This is probably a stupid question, but what determines where they go on any given day?

I was eating lunch in Jones Valley yesterday and two of them were eating at the same place. It just got me wondering. Do they have regular patrols, or just go where they get calls? Or both? With so few covering such a large area, I would imagine that would be difficult to do.

They've got to be going on something. I doubt they just drive around. But I also doubt they'll tell you why they do what they do.

When I hunted dope for the county, often the GW's and sometimes ABC would come with me...GW's looking for baited fields, ABC looking for stills.

GW made some good cases by photographing fields that arrestee's later claimed they had grown the corn in then mowed it down. I remember one guy that argued in court that the corn was grown in place. GW produced pics he took in the summer when we were there, about 5 stalks of white corn growing in a couple acres, then pics of when the guy was arrested, whole field carpeted in yellow corn. Judge gave the guy a couple chances to backtrack, then found him guilty of baiting AND contempt of court, for lying (and probably just being stupid).

Because GWs can go into any property without a search warrant, I suspect other LEO agencies love to have them around.

They will TELL you they spend a lot of boot leather looking for bait but I suspect they find more from friends and neighbors telling on people than what they just "stumble" across.

My girlfriends uncles were both very high up Alabama gamewardens

Any agency can go onto any property a GW can. The Open Field Doctrine is not exclusive to any particular agency. If I wanted to search a bag with no warrant and said I was looking for evidence of game from hunting, I'd have the same authority to do so as a GW. Hopefully, no officer would try that though because everyone would see through that. Generally speaking, GWs are the only ones that enforce game laws but police officers and deputies could if they took a notion, which would probably be against their agency head's wishes.

The agents that officers like to have with them are Parole/Probation officers because when granted parole or probation you consent to have your house searched by an PO at anytime for any reason.

Thanks for the clarity, jawbone. I'd been told specifically by a law enforcement officer that he and his department loved having the GWs with them "because they can go anywhere, look around for any reason and then let us know what's there so we can bust people."

Jawbone you have to have actual probable cause to search a bag you know that pesky 4th amendment prevents unlawful search and seizures. I guess you could but any evidence would be throw out in court w/ any lawyer worth a dang.

Game wardens can ask to see what's in your game bag or other areas (like a cooler in a truck, livewell in a boat, etc.) at any time for any reason.

Incorrect, sir. Not for game wardens, or law enforcement looking for game. I don't really agree with that, but I don't make the rules.

Nope. Only if you are hunting, fishing or they have evidence you have been doing one of those activities. They can't just stop you going down the road and ask to look in your cooler.

220-2-.12 Game Bag, Hunting Coat, Etc., Shall be Open to
Inspection

(1) Pursuant to the Code of Alabama, 1975, Sections 9-11-259 and 9-11-
85, which provided in effect that all game birds, animals or fish taken or
killed in this State must at all times be carried or transported openly and
that all game birds, animals or fish carried or transported in an illegal
manner shall be confiscated and disposed of under regulations by the
Commissioner;

any live box, holding box, game bag, hunting coat, camping equipment, or like receptacles, or any automobile or boat used for the carrying or holding of any fish, game birds, or game animals or any gun or fishing tackle used in hunting or fishing shall be subject to inspection by officers of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources at all times upon proper identification of said officer.

Any person who refuses to allow inspection of the above named articles
shall be in violation of this regulation and shall be punished as provided
by law.
_________________________________

Well, yeah. Reference the Barbour County (Macon? Bullock? All?) traffic stops in a prior thread this summer.

Better check out the laws concerning enforcement of Game and fish laws. GWs can search any bag which may contain game and thus, any law officer, while conducting a Game and Fish investigation can conduct said search of bag. Like I alluded to earlier, the problem they will have is explaining what they were doing conducting a G&F search and "happen" to find other contraband. Ricky's going to have a lot of spaining to do on that one and I would imagine it would be for naught. But if, they were conducting a legitimate G&F investigation and could convince the court it was legit, it would fly.

Legitimate is the key word there. They would have to have probable cause to conduct an investagation.

???

Our definition of what an investigation must differ. For 30 years I have conducted investigations in order to obtain probable cause not wait for probable cause before I investigate.

Unfortunately, there are bad apples in all law enforcement trying to find PC to search when none exists. I'm sure the majority of game wardens do the right thing and use their powers for legitimate investigations involving game animals and crime like poaching. However, there are also shady ones looking to get activity and try to pull a fast one on an unsuspecting citizen who has done nothing wrong and doesn't understand the GW has no PC to search. Most people who have done nothing wrong will gladly show their bag or cooler off when they don't have to. Know you're rights.

Damn, man. You've been doing it wrong for 30 years! C'mon!