger, retired from WSP. He was fully equipped, he even had a quad and ramps in the back of his truck. They are out there, maybe not often seen. He told me in the Northwest District of the DNR, which consists of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Island and San Juan Counties, plus a little chunk of northeast King County, there are two such officers. That's a pretty big territory. But their services are not often needed in some areas, like Island and San Juan Co's. But here is the deal: If you don't have your Discover Pass in possession when one does come by, you're gonna get a ticket. By the way, most counties deputize DNR officers with the same powers as local county deputies. So they can enforce in areas that may not be within DNR boundaries.

BUT: You are more apt to be contacted by a county sheriff's deputy when it comes to this sort of encounter. And state Dept. of Fish and Wildlife officers have been known to hassle non-hunting shooters who are doing wrong.

Obey the law, don't be a dick, be respectful, you'll be okay.
 
I see them quite often, as I'm out there quite often. I always try to flag them down and have a chat. Nothing to hide, I know the rules, use legal targets, got my fire safety gear and a WA Discover Pass. I also always set up a collapsible trash can next to the firing line to show I clean up. So nothing to fear if they stop.

In our discussions, I learned that some DNR police officers are directed to avoid target shooters due to possible confrontations. But when they do, it's mostly a pleasant encounter with possible verbal warnings if needed.

I've heard of some citations issued (but not enough nor severe enough to do much good). Most of those seem to be due to the attitude of the shooter. One officer told me he tried to tell a shooter he couldn't shoot a shotgun into the air without shooting into a dirt backstop, as there were trails on the other side of the tree line. It was simply going to be a warning, but the shooter began arguing with the officer and got belligerent, so he ended up with a citation.

Although encounters are few and far between, they usually turn out just fine if you're recreating responsibly and communicating respectfully.

Too bad there aren't more officers patrolling! I think we'd see more shooters being more cautious and a lot less trash in the forest.
Bill
 
During Covid a buddy and I were up in the woods shooting when 2 troopers in one truck drove by, backed up, and came over to talk with us.
We had probably 10 various firearms in the bed of my truck under the canopy, and probably another 10-12 on a blanket on the ground.
They walked up, laughed, and one of them said "looks like you got us out gunned".
They hung a bit chatting about guns and what not and said they loved that we had a tarp on the ground to collect empties and they appreciated it as so many just leave it on the ground.

Ive had a few not so great experiences out hunting and fishing though.
 

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