-
He was a pretty famous hunter/outfitter that has been around for years and years. He was know for killing the biggest of the biggest. And it turns out he was a crook all along, either stealing or poaching these trophy animals. He then owned a game ranch in New Mexico where he would charge outlandish prices to hunters to kill trophy deer and elk on his fully fenced 40 acre ranchette. All and all hes a crook and a cheat and definitly not a master hunter like he claims, you cant even call him a hunter. These are the kind of guys that give us true hunters and bad name. We do it for the love of the soprt and for the management of these great animals so that we can continue to enjoy them everyday.
-
-
LOSER! I know guys who openly talk about poaching and it just turns my insides out. I am outspoken on the topic but it doesn't change a cheaters heart. I feel for every animal "stolen" it could have been mine or some kids first animal or your last. Poachers make the DOW difficult to deal with. I get nervous just being around a field officer and I don't knowingly violate any laws (Hard to tell in this state when you need a lawyer to decipher the regs book). Poachers need to have there own season. I'd buy a tag to take out a few.
-
-
Guntroll - your words are my sentiments exactly.
I especially like the part about being nervous around DODW filed officers. I know I am. I was checked about 9 years ago and had left my current licenses in camp - I had not thrown away my previous years license and grabbed that one by accident. The field officer I dealt with that day was really cool. He had me unload my gun and walk back to camp (I was down a long trail with no ATV in those days). He stayed to check out a group of 5 non-English speaking individiauls who, if they weren't out-right poaching, were being reckless with their ATV's and hunting practices. I would have been totally screwed if I had actually shot an animal! The filed officer arrived at my camp about 10 minutes after me and I showed him my VALID hunting licenses. Case closed. I haven't had any violations since, but it still spooks me every time because the filed officers I've dealt with during hunting & fishing season since then have been outright hostile.
As far as poachers, I get the DOW newsletter eMailed to me and I see accounts of poachers mentioned regularly. Their penalties (when caught) are not nearly severe enough.
