Thiefs of our wildlife

[Bait O' Eggs]

I took off Friday night to Clatsop county to chase the elusive blacktail. I had planned on sleeping in the truck at the edge of a clearcut I had scouted a few weeks ago. It was 9 miles of gravel to get to this clearcut, and I never saw another vehicle from the time I turned off pavement. It was about 9:30 at night. I saw 3 does, 1 bobcat and a coyote in the road on the way in. Just as I get to the clearcut, I spot a little forked horn standing in the road. I have to admit I was tempted to end my hunting season right there. I watched that little buck for about a couple minutes while he looked at my headlights. He was froze so solid I thought for a minute it was the stuffed deer (scruffy) the gammies plant for people to shoot at night, just before they get there gun and vehicle taken away. I hear scruffy even twitches his ears and turns his head with a remote control. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] I decide to let the buck walk away. I dont know if it was because he was little or I wanted to do the right thing. I hope I made the right decesion because it was the right decesion. I guess we question what we do, and why we do it, after we come home with clean meat bags. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

I watch this little buck walk into the trees finally, and I drive about 500 yards and see a pickup parked along side what was going to be my clearcut at daylight. I pull up along side this truck and see 2 guys sitting there drinking beer. I only have a couple hundred yards and I am at the end of the road. I start some small talk with these 2 guys about, hunting, camping ..... guy stuff in general. I figured these guys were spotlighting the clearcut. They showed all the signs of being loggers, suspenders, copenhagen, cheap beer, hickory shirts ... [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

After about 30 minutes of swapping stories and small talk, (I pull out a beer since I was done driving) and one of them says "You are all right, plus we knew you weren't a cop when we heard the diesel truck coming" [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] They unlock their tool box in the back of there truck and pull a couple 22 calibers from the tool box and a big spotlight. They proceed to spotlight the clearcut like I was one of there own. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] After they decide it is empty, they turn off the light and tell me, "give it another 30 minutes and we will try again". This seemed kind of like checking the crab pots every half hour. I watched these guys spot light the clear cut 2 more times at 30 minutes intervals. They even checked there watch to make sure they were on schedule. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] They laughed and told me how fast they had stashed the light and the guns when they heard a truck coming.

We never did see any deer in the clearcut that night. We did hear 3 shots off in the distance. 2 of them sounded to be small caliber much like a 22 caliber, maybe 22 mag. The third was a much bigger caliber. Each shot came from a different direction and I assumed to be other people spot lighting there deer. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

After they scanned the unit the 3rd time I said I was going to pull up to the end of the road and go to sleep. They also left, but to my surprise they pull back into the clearcut just before light. I dont know if they went home and came back or were out working other units thru the night.

I have both of there first names, the places they work, and their license number. Does it do any good to turn them in? It is my word against there their 2 words. These guys were not hunters, they are thiefs of our wildlife. One of them bragged he got 3 bucks last year with his spotlight. He also told me could hit a copenhagen can lid at 1000 yards 5 of 5 times with his sniper rifle. So was he telling me the truth about the 3 bucks last year, because he was definately lying about his shooting abilities.

Though these guys seemed to be nice enough, and I did talk to them again on Saturday morning for minute. I dont much care for people who easily take in the night what I try to do in the daylight the hard way.

Weekend results (during daylight hours)
Saturday - 11 does, 5 cow elk, one 5 point and a spike bull elk
Sunday - 6 does

I am afraid I know where our bucks are going , and it makes me sad [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

[ 10-07-2001: Message edited by: Bait O' Eggs ]

[crabbait]

Drop that dime and take a bite out of crime.

