Author Topic: 2,000 arrests for deer poaching in Mo. (Read 9725 times)

Skunk · « **on:** December 19, 2009, 12:11:43 PM »

2,000 arrests for deer poaching in Mo.

by Prairie State Outdoors

December 10, 2009

ST. LOUIS (AP) - State conservation agents have made 2,000 arrests statewide for illegal deer poaching this season. KSDK reports that includes 200 in the St. Louis region.

The Missouri Department of Conservation says 2,000 arrests are typical. But St. Louis-area agent Chris Morrow says there’s been an increase in the number of cases of spotlighting - when poachers shoot deer after shining bright lights at them.

Poachers also are engaging in the illegal activity of shooting deer from the road.

He said agents have found deer left dead with their heads or antlers removed.

In Missouri, cash rewards are offered to anyone who provides information leading to a poaching arrest. Callers to the “Operation Game Thief” tipline can remain anonymous. The number is 1-800-392-1111.

Poachers face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Repeat offenders face suspension of hunting and fishing privileges.

http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/index.php?/pso/article/2000_arrests_for_deer_poaching_in_mo/

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2009, 05:36:21 PM »

De must have some dumb poachers there. I don't think they catch nearly that many here not that I believe we have any less of them mind you.

dukkillr · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2009, 06:24:00 PM »

Fantastic. If they get 2000 each year they might have the state cleaned up by the start of the year 3598. Still, it's a good start.

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2009, 02:36:44 AM »

While I do agree with you the problem with that logic is that most poachers never see jail time and since they are killing game illegally rather than real hunting anyway taking away their hunting/fishing license isn't going to take them out of circulation. Only jail time will stop them and even then only while they are in jail.

For most the money they make if that's the motive is enough that the small fines just aren't much of a deterrent kinda like with illegal drugs. The pay off is far too great for a little fine to matter. Until the courts get tougher on them the numbers of such folks doing things illegally isn't going down.

possum6 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2009, 05:24:04 AM »

got a local case going on now. first day in court last week. following closely, curious what the asole get's

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2009, 05:38:52 AM »

With that many spotlighting someone sold a lot of Q-beams . Maybe its time to look into buying their stock . Here they do the same along with over shooting and not tagging . Several Wardens claim they double the legal take to make up for illegal deer taken and not reported . Slob hunters will mess it up for all .

nodlenor · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2009, 08:11:14 AM »

I don't disagree that the poachers are dumb but the real reason is they know there won't be much punishment so why worry about getting caught. Our judges are weenies and let them off easy and they go right back at it. Most of our judges would rather hang someone for making an honest mistake than punish a criminal.

Skunk · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2009, 08:25:59 AM »

Where I live, the poachers are active because they can simply get away with it. Last I heard, there is one game warden that works my county and two of our surrounding counties. Hmmm, one warden for three large wooded counties. I guess there has been a call to hire a number of new wardens though. When I was growing up it seems like there was at least two game wardens in every county.

pozoutdoors · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2009, 04:32:08 PM »

We have a guy who poachs alot and will be caught because they are watching for him. He is now a felon but he has still killed 3 big bucks I was watching and have the pictures on his cell phone. He has showed way to many people. I was funny opening day we ran some land he showed up and we had a county officer hunting with us this year. He was way to nice and told him he had 5 min. to get the hell out of here or he would make a call and have them come and get him. He had a guy from new york with him with a firearm in his truck. HE WILL GO DOWN!!!!!!!!!

Mule · « **Reply #9 on:** December 26, 2009, 03:26:18 AM »

I hope they catch and prosecute every one of those low-life terds!

youthpastorjon · « **Reply #10 on:** December 26, 2009, 03:42:19 AM »

Why is it we slap these guys on the wrist but send Michael Vick to jail for animal cruelty?

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #11 on:** December 28, 2009, 02:15:35 AM »

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
nuff said !

hillbill · « **Reply #12 on:** January 14, 2010, 04:20:00 PM »

i know a few guys who poach and either waste the deer or give them away, that i cant stand. i know a couple guys who will take a deer, never a large buck or old deer, just a eating deer, to feed their family a couple times a year.the first ill call the cops on, the second im liable to help. dont really care bout the law or yur opinions,thats jus the hillbilly in me.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #13 on:** January 15, 2010, 03:25:55 AM »

Hillbill , Sounds like you got a good handle on the subject .

Ranger J · « **Reply #14 on:** January 15, 2010, 05:12:31 AM »

The trouble in our part of Missouri is that when they are caught nothing really happens to them because as often as not the Judge is a 'good old boy' or is related to them or friends with their family or goes to the same church. The average poacher in our area is not the person shooting a deer to feed their family but kids driving around at night shooting deer just for kicks or someone driving an expensive 4-wheel drive pickup and shooting a several thousand dollar rifle. One of the most notorious poacher in our area comes from a family that owns thousands of acres of land and runs large numbers of cattle. By the way he never poaches on his own land. If Missouri passed laws where the equipment, such as guns and trucks could be forfeited for convictions we might put a damper to these activities. Oh, I forgot we have to have Judges that will convict first. I guess I am kind of bitter about this subject. According to DOC game biologists our area is one of the few ares in the state that could safely carry considerably larger populations of Turkey and Deer than it now does and the problem is entirely because of illegal shooting.

RJ

hillbill · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2010, 02:43:19 PM »

ranger j , what yu say is true.no argument there for sure.our biggest prob is city boys poaching deer and either hacking off the racks and leaveing them or giveing them away to be mostly wasted by people who dont know any more about butchering than to cut the straps out.in this economy things are fixin to change tho. ive seen more guys hunting around me and my land than ever just for the meat. inside of 5 yrs yu will have to be a pretty good hunter to get a deer at all.

