Should Maine Game Wardens Operate With an Annual Quota System?
By V. Paul Reynolds When they receive their badges, Maine game wardens take an oath. As state conservation officers, it is their solemn duty to protect Maine’s natural resources. They do this, of course, by catching violators of Maine’s fish and game laws. It is what wardens do. If you exceed your legal bag limit of trout or kill a turkey out of season you are breaking the law and, in effect, stealing Maine’s natural resources. Since wardens were wardens there has always been debate, and sometimes strong disagreement, about just what constitutes “reasonable enforcement.” For example, deterrence is part of modern law enforcement. A warden who “shows the uniform,” in an area where there is a lot of fishing activity, is engaging in an enforcement function. In some cases it may be best for a game warden to educate by simply issuing a warning to an unintentional violator. He can then come down hard on intentional violators and repeat offenders who break state fish and game laws without hesi