[bigshark]

BOE
I know where you are coming from...it isn't easy to do it...at least for me. I would like the informing to come from someone else.
But there are times that we have to do what we have to do.......I sound like I've seen too many movies....but we do have to do it.
My suggestion is at the very least do the following....call the local state game and get the report number for reporting poachers.
Tell them the plate number and where and when
etc....the fact that they didn't get the deed done is great....but let those who are the paid,trained pros have the upper-hand. They know who to pass the info on to. Let them be on the watch for them. If you don't do something about it BOE, your helping them out. Please don't take it that I am preaching to you, take as the best another guy can do if the shoe were on the other foot. Do you really care enough about the
resouce to do something right to protect it?
What would you say to me if we were good friends that had hunted together for years?
I have read your posts....you are like the rest of us....doing the best you can...and in this case you know what is best for all of us.......get it done BOE.

[Rauly]

Turn them in. We have no use for the peoples actions. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] They are stealing from us the law abiding hunters and fisherman. Just my 2 cents.

[Get Bit]

BOE,
Sad to hear that those kind of people ruined your hunt. We have no use for those guys in the woods,rivers or anywhere else for that matter ! Turn them In !!!!!
Get Bit

[Firedog]

BOE,Turn em in they are just stealing from the rest of us. If the game cop for that area has the license # and area they were working it gives him a place to start to try and catch them and hopefully he will

[Robert]

You should call the (TIP) turn in poachers number. You will help catch the badguys and maybe make some money doing it to if your information leads to a conviction.

I hope those creeps get caught. Maybe I can say I was unable to find a legal dear, again because of people the guys you saw.

[OR Coast Range]

There are some real ****s out there.

Last weekend, I was driving out after sitting on a field in the morning. On my way out I see a dog come around a corner. Its all excited and is checking for scents on both sides of the road. A couple of seconds later a truck comes around the corner and I noticed that the dog had a bell around its neck. As the doo doo head drove by, he had balls to smile and wave!

I was so god damned mad I considered shooting his dog, but I figured that he's just doing was he was trained for. Its his owner that needs to be "taught" his lesson.

It happened so fast I didn't get a plate number, and I don't carry a cell phone when I'm in the field anyways.

[ 10-08-2001: Message edited by: Oregon Fish Chaser ]

[ 10-08-2001: Message edited by: Jennie@ifish ]

[Zen Leecher aka Bill W]

BOE,

It's black and white to me for what action to take. TURN THEM IN. That should be the answer everytime a poacher or someone intentionally doing something illegal.

Black and white.

Now, by not turning them in, you are contributing to their actions. Turning a blind eye is not the proper thing to do.

Me, I'm 53, see game violations as black and white.

Would you let someone get away with it if you caught them breaking into your house or truck? Of course not.

Stealing, whether it be possessions or game is still stealing.

I would have been on my cell phone reporting them that first night. Even if I had to drive out of the area to gain phone reception they would have been reported to either the police or the game department, or both.

[ 10-08-2001: Message edited by: Zen Leecher aka Bill W ]

[Norm]

Unless they are hungry ( which I doubt since they had enough money for beer), turn them in. There is no excuse, nor should we tolerate poaching from anyone. I would not turn a blind eye unless they needed the meat. It's not their deer they are poaching, but our deer. Hang 'em high. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

[SureSet]

I think I would have made a call or sent the info to TIP and/or DA in a letter. You never know, those guys could have a record already for this and/or may already be on probation.
Although it's probably doubtful, you'd like to think that the OSP or DA would file the info and use it as circumstantial evidence once these guys do make one too many mistakes.

I've hunted blacktails for years, bow and rifle and although I really want one, I have yet to get one worthly of a mount. I've had lots of opportunity to poach nice deer, but it never entered my mind (OK, almost never). Those deer are the property of the poeple of Oregon, not the personal property of those lowlifes.

Steve

[WaterDog]

I think we all have been in situations where we “could” have ended a season on less than honorable terms. The right thing to do is turn them in. I’m sure BOE will do or has done the right thing.

