Poacher's Beware....

[Rip'N'Lips]

Grant once again had a nice article on katu. Check it out

http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=62741

Rip'N'Lips

[skein]

I'm glad they're busting them. Poachers are poachers whether they're snagging fish or shooting elk out of their truck windows.

I just think the tickets should be larger, and like drunk driving, they should get some mandatory slammer time - maybe two days in the county hotel. That way they have to explain to their boss or co-workers what happened. Sometimes paying a ticket is the easiest way out.

I wonder what percentage of those who spotted the decoys actually shot, and of those, how many shot from their rigs.

Skein

[Rip'N'Lips]

Skein-

I agree totally. A $299 ticket? They should get your gun at the least, auction them off and use the money to fund more programs.

Also, you should have to do a set number of hours of public service in the form of wildlife preservation, or habitat reconstruction.

Rip'N'Lips

[gottafish]

I wish they did a lot more of that stuff, How about the loggers that shoot them all summer long? behind locked gates. Its sick!! Ive herd them brag about the bull somebody shot In july. I wish they would hit those areas.

[C-lice]

I agree that the fines are too small, especially in these times of limited general fund dollars. Increase fines! What better way to help pay for additional enforcement without raising taxes?

Really, would anybody vote against a ballot measure which, say, doubled or tripled fines for poaching? Especially if the funds were dedicated to enforcement?

[nitrobass]

I'm not a huge fan of the decoy, but in certain situations I can agree with its use(mostly guys shooting at night).

For lots of other times its used I think its pretty lame. I'm basing most of that on my experience seeing it during bow season. I've seen it numerous times in the woods, and a hunting partner of mine is a recently retired forest service law enforcement officer who used it each year and told me about all the people they nailed. For a lot of the ways its used I see it as a good way for the gov to make some money off of mostly good people.

[KingFisher85]

I'll have to agree that they are to easy on the poachers...but at least they are trying :grin:

[Norm]

The only thing that bothers me about it is the fines are way too small. Big fines and loss of hunting and fishing rights for a while would be more fitting. Most of these guys are poachers, end of story.

[skein]

Nitro,

I understand where you're coming from, but my guess is YOU could run up against a decoy operation and NEVER get a ticket. Why? Because you know the regs and follow the rules. Me too.

The times I've really questioned the decoy operations, and this is heresy only, is when they write guys tickets for just backing their rigs up and putting headlights on them. They call it harrassment or something like that. In that case, I don't see the lookers doing anything wrong. If they shoot, it's a whole different story.

I also don't think taking their hunting licenses away accomplishes anything. Many, many of these guys don't have a license or tag to start with.

Skein

[nitrobass]

A few years back I was driving back to camp right at dusk with my law enforcement friend. A group of deer ran across the road in front of me into a unit. For curiousity I started to point the headlights at them to see what they were. This was way past shooting light and I had no intent of shooting at them but my buddy grabbed the wheel with a "are you crazy!?" expression and told me I was breaking the law. Come on....

I totally agree that someone poaching should get the book tossed at them. Shooting at night, closed seasons, closed areas, hunting without a license, etc. But I dont think that a 12 year old kid that doesnt quite step off the road before letting an arrow go should lose his bow and hunting rights for 2 years.

[reeldick]

The law is the law. You have the right to work to have it changed if you disagree with it. Poachers should have their equipment and vehicles confiscated besides a hefty fine. There are very few valid excuses. A starving family may be one.

[Gun Rod Bow]

I have no problem with the use of the decoys. Should be coming down harder on the violators. In many cases the guys hunting without a license have the lightest fines. That should be a major Whack!!

I'd like to know if I stepped out of the truck, off the road loaded my gun and neck shot the bull, would I get an award?

[nitrobass]

GRB, nope you'd get a bill for a taxidermist to fix the decoy. Nice..

[StickFish]

Fine em! You bet,

Wish they woould put a range gong inside one so when someone hits it they get an audible clang, maybe a siren or two and red flashing lights.

[alwyze fishin]

GRB

you would have a choice admit you where a road hunter or tell them you shot it because you know it was fake. oh and the fine differnce for the destruction of goverment property is about 1300 dollars which would you pick

Dont ask how i know this

[nitrobass]

If he stepped off the road he would then instantly be removed from 'roadhunter' status(per the law) and he'd be totally legal, then all thats left is fixing the decoy

[RichH]

Nitro,

When you were shining the light toward the deer I think your friend was more concerned that you had weapons in the vehicle than the fact of shining the light. If my memory serves (and it often doesn't, correct me if I'm wrong) but I seem to recall that shining a light with a weapon capable of killing is the big no no.
I think you can technically shine a spotlight as long as you don't have a weapon.

