Wanna Do Something about Poaching?

Salmo trutta · 09-18-2006, 03:46 PM

The following is an email alert from Duane Dungannon, Oregon Hunters Association.

Maybe ifish'ers can collaborate and chip in to raise the ante. Or possible provide any info on this wanton waste of wildlife.

Thanks

Folks: There is some interest in trying to up the ante on this high-profile case to get someone to talk. Please advise ASAP if your chapter or other organization would like to contribute to this reward. We would like to send out a news release immediately about any extra amounts OHA and others are contributing. Thanks. -Duane Dungannon

NEWS RELEASE

OREGON STATE POLICE

Contact: Lieutenant Randy D. Scorby, Phone: (541) 523-5848 ext. 4070

REWARD OFFERED RELATED TO INVESTIGATION OF ILLEGAL KILLING OF A ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT IN BAKER COUNTY

The Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish & Wildlife Division is investigating the illegal killing of an adult female Rocky Mountain Goat in the Twin Lakes Basin area in the Elkhorn Mountains. A reward of up to $500.00 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible.

On September 5, 2006 Trooper Brad Duncan and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) Biologist Brian Ratliff responded to a report of a Rocky Mountain Goat that had been caught in a snare in the Twin Lakes Basin. The snare appeared to have been set intentionally on a goat trail near an established campsite. The goat had been snared around the neck and left to waste. The goat appeared to have been dead for five to seven days. During that time there was no lawful season for taking Mountain Goats, and a snare is not a legal method of take.

Evidence left at the scene has been photographed and collected for analysis.

Ryan Torland, an ODFW Wildlife Biologist in Baker City, said Mountain Goats are very sensitive to over-harvest, and even taking a few mature nannies can be detrimental to the herd as they possess herd knowledge such as migration and food sources. This goat herd is very important because it is being trapped to start a new population throughout the state. The herd is carefully monitored to make sure that trapping and sport harvest does not negatively effect the population. If harvest becomes too high, trap and transplant efforts may cease as well as sport harvest. It is vital to the continuation of this herd that illegal harvest does not occur.

The opportunity to lawfully harvest a Mountain Goat in the Elkhorn Mountains is very rare since there are only two tags issued for that area annually. There are only six mountain goat tags issued statewide.

Anyone who may have information on this investigation is requested to contact Trooper Brad Duncan at the Baker City Office at (541) 523-5867, x4172 or the "Turn in Poachers" hotline at 1-800-452-7888.??Information may be kept anonymous.

A reward of up to $500.00 from the Turn In Poachers (TIP) Reward Program is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the illegal killing and waste of the Mountain Goat in Baker County. The Oregon Hunters Association sponsors the TIP program, which offers rewards for many of OSP's fish & wildlife cases.

Duane Dungannon
State Coordinator, Oregon Hunters Association
Editor & Publisher, Oregon Hunter
PO Box 1706, Medford OR 97501
(541) 772-7313 Fax (541) 772-0964
www.oregonhunters.org

Hunt'nFish · 09-18-2006, 04:42 PM

I'll toss in $20.....not much, but if a hundred other of my IFish brothers will join me we could up it $2K.
Hunt'nFish

Beeatease · 09-18-2006, 05:34 PM

So where or who would we contact to add to the reward fund?

TonTo · 09-18-2006, 06:05 PM

Not try'n to hijack this thread,and I do hope that the poachers responsable are caught,reward or not.
Here is another sickning case that was in the Longview Daily News on friday.I realize it wasn't a goat but still sickens me to know it was just wasted.

Quote:

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is offering a reward for help solving an elk poaching case in Rose Valley.

Around midnight on Sept. 7, the day before archery season began, a bull elk was shot with a rifle in the Goble Creek area near the 6100 road. The antlers were cut off and the rest of the body left. The suspects entered the area, which was closed to all public entry because of fire danger, on ATVs, according to DFW enforcement officer Tammy Conklin.

The DFW is offering cash or bonus points to use for special permit hunts for information leading to the arrest of the suspects. Callers can remain anonymous.

Call Conklin at (360) 749-7195 or the WDFW hot line at 1-800-477-6224.

TonTo · 09-18-2006, 06:18 PM

Wanna Do Something about Poaching?

OK after posting the above thread I got to thinking,Ifish does reach alot of ppl,in both OR and WA as well as other states,and the thought hit me that we could possibly do more.I was thinking that maybe a sticky thread with information and contact numbers involving open poaching cases.Rewards could even be donated to Ifish if an Ifishers tip leads to an arrest and they choose to

,just a thought.Of course permit points I think I might have to keep for myself :grin:

Salmo trutta · 09-18-2006, 06:51 PM

Quote:

So where or who would we contact to add to the reward fund?

