Guns of the Game Wardens

[EL34/6L6]

Fish & Game Wardens are American.
Many of them are LEOs as well in some states. They can and do assist Sheriff offices during the course of their duty. There firearms can and will be drawn on criminals if need be.
This is not a general or typical duty, but it is in effect in many states.

Canada has Conservation Officers. They are essentially bylaw officers of the bush.
Their firearms are only to be used to dispatch an animal or for predator control.

 

[Chas]

I believe the Ontario CO's that carried the P7 used that firearm in plain clothes. They also used old S+W Model 64s in the .38spl era. Went with various H+K Platforms in 40 when Ontario police converted to semi autos. Now carry Glock 17m like the OPP. I have no idea about their long guns but I heard they just got some patrol carbines.

Ontario COs carried HK USP's (DAO were most common, some compacts and double single - depending what the officer did), they never carried the P7. The USPs were well past their service life based on age and number of rounds fired in training. Parts & tritium sights were an issue as HK USA would not deal with MNR due to the relatively low numbers of units, had to deal with HK Germany which caused huge issues in trying to import replacements. Now carrying the Glocks as piggybacked on the same purchase with OPP.

Shotguns were Remington 870s.

The semi auto rifles recently issued are the .308s by Daniel Defense. Nice and quality piece of kit.

Canada has Conservation Officers. They are essentially bylaw officers of the bush.
Their firearms are only to be used to dispatch an animal or for predator control.

I tried to ignore this and go to bed as I didnt want to deal with a troll, but bottom line is you have no ####ing idea what you are talking about.

Period.

Full stop.

Good night.

 

[MiG25]

Fish & Game Wardens are American.
Many of them are LEOs as well in some states. They can and do assist Sheriff offices during the course of their duty. There firearms can and will be drawn on criminals if need be.
This is not a general or typical duty, but it is in effect in many states.

Canada has Conservation Officers. They are essentially bylaw officers of the bush.
Their firearms are only to be used to dispatch an animal or for predator control.

They were certainly called Game Wardens in BC. Conservation Officer is just part of the larger trend of renaming things.

 

[Johnyy]

Better to have it and not need it. You know the rest.

Ok, ya..but, even 'alone' in the Forest I feel a 12-gauge pump with 00 Buck & slugs would suffice. Personally, I'd rather have that, with the sidearm, then lug a heavy AR-10 /bunch of 20 round mags around in the bush. Esp if folding a stock & 18" {or smaller} barrel. The 'rack' sound alone lol would have 'em ####tin their poach'in pants

Seems kinda like, the 'Militarization' of Game Wardens now? Unless my quick Google fu's wrong..there have been 2 documented cases of Canadian Wildlife/Wardens being shot while on duty, in the last 50 years. Seems overkill... Take ours {AR's}, but give, even a lower sense of "Authority" {General Public sense}, with very low record of needing a firearm to combat / diffuse Human threats, High grade Military' weapons, to patrol bad guys on the Crowns' land & lakes.?. {& private land too} I'm still with the consensus that they don't need anything more than a pump 12 gauge or a high powered bolt action, {+ they have sidearms too} unless...well...yada yada.

 

[hoytcanon]

I think CO'S carry .40 cal Glocks as their sidearm here... they definitely have Defender style 12 gauges available, not sure "if or what" rifles might be employed?

 

[hoytcanon]

Ok, ya..but, even 'alone' in the Forest I feel a 12-gauge pump with 00 Buck & slugs would suffice. Personally, I'd rather have that, with the sidearm, then lug a heavy AR-10 /bunch of 20 round mags around in the bush. Esp if folding a stock & 18" {or smaller} barrel. The 'rack' sound alone lol would have 'em ####tin their poach'in pants

Seems kinda like, the 'Militarization' of Game Wardens now? Unless my quick Google fu's wrong..there have been 2 documented cases of Canadian Wildlife/Wardens being shot while on duty, in the last 50 years. Seems overkill... Take ours {AR's}, but give, even a lower sense of "Authority" {General Public sense}, with very low record of needing a firearm to combat / diffuse Human threats, High grade Military' weapons, to patrol bad guys on the Crowns' land & lakes.?. {& private land too} I'm still with the consensus that they don't need anything more than a pump 12 gauge or a high powered bolt action, {+ they have sidearms too} unless...well...yada yada.

If we are going to send them into the field, they have a right to be adequately armed to protect themselves. Personally, I think if someone is going to attempt to kill a man over a deer or moose, then light that azzhat up.

 

[Jetman]

If we are going to send them into the field, they have a right to be adequately armed to protect themselves. Personally, I think if someone is going to attempt to kill a man over a deer or moose, then light that azzhat up.

exactly this, most people commiting a fish or game crime know they are doing it and are ready to accept the minor punishment , however the officers do have the chance of coming across a fugitive on the run. or a grow opp.. or just simple a guys whos gone mental.

 

[Gatehouse]

Has there been actually any 'fire fights' in the bush, as per why do they need 'Semi-auto / Military Grade Carbines? I get, if to dispatch an aggressive / nuisance or injured Bear or large game, a nice 12 gauge pump or bolt action .308 should suffice..No?
Why do they need all that fire power? Has there been history of violent poachers in the bush or something?