[nitrobass]

Rich it is a no-no to shine lights on something if you have a weapon in the car. I did have my bow in the back so I was a criminal that night. I had absolutely zero intention of shooting something in the lights, but technically I was in violation of the law(or I would have been if my friend hadnt grabbed the wheel). I guess my gripe is that I could have gotten a serious ticket for something I wasnt planning on doing, if that makes sense.

Again, I'm all for using decoys and other technology to bust people that kill animals by shooting them when and where they shouldnt. Its disrespectful to the animals and to hunters that bust their butt trying to get something each year. That said, I think some officers go way overboard in their use of the decoy.

[Norski]

About 10 years ago I was hunting inthe upper Deschutes unite, had a tag, and all, it was about 1 & 1/2 hour befor sunset, driving down a back dusty road, heading for home, when I looked off to my left and there were 2 cows and one 5 point bull, boy my heart was a pounding, I thought if I stop they well take off, so I went down the road a shot ways, around a corner, stoped, got out of my truck with rifel in hand, and went about 50 yards off the road, I did not know about decoys, and did'nt see any cops.
I crept up to with in 100 yards, rased my rifel, and found the kill zone on the Bull, and fired!!! missed, went for a head shot, missed, again Neck shot,-----STOP-STOP-HAY STOP SHOOTEN.
Than I saw the troopers come up from across the road and said, your going to ruin the dang thing.
Well I was shocked to say the lease, No hassel, just a THANKS FOR GETTING OUT AND OFF THE ROAD,
Now the decoy well it got shot up perty good, no bill no nothing, Thay did say only if other hunters did it the way you did things our jobs would be easy.
Did'nt get a elk that year eather, just memorys.

[Fishbone]

The "spotlight rule" applies to livestock as well.

OAR 635-065-0745

Prohibited Methods

It is unlawful:

(6) To cast from or within 500 feet of a motor vehicle an artificial light on game mammals, predatory animals or livestock while having in possession or immediate physical presence a weapon with which the game mammals or livestock could be killed.

[Mello-Yello]

I've always felt public humiliation would get more mileage than fines...I say post pictures of everyone convicted of poaching in the next year's regulations pamphlet. Picture, Name and Crime. Zat legal? I dunno, but I really think it'd cut down on second-time offenders...

M-Y

[Old Coot]

Got to participate in a decoy operation a couple of years ago, as camera operator. By the end of the day I was ashamed to be a hunter. After 40 consecutive years of hunting, the next year I stayed home.

Skein: As for percentage of those who spotted the decoys in full darkness and either fired from within the vehicle or across the vehicle; 5 out of the first 6 vehicles. That's over 83% This wasn't marginal 3 minutes before legal hours stuff, it was an hour or more before sunup and DARK!

Nitro: They guy who stole my daughter's car was mostly good until he committed a felony that cost me $5000. I'm not in the mood to cut that bast*** any slack. Same thing for the guy who is stealing our game. Theft is theft. Follow the rules or pay the price. They made a conscious decision to break the law; they have no basis to whine.


I'll bet lunch that if you do legally shoot at a decoy you aren't going to be charged for repairs. The day I was out, everybody who legally plugged the dekes was politely checked for appropriate license and tags and wished good luck.

By the way, 9 firearms were confiscated that day, a judge eventually decided disposition. If they had all auctioned for top dollar, the total gross would have been about $300. I would have been afraid to shoot 8 of them.

Whoah! There I went again! Sensitive issue with me. Time for a cold shower.

[ 12-08-2003, 09:30 PM: Message edited by: Old Coot ]

[nitrobass]

OC - easy there! :grin: To repeat, for many of its uses I'm all for the decoy. Night time shooting, closed lands, etc. I agree, and dont want to cut those people any slack. Sorry about your daughters car..?

I grew up listening to all sorts of stories of people shooting the decoy. I've seen it in use, personally know the people who enforce it, and have a better than average understanding of the game laws its intended to protect.

[jokester]

KATU and Grant have done a great job putting the spotlight on snaggers, poachers, & unethical behavior. My hat's off to them for trying to make a difference!! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] Here's to Grant and KATU

-jokester