Finally, some jail time.

[AHayes111]

I disagree. It’s never going to be legal for them to hunt in the covered jurisdictions. Any situation in which they are caught hunting is another easy conviction. And, assuming part of the jail time is suspended, or they get early release, it makes for an easy reinstatement of the suspended sentence or revocation of parole/early release. With an easy conviction on the next charge with aggravating circumstances for the next sentence.

It’s not about “changing their ways.” This is the equivalent of “felon in possession of a firearm” in terms of future potential prosecutions.

The ban also eats at the motivation of many of today's poachers. Back when people poached to feed the family, a ban wouldn't do much. Today's poachers are all about their ego. With a lifetime ban you can't be bragging at the bar or posting to Instagram for the likes. Someone is going to turn you in. Are some still going to poach, almost certainly, but the chance of getting caught goes way up and the trill of bragging about it is taken away.

 

[Pacific_Fork]

Rarely see jail time. Nice!

Issuing lifetime bans are worthless with poachers. They didn’t follow the law then and they won’t follow it going forward. Always find it laughable when poachers get license revocations, as if that’s really going to change their ways.

So tired of seeing this argument all over SM every time.

A lifetime ban works if you just think for 2 seconds before reacting. Think about it. They’ll never have a valid reason for driving around in the woods with a rifle again, and if caught be any kind of LEO they are screwed. Period. The end. Glad they got a lifetime ban! Wish they got 10 years in hard prison but this is still a win as any more than a few days in Jail seriously sucks!

 

[Wprinkle]

Unfortunately, the courts are bound by the laws already in the books, and they favor the poacher. Stiff prison time would have to be changed in the Legislature, but that will never happen. That’s why this keeps happening.

30 days in the local jail doesn’t deter anyone.

Colorado has or had the Sampson Law. It is super stiff, they take EVERYTHING. Hopefully other states have or adopt something similar.

As far as jail time deterrent. I'm assuming you have never screwed up in Siberia or spit snuff out while in Singapore.

 

[wind gypsy]

Punishable for a fine= legal for a price.
Cheaper than governors tags

Kind of. Clearly $ had an impact on the outcome of his case compared to these guys. Karl S had to sweat for months about a felony and real jail time and he lost hunting rights for at least some period of time. Lots of public shame put on his name. I assume it strained his position as an executive of Quanta having that type of publicity. He cashed out a lot of company stock.

 

[S-3 ranch]

Lifetime banned, will stop many people, but not a hard core poacher
I see a local guy who got a 10 year ban and a felony, he just hunts with his wife now ,
The feds and state TP&W, just busted a poaching ring down in port Mansfield Texas , and put some major teeth in it because they were running a guide service, confiscated All their boats, trucks, firearms, cans , thermal equipment
The lodge/ house , froze all bank accounts
I am waiting to see how it goes in the state & federal court

https://myrgv.com/publications/valley-morning-star/2025/02/04/texas-game-wardens-charge-3-for-leading-illegal-hunts-in-willacy-county/

 

[*zap*]

 

[CorbLand]

So tired of seeing this argument all over SM every time.

A lifetime ban works if you just think for 2 seconds before reacting. Think about it. They’ll never have a valid reason for driving around in the woods with a rifle again, and if caught be any kind of LEO they are screwed. Period. The end. Glad they got a lifetime ban! Wish they got 10 years in hard prison but this is still a win as any more than a few days in Jail seriously sucks!

I am not going to get into the good and bad of lifetime bans but I believe they are all felons now so they can’t possess a firearm. Other than that, the only valid reason I need to drive around the woods with a gun is because I can.

 

[S-3 ranch]

They are screwed in the USA except for Hawaii
All
50 U.S. states are members of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC), an agreement through which they mutually honor each other's hunting, fishing, and trapping license suspensions and revocations.

How It Works

• Reciprocity in Suspensions: If a person's license or permit privileges are suspended or revoked in one member state for a wildlife violation, that individual is subject to suspension or revocation in all other member states.
• Data Sharing: Member states report wildlife violation convictions to other compact members and exchange violator data.
• Enforcement: This means that an individual cannot simply cross state lines to avoid the consequences of their illegal activities or to purchase a new license in another state.

 

[stalkingwolf]

I am not going to get into the good and bad of lifetime bans but I believe they are all felons now so they can’t possess a firearm. Other than that, the only valid reason I need to drive around the woods with a gun is because I can.

Unfortunately they can still hunt with a bow, crossbow, or muzzleloader

 

[Wprinkle]

Unfortunately they can still hunt with a bow, crossbow, or muzzleloader

How is that?

 

[S-3 ranch]

Unfortunately they can still hunt with a bow, crossbow, or muzzleloader

I don’t think so as far as hunting & fishing going, they can own or possess a bow as felons after they complete probation

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I am not going to get into the good and bad of lifetime bans but I believe they are all felons now so they can’t possess a firearm.

Most of these convictions are not felonies. But some of the ones from the bigger interstate poaching rings were.

 

[AZ8]

So tired of seeing this argument all over SM every time.

A lifetime ban works if you just think for 2 seconds before reacting.

Then why does poaching continue?

 

[idelkslayer]

Then why does poaching continue?

For the same reasons that any crime continues. We have no reason to think that we will ever completely eliminate poaching any more than we can hope to completely eliminate murder.

 

[AZ8]

For the same reasons that any crime continues. We have no reason to think that we will ever completely eliminate poaching any more than we can hope to completely eliminate murder.

Exactly my point. Many are ignoring that root cause.

 

[wind gypsy]

Exactly my point. Many are ignoring that root cause.

What is the root cause?

 

[huntinfool84]

I am not going to get into the good and bad of lifetime bans but I believe they are all felons now so they can’t possess a firearm. Other than that, the only valid reason I need to drive around the woods with a gun is because I can.

not necessarily, there are different types of felonies. I thought the same until the Studer sentencing, while he is now a felon he can still posses firearms because it was not a felony charge with a deadly weapon. He (wildlife charged felons) can still hunt on private game ranches where a license is not needed (high fence type), Indian reservations and the like. Studer did get a lifetime hunting ban, and 1 felony charge, but he can still legally hunt.... in a round about way.

 

[stalkingwolf]

I don’t think so as far as hunting & fishing going, they can own or possess a bow as felons after they complete probation

You can own all three as a convicted felon

 

[AZ8]

What is the root cause?

Total disregard to laws, regardless of the consequences. Criminals will be criminals.

Rokslide is a hunting forum/community. In this case, and staying on topic, a license revocation/license ban will have little effect on future poaching incidents. That’s all i’m saying.

 

[stalkingwolf]

How is that?

They aren't banned in every state