OHA administers the fund so I'd contact DD at the OHA state office. His number is at the bottom of the original post.

Salmo trutta · 09-19-2006, 11:24 AM

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers just contributed $250.00 toward the reward!!

Where are the rest of you guys?

Snakebite · 09-19-2006, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers just contributed $250.00 toward the reward!!

Where are the rest of you guys?

Poor and starving!...well, We had Prime Rib last night but it was our anniversary, give us a break.:grin:

Beeatease · 09-19-2006, 07:17 PM

I contacted DD as per instructions and he advised me to wait....

"John - I'll get back to you, but I don't think you need to send it unless they catch the crook. Thanks. -D"

Pledges from organizations maybe different than individual ones.....

Beeatease · 09-19-2006, 07:18 PM

I contacted DD as per instructions and he advised me to wait....

"John - I'll get back to you, but I don't think you need to send it unless they catch the crook. Thanks. -D"

Pledges from organizations maybe different than individual ones.....

dla · 09-20-2006, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers just contributed $250.00 toward the reward!!

Where are the rest of you guys?

Frankly, I could care less. Poaching is rampant in Oregon and I don't see anything special about this case.

Salmo trutta · 09-20-2006, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers just contributed $250.00 toward the reward!!

Where are the rest of you guys?

Frankly, I could care less. Poaching is rampant in Oregon and I don't see anything special about this case.

Now that's a great attitude!! What's the matter didn't draw any tags?

Oh well maybe we better worry more about something we can't do ANYTHING about like wolves. And blow off stuff we CAN do something about like poachers!! eh?

fool phishn · 09-20-2006, 12:44 PM

I see the goats on almost a daily bases they are kind of my pets and if the a-holes are caught I F&G dish out the same treatment to them as the goat got and as for you DLA may your house burn and I would care less!!!! JAKE

Jellyhead · 09-20-2006, 12:51 PM

As a trapper, I cringe to here when one of the trapper's tools is used to take a big game animal. There is no other reasonable exclamation for a snare being set in that area at that time other than poaching.

If it was set with the intention of catching a coyote (fur is worthless right now) It was unwisely set without a break away device that allows cattle and other large animals to break free.

I am very sorry to hear of this.

Aaron

Quaka Wacka · 09-20-2006, 01:02 PM

There are already incentives to turn in poachers. Besides protecting your future hunting, bonus points for controlled hunts or money to those who aid in catching poachers. If somebody knows about it and haven't turned them in already, it's not likely that a few thousand extra bucks will get them to turn in thier buddys. Especially if they were involved. If I thought that me sending in money would help catch poachers, I'd do it in a heartbeat. They are stealing wildlife from all of us. But to send in money to a fund that may or may not be used...? If they catch them I'll gladdly send in my money then. Like many others on this site, I have to pick and choose where my money gets donated, not saying its not a worthy cause. But don't get after guys not willing or able to donate.

Want to help stop poachers? Pay attenion in the woods and take good notes.

What to look for:

If you believe you have just witnessed a fish/wildlife violation, try and record all the necessary information:

Auto license number, make, model, year, description of vehicle (poor shape, off-road vehicle, camper shell, etc.).

Person the committed the violation (race, sex, color of hair, build), name, and address (if available).

Type of violation, when/where did it occur, or species.

Fool-Comments about peoples houses burning down, don't fit into the friendly, curtious conversations allowed here on ifish.

ehunter · 09-20-2006, 01:29 PM

well said that is a good reminder. Yes threats to burn down somebodies house are not needed.

RiverRogue · 09-20-2006, 02:36 PM

Good on you ST and Back Country Outfitters. I am not sure why Duane told Beeatease to hold off on giving to the fund. The "TIP" program is ongoing and if someone wants to donate, well...good on 'em! It might not be needed in this particular case, but there surely aren't a shortage of poaching cases. Furthermore, the whole idea of offering a reward is to raise awareness to this incident. And it may be likely that somone will not turn in someone (friend, family member, or __?) for $500 bucks, but with a mounting dollar figure and increased publicity, the word gets out more. Then through that awareness, more money is given till it gets enough attention, thusly making it worthwhile to turn in the offender. If anyone seriously wants to give, I would encourage them to foreward a check to OHA and specify that it go toward this case or any other they may be aware of. I am not aware of the specifics in this case, but I would guess they don't have much to go on or OSP would not resort to the award offering.

fool phishn · 09-20-2006, 02:37 PM

That was not a threat it was a statement that if it happened !!!! A little miswording on my part .