Goose dumping sentences

chummer · 02-12-2004, 03:04 PM

Sentences were negotiated with 4 of 5 of the guys who were turned in. 16 hours community service and if they stay out of trouble for one year, the charges will be dropped. The $500 they each paid the humane society was voluntary and not required. This did not sit right with me so I e-mailed the clackamas co. D.A., Bill Stewart, who is handling this case. Mr. Stewart handles all wildlife case in the county. He was nice enough to call me to discuss the issues surronding this case, and here's what he had to say. The reason they went easy on these 4 was because they went to the humane society and offered to re-imburse the reward. They were all aware of the uproar about this case, but it was only after someone turned them in that they decided to do the right thing. Mr. stewart was impressed that they willingly went to pay the reward fund. I felt and continue to feel a bit disappointed in the punishment for these guys poor judgement and the fact that they did nothing to correct their mistake even after reading about and hearing about the case on the news. It took someone turning them in and being arrested for them to do something. Mr Stewart assured me that the guy who actually dumped the geese would be dealt with much more severely, including some probable jail time. I expressed my opinion that a suspension of hunting privledges for 2 years (which is the max for a 1st offense)and completion of a hunter education course should also have been a part of the sentence. I also asked if they would be required to re-imburse the TIP fund. Mr. Stewart, who handles all wildlife cases in clackamas county was not aware of this program!

I pointed out to him that rarely do I ever see re-imbursement of this fund a part of sentencing, perhaps that is why. Please tell me that you ALL know what the TIP reward is! It disturbs me that the justice department is not aware of the tools available to them when prosecuting the people who harm the wildlife and the people of Oregon. In his defense, Mr. Stewart assured me he would contact OSP and make himself aware of this program. Anyway, keep your eyes open for the sentence handed down for the worst of the bunch.

OuhtforTrouht · 02-12-2004, 03:17 PM

Great post Chummer! I read about these paltry sentences and couldn't believe what I was reading!I hope Mr. Stewart throws the book at the guy who actually did the dumping of the geese,hopefully he'll take your advise and require that guy to reimburse the TIP program. It's sentences like these that make scofflaws feel that if they poach or waste OUR fish and wildlife and it's no big deal,because all they'll get in reality is a slap on the wrist. These guys deserve to get hammered and hard, to the full extent of the law. That's the only way they'll learn that their behavior is not acceptable and will not be tolerated!! Thanks for taking the time to call Mr.Stewart and express your opinion!

Bill Monroe · 02-12-2004, 07:05 PM

My understanding was that the four hunting partners pretty much did what many of us do from time to time...they assigned their bag limits to someone else. There are laws that allow that with all the right documentation, etc...essentially, then, perhaps they were simply victims themselves.
That said, though, I also recall from the original story that they all seemed a bit over the five-person possession limits.

Bait Bucket · 02-12-2004, 07:26 PM

Why wasn't this case tried before a Federal Magistrate rather than a county judge? I believe these fellows got off very lucky!

Norm · 02-12-2004, 07:48 PM

Thanks for the update. I think the sentances are little weak. Hopefully the dumper will get just punishment.Maybe we all need to drop a line to Mr Stewert and air our views.

chummer · 02-13-2004, 07:33 AM

I have no problem with them handing off the kill to one guy, I'm the designated butcher for our party. My complaint is that after the dumping came to light and these guys saw all the media coverage, they did NOTHING!! They waited until someone turned them in. The authorities had to come to them. They got off light, too light! in my estimation.

skein · 02-13-2004, 10:16 AM

Yeah, this was badly handled to say the least.

Not only did they kill the geese and hide until they were turned in, they gave $2,000 to one of the hunting community's premiere enemies, the Humane Society, an organization which believes all hunting should be stopped!

I'd say Mr. Stewart and his office served us well.

Skein

skein · 02-13-2004, 12:38 PM

They didn't "fess up." They got turned in. And they dumped the geese.

I think "poacher" is a pretty polite description.

Skein

Gun Rod Bow · 02-13-2004, 01:55 PM

Skein [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

ry · 02-13-2004, 03:26 PM

I don't think THEY dumped the geese I think only one guy that didn't want to mess with a bunch of stinky, greesy, crop eating geese, dumped them.

hookem · 02-13-2004, 03:55 PM

I can't remember, how many did they kill?

BrianMaguire · 02-13-2004, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Monroe:
My understanding was that the four hunting partners pretty much did what many of us do from time to time...

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">I guess some of you do this but this in and of itself may be legal but is unethical IMO. Why go out and hunt unless your goal is to kill game ane eat it (as Ted would say). If you are going to assign your game to someone else then what was the point to go hunting and actually kill something?

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Monroe:
they assigned their bag limits to someone else. There are laws that allow that with all the right documentation, etc...essentially, then, perhaps they were simply victims themselves.
That said, though, I also recall from the original story that they all seemed a bit over the five-person possession limits.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Victims my foot! I f they don't like eating greasy, crop eating, muddy gease then why shoot them under the guie of hunting? This is poaching in its worst form even if they were technically legal to shoot them - its blood lust. I have way more sympathy (none) for a guy shooting a big bull out of season for the horns, at, least he is using some of the parts.

[ 02-13-2004, 09:48 PM: Message edited by: BrianMaguire ]

BrianMaguire · 02-13-2004, 03:57 PM

please delete double post

[ 02-13-2004, 05:00 PM: Message edited by: BrianMaguire ]

BrianMaguire · 02-13-2004, 03:59 PM

opps double post - hey I am learning

Erich_870 · 02-13-2004, 04:06 PM

I think this doesn't send a strong enough message to the waste of harvested animals. I think that if you decide to give your limit to someone else, it is your responsibility to make sure you can trust them. The 4 guys who have to do community service are still responsible for thier buddy dumping the geese. They should have seen harsher punishment since they were turned in. If they heard the news and said,"uh oh, I think some of those are mine", and turned themselves in the punishment should be less. The actual person who dumped them is a poacher in my book. I don't know what the law says for the term poacher but I say its someone who harvests more than the legal limit, unethically disposes of harvested game, hunts out of season and so on. Just becuase you didn't kill more than the limit doesn't mean you can toss them in the woods.

Chummer, it might be interesting to see if Mr. Stewart ever did read up on the TIP fund with a call in a month or so [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

Just my $.02

Erich

Gun Rod Bow · 02-13-2004, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ry:
I don't think THEY dumped the geese I think only one guy that didn't want to mess with a bunch of stinky, greesy, crop eating geese, dumped them.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Wow, nice attitude. It takes about a minute to fillet the breasts. If they don't want to make use of them, they certainly shouldn't be hunting them

The anti hunters would LOVE you.

ry · 02-13-2004, 08:40 PM

I used words such as stinky and greesy to describe a goose and I stated that ONE person dumped all of the geese. So, why is it that anti hunters would LOVE me.

In the posts above my origional post it was being debated that 5 people were at fault, I however do not agree I think One person is the problem. That one person didn't want to mess with some yummy, tasty, beautiful geese. Is that better

In your post you said "it takes about a minute to fillet the breast". Are you saying you would waste or dump the rest of the bird -- those anti hunters wouldn't like that.

[ 02-13-2004, 09:45 PM: Message edited by: ry ]

dla · 02-13-2004, 11:44 PM

Absolutely wrong chummer! People like you need to get a grip! These guys are not poachers.
These guys are not poachers.
These guys are not poachers.
These guys are not poachers.
These guys are not poachers.

Perhaps not too bright, but they are not poachers.

And I think they did well by fessing up.

Sometimes people like you act like these guys were a bunch of murderers.