Poaching... please explain I really don't know.

[Rot Box]

So a friend and I were night wheeling on a trail that goes from Weston Idaho up to a summit that overlooks Malad city. We were headed down a really steep and rocky section of the trail towards Malad when we noticed headlights. This seemed very odd because it was Sunday night, and we were in a pretty remote area. When we approached the vehicle we saw a man and he told us to stop and turn off the engine... Okay--oh its fish and game kind of a relief. Anyway they asked if we had seen any deer or other big game and we said we has seen quite a few deer. Then they asked if we had been doing any hunting and we said no. They asked if we had any fire arms and we said no. Then they wanted to search my truck for firearms or drugs, bodies, meth and other things... Okay its all yours I said. They seemed to have a hard time believing that we were just 4wheeling in 0 degree weather but they were very nice and we later bs'ed for awhile.

Apparently there is a big problem with poaching in the area and they wanted to make sure we weren't doing anything illegal. The dear are in the rut and I guess people have been illegally shooting them more than ever this season. I asked him why not larger game as deer don't have much meat and he told us that it is usually just for the antlers. Okay maybe I'm a little in the dark but why would anyone shoot a deer illegally just for the rack? There is nothing they are good for except to hang on the wall right? He said they had ticketed several people in the last few days for this I guess it's a very large fine and you loose all hunting privileges over this type of stuff...

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I'd be willing to be the majority of high profile poaching cases have been about the rack, they often leave the rest to waste. Trophy hunting is apparently a pretty addicting sport, enough to make some break the law. Thankfully there are far more ethical hunters out there willing to help police their own.

 

[Grim]

its a sad thing , in Utah , the deer population is on the decline. in 2010 the general rifle season is going to be cut in half (5 days). i dont know if poaching has anything to to with it.

 

[Cherokeester]

People shoot signs and everything else that moves or doesn't move. I never could understand the need to put holes in everything thing including illegal game, but some people just love to do it I guess.

 

[Chevycrew]

I dont understand poaching for antlers, I want a big buck/bull to be legal and have no fears of showing it off. Then again, I hunt for meat, the rack is a bonus.

If someone is just trying to feed their family and doesnt have any other means to do so. I dont consider that poaching.

 

[Cruiser]

Not like it is hard to pay a few bucks to do it leagally... Poachers are Hacks!

Side note, Just got my 2010 Alaska Licence in the mail...

 

[rollover]

its a sad thing , in Utah , the deer population is on the decline. in 2010 the general rifle season is going to be cut in half (5 days). i dont know if poaching has anything to to with it.

Heres the DWR link

http://wildlife.utah.gov/news/09-12/rifle_hunt.php

Some areas only Three days not five. This realy sucks if your 19 or older and hunt as a family or group.

 

[PBandCJ]

if you had a tag and didn't get a buck, you could poach one later
and put your tag on it and still brag about you rack.
Had a neighbor that got busted for it when he took his wifes,sons,permits
and went out shot all the deer and put their tags on them. When their
talked to his wife about where she shot it she told them "I never went out
my husband shot it for me"

 

[Rot Box]

It just amazes me that people have that mentality Its like receiving a trophy for winning a game you cheated in. I don't hunt much anymore, but I never did understand the fascination of big antlers... oh well.

I guess I'll keep a better eye out for people doing this. We very well could have ran into poachers that night

 

[crawldaddy]

If you see them get there License plate # and report them. The rewards are generally pretty good. Id turn in a poacher in a heart beat. Its just like off roading, a few can ruin it for everyone. My neighbor growing up was a game warden and the stories he would tell us would make your blood boil They once found a dead Moose with over 1000 bullet holes in it from a 22 caliber gun. The poor animal had a slow miserable death. It was a cow so the kill was just for "fun".

 

[mesha]

I would turn in a poacher in a second as well. If they are doing it for meat I would still turn them in.

 

[Caleb]

I would turn in a poacher in a second as well. If they are doing it for meat I would still turn them in.

I agree completely! There are other legit ways to get food. This is no longer the wild west, you don't hunt for food whenever you feel like it/need to anymore. Obama will give you a hand-out

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I know an older gentleman living off the grid in Utah's West Desert, we'll call him "Brad". He's been known to take a deer for his consumption over the long winters. Brad lives in an old camp trailer up a small side canyon many would never even notice. He has groceries delivered to Vernon every couple weeks and drives in and picks them up when he has a vehicle running. He keeps an eye on a sheep camp a little ways away, for that the owner give him a bit of money and likely some fuel? Beyond that he heats his camper with wood which he gathers and stock-piles. I've never gathered his full back-story, likely he doesn't want to share it... His reason are his reasons. I stop by when I'm out there solo or with just a single friend, he's not much on crowds and I can understand that.

 

[LT.]

I would turn in a poacher in a second as well. If they are doing it for meat I would still turn them in.

If you do be cautious doing so. I walked up on a hunter who was poaching and the hunter pulled a pistol out on me. If it had not been for my boss shouting I am not too sure if I would still be here.

LT.

 

[Rot Box]

I know an older gentleman living off the grid in Utah's West Desert, His reason are his reasons. I stop by when I'm out there solo or with just a single friend, he's not much on crowds and I can understand that.

That's pretty interesting. There is also a guy in my neck of the woods that lives the same way. My uncle will take him jerky, fish and random things once in awhile just to bs, but same thing he doesn't like the crowd at all. I have only met a handful people like this and I will say they have some interesting stories to tell.

 

[solidfrontaxle]

Anybody remember the story of Claude Dallas?

 

[rollover]

Poaching carries a stiffer punishment than many other crimes.

Years ago I remember a case in SLC where a search warrant/drug bust went something like this.

After a 3 year investigation from the DEA. A guy was manufacturing meth and is a major distributor/supplier of it. DEA raids the house with a search warrant and finds in a shed out back with a ELK hanging in it. The DEA was thrilled. They said he'll do more time for the ELK than all the drug charges put together. Mandatory 25 years plus they can recover more of his assets. His truck, travel trailer, ATV, his gun and all his hunting equipment used to harvest the ELK.

 

[ID Bronco]

Poaching carries a stiffer punishment than many other crimes.

Years ago I remember a case in SLC where a search warrant/drug bust went something like this.

After a 3 year investigation from the DEA. A guy was manufacturing meth and is a major distributor/supplier of it. DEA raids the house with a search warrant and finds in a shed out back with a ELK hanging in it. The DEA was thrilled. They said he'll do more time for the ELK than all the drug charges put together. Mandatory 25 years plus they can recover more of his assets. His truck, travel trailer, ATV, his gun and all his hunting equipment used to harvest the ELK.

That SUCKS! What on Earth could make that seem right to anyone. Oh, Legislators and judges aren't anyone, they are better than that.