*quick Google search, I see one shooting instance 50 years back, & one in 2004. So, 2.

What does it matter what they use? Guns all do the same thing, which is to shoot projectiles.

 

[wannabe]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Dallas

 

[pathfinder76]

Parks Canada issued pre 64 Model 70 270’s. I think a bunch of them were decommissioned 25 years ago. One of the great modern day tragedies.

 

[383SB]

They were certainly called Game Wardens in BC. Conservation Officer is just part of the larger trend of renaming things.

Ive heard them both terms used but in BC they’ve officially been called conservation officers for a long time,
from a page on the history of the BCCOS,

“In 1961, game wardens were officially renamed "conservation officers".”



https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Conservation_Officer_Service

 

[freddyfour]

Fish & Game Wardens are American.
Many of them are LEOs as well in some states. They can and do assist Sheriff offices during the course of their duty. There firearms can and will be drawn on criminals if need be.
This is not a general or typical duty, but it is in effect in many states.

Canada has Conservation Officers. They are essentially bylaw officers of the bush.
Their firearms are only to be used to dispatch an animal or for predator control.

Considering it is a provincial matter and every province is different this statement makes absolutely no sense. Here in Ontario Conservaion officers are Peace Officers with all the same powers and responsibilities as any other LEO in the province.

 

[PSE]

One of the more dangerous LEO jobs out there.

Everyone you meet is guaranteed armed (in many cases better than you are). You are a one man patrol - alone, far from any backup. Poaching penalties are severe, entailing sometimes seizure of gun, vehicle, high dollar fine and loss of hunting privileges therefore the inclination to resist any Law enforcement action could be high.

I say arm them with whatever they want - It's a job I wouldn't want.

 

[TheCoachZed]

Fish & Game Wardens are American.
Many of them are LEOs as well in some states. They can and do assist Sheriff offices during the course of their duty. There firearms can and will be drawn on criminals if need be.
This is not a general or typical duty, but it is in effect in many states.

Canada has Conservation Officers. They are essentially bylaw officers of the bush.
Their firearms are only to be used to dispatch an animal or for predator control.

In NB, they morphed into Public Safety and now have powers that make the police jealous. Well, that was always the case, but when they were just Fish & Game Wardens, they were unconcerned with offences outside F&G violations. Now, they are basically supercops.

 

[bcsteve]

In NB, they morphed into Public Safety and now have powers that make the police jealous. Well, that was always the case, but when they were just Fish & Game Wardens, they were unconcerned with offences outside F&G violations. Now, they are basically supercops.

This is a myth that is often repeated. When enforcing the Fish and Wildlife Act, RCMP and municipal police officers have the same authority as Conservation Officers.

 

[Warden70]

Been doing the job for 20 years. Here in NS we currently carry Sig P226 9mm pistols. We were originally armed with .38 SW revolvers in 1989 and followed suit in modernizing after the police made the switch to semi-auto pistols. We still lag behind in this way. Game Wardens or Conservations Officers in most provinces take an oath of office which gives them all powers and immunities of peace officers under the Criminal Code of Canada, but more specifically, the various powers and authorities granted under the legislation they enforce. Department policy also dictates what is enforced. We do much more than fish and game. Park enforcement, which is pretty much policing, Forestry Regulations, Crown Lands, Forest Fire Protection, Wilderness areas, and Off Highway Vehicles, etc. Add in our cross-appointments such as Federal Fisheries and Migratory birds. In all about 90 different pieces of legislation…. Okay, back to guns. In addition to the P226, we are only now being issued 12 ga. pump shotguns! We’ve asked for taser and patrol carbines, but the bureaucrats aren’t ready to go down that road. There is much reluctance to do so in many provinces and there is a real lack of recognition that we are LEO’s. Times are changing and many provinces are integrating our duties with police. The change is slow, but we think this will be the future. In recent times, we’ve been tasked with such things like border detail during Covid and assisted emergency management during the aftermath of hurricane Fiona. So more police-like roles than the usual fur and feathers lol.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

Been doing the job for 20 years. ...... So more police-like roles than the usual fur and feathers lol.

Thanks for joining the conversation, and confirming the information.

Two unusual powers I remember from my time in Alberta Parks, were the power to enter a dwelling or vehicle without a search warrant. Probably because going to a JP with probable cause would be impossible. The other was to demand intentions of a member of the public. 'Where are you going?' Do you have anything similar?

 

[Midnight Rider]

I believe in N.B. , Conservation Officers were being given universally issued 40 cal. pistols ; and it is up to the individual Natural Resources/Ranger Offices to decide what type of long arms to buy as there seems to be quite a variety of different long guns being used . Not sure if that is still the current practice or not .

 

[nowarningshot]

They were certainly called Game Wardens in BC. Conservation Officer is just part of the larger trend of renaming things.

Constipation officers, or meter maids with guns

 

[DANCESWITHEMPTIES]

Sure, I've heard some stories but can't say in over 35 + years of fishing & hunting in 2 different provinces, I've ever had a negative interaction with a Conservation officer. Alberta's DNR officers were especially polite while conducting routine checks. Your mileage may vary...