Poachers BUSTED

Salmo trutta · 08-31-2005, 10:57 AM

Read the story here!

http://www.kgw.com/environment/stori....1014c7d1.html

Fish Wheels · 08-31-2005, 11:37 AM

Dang, those penalties aren't as severe as I'd like to see em for such a blatant violation. Especially if they don't get the full sentence.

jokester · 08-31-2005, 11:58 AM

I saw that this morning on their website.

Quote:

The maximum penalty for killing an elk out of season is one year in jail and a $6,250 fine, although judges rarely impose punishments of that severe, state police Lt. Walt Markee said.

But Brown and Storie also could losing their hunting privileges for up to two years, Markee said.

That's a bunch of crap if you ask me. They need stiffer penalties. They COULD be losing their license for up to two years??? They should be fined $10,000, face 2 years in prison, and lose their hunting privileges for 5 years!! A little stiffer penalties and I think it would make people think twice about doing it

Don't do the crime if you don't want the time!!! :grin:

-jokester

spearfisher · 08-31-2005, 12:39 PM

You know as a fairly new member to ifish - it is nice to see everyone offering & sharing advice to those of us that may not be as experienced. Personally I would rather struggle in a 5 day hunt, rain all day and at the end walk away with nothing rather than to poach and animal. Hope the judge throws the book at em!

weekender · 08-31-2005, 01:03 PM

It is sad. Look at the stats and do the math. They estimate that less than 20% of poachers are caught. Playing the odds, I could go over and shoot 5 "late season" mule deer (one per trip) before I got caught. And when I did it would probably cost me less than $500.

It definately isnt the penalty's that keeps people from doing it.

younggun20 · 08-31-2005, 01:18 PM

I agree, the penalties aren't harsh enough, but at least there are some good people out there reporting them in and helping to catch these SOB's!

Irish Pennant · 08-31-2005, 01:20 PM

It took a hunter to bust a poacher. Good job and kudos for standing up for your sport and for setting an example for others to follow.

quackersnacker · 08-31-2005, 01:29 PM

Quote:

I saw that this morning on their website.

Quote:

The maximum penalty for killing an elk out of season is one year in jail and a $6,250 fine, although judges rarely impose punishments of that severe, state police Lt. Walt Markee said.

But Brown and Storie also could losing their hunting privileges for up to two years, Markee said.

That's a bunch of crap if you ask me. They need stiffer penalties. They COULD be losing their license for up to two years??? They should be fined $10,000, face 2 years in prison, and lose their hunting privileges for 5 years!! A little stiffer penalties and I think it would make people think twice about doing it

Don't do the crime if you don't want the time!!! :grin:

-jokester

Well Said!

skein · 08-31-2005, 02:22 PM

I'd like to see 'em confiscate the backhoe. That's a pretty good chunk of change. And if they couldn't do that, maybe just hold it as evidence while this whole scenario played out.

Kudos to the hunters who spotted them and made the call.

Skein

gamoshot · 08-31-2005, 02:42 PM

Quote:

I agree, the penalties aren't harsh enough, but at least there are some good people out there reporting them in and helping to catch these SOB's!

Rank Amateur · 08-31-2005, 04:50 PM

20% of the poachers get caught? Source please. I doubt it is even 2%. Texas hired a guy to poach, too see how long it took before he would get caught, he finally just started shooting animals off of public roadways in broad daylight before he got caught.

Glad these guys got caught, but because they have not been convicted yet, I will not suggest a punishment. How about that P.C. police?

Yep, the backhoe was part of the crime, it should be held for evidence and the court could decided if it should be forfeited.

sandman · 08-31-2005, 04:56 PM

What a bunch of morons!

mcknerkneykak · 08-31-2005, 05:15 PM

Probably should find out who the judge is and E-mail this thread to him to show him how serious other "responsible hunters" feel about it.

Salmo trutta · 09-01-2005, 08:24 AM

Yeah, I wonder how you would find out who the judge or prosecuting DA is??

Bait O' Eggs · 09-01-2005, 08:30 AM

Some slick lawyer will get him off, the audio on the camcorder was probably running and it wont be allowed in court.

Nice to see family getting quoted in a poacher thread

Personally I think the guys should be hung from the backhoe, then the hoe sold at state auction.

RODACTION · 09-01-2005, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Personally I think the guys should be hung from the backhoe, then the hoe sold at state auction.

I like your thinking

RoscoeP · 09-01-2005, 08:45 AM

How bout the SSS Rule?

weekender · 09-01-2005, 08:54 AM

Quote:

20% of the poachers get caught? Source please. I doubt it is even 2%.

Personally, I think your probably closer to the truth, but those where the "published" numbers that I read. Remember when the multi state poaching / illegally guided fishing ring went down probably 8-10 months ago? It included some characters from Oregon, Idaho, and I believe Washington? I read a write up on that before it went to court and they sited that law enforcement only catches 20% of the poachers.

Don't shoot the messenger

It's one of those stats that makes you go hmm. If someone poaches and gets away with it, how does law enforcement know to add it to their stats?

I don�t remember that question on the HIP survey "did you illegally harvest any coots, pigeons, or black brant last year"...

I'm against poachers and poaching, but if the state of texas hires you to shoot animals outside of season are you still poaching? How does a guy get that gig? Can you say Dream Job?

trouttroller · 09-01-2005, 09:31 AM

Loose their hunting privileges? Sounds like they could give a damn about that, they don't play by the rules anyway. Take the guns, the backhoe and the vehicle they transported and the house they took it to. That would slow down the poaching.

Orion · 09-01-2005, 10:14 AM

If they are found guilty, I still think they should be required to dress up in an elk suit with a 6X6 rack, and stand in the middle of a semi secluded field for two weeks. A bit of duct tape over their mouths would help keep them quiet while their bretheren poachers get the spotlight out and the rifles on target. Eventually we will run out of poachers....

Orion

Ni! · 09-01-2005, 10:21 AM

Quote:

If someone poaches and gets away with it, how does law enforcement know to add it to their stats?

Exactly. I remember reading about a study where the author did IQ tests on prison inmates and determined that criminals had lower IQ's than the rest of society. Yeah, criminals who get caught have lower IQ's. What about all the criminal geniuses they never find? It's hard to do a survey of those if you don't know who they are.

Ni!

younggun20 · 09-01-2005, 12:17 PM

Quote:

If they are found guilty, I still think they should be required to dress up in an elk suit with a 6X6 rack, and stand in the middle of a semi secluded field for two weeks. A bit of duct tape over their mouths would help keep them quiet while their bretheren poachers get the spotlight out and the rifles on target. Eventually we will run out of poachers....

Orion

Rank Amateur · 09-01-2005, 04:01 PM

No problem weekender, this 20% figure is definately in error, otherwise our courts would be very full. Probably an off the cuff remark. Don't get me wrong, the law enforcement people are trying, but number way to few.