It’s funny though because whether I’m hunting or fishing I don’t ever think about the person I’m next to or the guy across the ridge is breaking the law. One time in the trask unit, my Dad and I were headed home. As we drove out, we came upon a guy walking down the road, rifle slung over his shoulder, with his hand in a brown paper bag dropping some white looking “stuff” on the ground. We saw no rig as we came down the road. We drove by and a few minutes it hit us. Rock salt. The SOB was dropping rock salt on the shoulder of the road. We never saw his rig and by then we were long past. That was quite a few years ago and now we always carry a phone. Not that we will be able to get a call out. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] If we all pay attention, write down plate numbers, maybe we can catch a few of these guys. Its an old cliché but its true, these people give the rest of us a bad name and do more damage to the sport than any amount of good can undo. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

[birdhunter]

Make the call BOE. I know it makes a difference. Especially if you have their names and other info. Funny that you should mention "Scruffy". He's part of the WED (Wildlife Enforcement Decoys) program that the OSP directs. They also have decoys for elk, antelope, bear, turkey, phesant and even silver gray squirrel! Some of them are mechanical and some aren't, but they all look real. I've sat in on stings where they watch for people shooting from the roadways. What idiots! What even amazes me more is how many of these people are repeat violators. Seems to me if I got busted for it once before, I'd make real sure it was alive before I even considered shooting at anything. Giving the info to the OSP can't hurt. Then it is out of your hands and up to them. What they do or can do with it is their problem. I really hope they bust the guys. Believe me, if they are chronic poachers, then they will get caught. If you're worried about it making a difference I'd be more than happy to make a few calls on your behalf. I know some high ranking officers in the OSP and would be happy to try to make the case a priority. OSP does a great job for the area they cover, but they need help from the public. Think about it: 128 F&W officers cover all of Oregon. Make the call BOE.

[Dogfish]

I agree with the rest. Give up the info. Washington runs an incentive program, as well, to encourage more reporting. If the violation involves big game, you can earn 10 points towards a special permit hunt of your choice. There are also monetary rewards, too. I am sure that you won't need the added incentive, but it doesn't hurt.

Andy

[Lured In]

BOE I agree you should at least "inform" OSP or whoever what you saw and provide them the info. In an old OHA magazine, off a tip before the season started. OSP officers staged a sting on a couple illegally filling their Big Horn tag. (The husband was going to shoot his wife's tag.) OSP was in place before the season even began and nabbed them in the act. Perhaps they will be willing to follow up your info and do something similar.

The funny thing about breaking the rules is that people are not always that obvious about their crimes.

Last year during the Cascade Elk muzzleloader hunt, I had been hiking a ridge above camp all morning and decided to drop off and walk the road back up to camp. I was looking to see if any Elk were moving down through the fresh snow. I was walking up hill in 12", and a truck came up the road. They stopped and chatted for a minute and asked if I would like a ride up to my camp. I took them up on the offer, upcapped my smoke pole and hoped in the cab.

As soon as I got in, I noticed the passenger with a fiber optic sight on his gun. This is a no-no for those of you not familiar with muzzleloader regs. I then noticed his cap was still on his gun. This is another BIG no-no and is the equivalent of driving with a loaded rifle with the safety off. As I looked around the cab, I noticed a pack of sabot's (not conicals) on the floor between my feet. This was another no-no. I decided it was time to get out and walk, and made up some excuse to go look at another spot just to get out of the truck.

I agree that spotlighting is stealing, but often times these criminals are doing it during the day and giving the illusion of playing by the rules. In my book it is just as wrong.

After they drove away, I wondered if I should have taken some notes and turned them in. From now on, you can bet I will be more attentive to what the license plate is.

Good luck and good job not giving into temptation. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Bait O' Eggs]

I appreciate the conclusive advise from all. I did send the info off to a OSP game officer.

I like the idea of getting points towards hunts for turning in poachers. I would even take the stand against them for 4 or 5 elk preference points. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] Hard to put a price on preference points since you cannot buy them. I would rather have preference points towards next years tag draw over cash.

[Hoosier Daddy]

A little late, but I agree, make the call.
Thank god I've never been there, but ya gotta do it. One other thing. Not that I blame you for sticking around or anything, but if these guys had gotten popped while you were sitting there, you would probably have been at some risk too.
.22 + deer = poacher. Tool of choice from what I have heard, quiet.