Hillbilly Jim · « **Reply #16 on:** February 20, 2010, 02:53:43 PM »

Where I grew up we ate deer a lot, seven of us kids and dad was in a accident and couldnt work for many years. Local sheriff rabbit hunted with us every year and told us if we got in any trouble to let him know.
We never wasted a deer, spot lighted and never hunted horns. City poachers and horn hunters would have been reported and arrested in a minute.
Things have changed in the family we all are self supporting and "poaching" is a thing of the past.
Sometimes you have to look before you thow rocks.
That number seems very high as we never hear about these cases in the local newspapers.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #17 on:** February 20, 2010, 03:07:32 PM »

DEFINE POACHING

hunting without a lisence?
hunting on some one elses land?
hunting at night?
does?
hunting out of season??
all of the above??
bag limits?
selling wild life [illegal in florida]?
using illegal methods of taking game? [snare a deer in florida is illegal

if all the above what is worse? [in your opinion]]
what is more common?

hillbill · « **Reply #18 on:** March 01, 2010, 03:09:25 PM »

selling, snareing,on somebody elses land, night hunting, those are the worst.in that order.wasteing is the biggest crime in my opinion.if yu shoot a deer and it goes to feed someone i cant argue with that. its a renewable resource. but if yu shoot one off my land without asking,sell it to buy sum weed,shoot it at night cuz yu aint good enuf hunter to get one in broad daylight, snare it cuz yur too lazy to hunt it.all that gets my dander up.

BobT · « **Reply #19 on:** March 04, 2010, 07:57:54 AM »

Quote from: Ranger J on January 15, 2010, 05:12:31 AM

One of the most notorious poacher in our area comes from a family that owns thousands of acres of land and runs large numbers of cattle. By the way he never poaches on his own land.
RJ

I'll bet I know who that is, I was told a couple of years ago that he killed 26 turkeys before the spring season even opened!

Bob

manatee1947 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 17, 2010, 08:00:11 AM »

They run lots of cattle??? Hmmm.........

greywolf444 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 28, 2010, 06:31:50 PM »

It interesting that those that claim they have to poach to eat have money for beer and cigarettes. sell the atv and four wheel drive if times are that tough. I've been real poor in the past and didn't have to poach a deer to eat. there is always something in season. I'm not buying their stories.

dukkillr · « **Reply #22 on:** August 28, 2010, 08:39:18 PM »

Quote from: greywolf444 on August 28, 2010, 06:31:50 PM

It interesting that those that claim they have to poach to eat have money for beer and cigarettes. sell the atv and four wheel drive if times are that tough. I've been real poor in the past and didn't have to poach a deer to eat. there is always something in season. I'm not buying their stories.

You're absolutely right. "I need to feed my family" is an excuse often used by dirtball poachers as excuse for their dirtball ways.

BBF · « **Reply #23 on:** August 29, 2010, 09:20:29 AM »

Quote from: hillbill on January 14, 2010, 04:20:00 PM

...................the second im liable to help. dont really care bout the law or yur opinions,thats jus the hillbilly in me.

Son of A...now you did it. I'm a law and order type guy, but with the present economics etc I tend to agree with you there........... within reason and season of course.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 29, 2010, 09:43:33 AM »

Ya know, when I was younger I hunted Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. I never had a licence at that time and even if I would hae gotten caught, I would have still been money ahead paying the fine. Now the states are using civil law and replacment cost to make this no longer and option. I alwways thought the suspension of hunting rights was the funniest part, oh my you mean if I hunt without a liene and get caught I won't be able to buy a licence

. Now that part made sence. I have since cleaned up my act somewhat, but see it as theft that a state charges non resident licene fees to hunt a NATIONAL forest.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #25 on:** August 30, 2010, 06:16:27 AM »

Quote from: youthpastorjon on December 26, 2009, 03:42:19 AM

Why is it we slap these guys on the wrist but send Michael Vick to jail for animal cruelty?

Politics ! I live in the area and can assure dog and chicken fighting is a big thing .

Ranger J · « **Reply #26 on:** September 01, 2010, 05:42:43 AM »

Arresting these poachers does little good when local judges (like just happened) declare that the DOC regulations regarding shooting deer out of motor vehicles or chasing them with dogs are 'too vague' and that the poor 'victims' just couldn't understand them. On second thought considering the majority of these people that might just be right. Sorry if I sound bitter but I have just about had it with the poaching in the Ozark area.

RJ

Leupold · « **Reply #27 on:** December 27, 2010, 02:33:30 PM »

I really have no use for poachers or their various excuses.

I was in a pop up blind this afternoon and some yahoo on the next ridge opens up with 3 shots fired in rapid succession. That must be some muzzleloader he's got.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #28 on:** December 28, 2010, 04:14:04 AM »

battry gun

hillbill · « **Reply #29 on:** December 28, 2010, 02:43:00 PM »

Quote from: Leupold on December 27, 2010, 02:33:30 PM

I really have no use for poachers or their various excuses.

I was in a pop up blind this afternoon and some yahoo on the next ridge opens up with 3 shots fired in rapid succession. That must be some muzzleloader he's got.

lol same thing happened to me and a buddy the other day. it was muzzy season and i swear they shot 5 times in the distance, prob a half mile away.when we met up he said that dude was the fastest muzzy reloader he ever heard of.as far as the poster who said all poachers who say they poach to feed their familys are dirtbags?ill admit some people may use that excuse, but the ones im talkin bout aint driveing 4 wheel drives and hi dollar 4 wheelers.they are just simple farmers trying to make a living.its getting awful hard for sum to eat a 700$ beef when deer are out ther eatin up yur grass.i know a lot of city people dont understand this, thats just the way things are.