Hope more states follow

[elkyinzer]

It's theft of a resource.

Yeah but here's the thing. I'm with you on trophy animals. But guy kills a doe to feed his family? That's like saying driving 70 in a 55 is reckless endangerment. There has to be clarity in the law with respect to that kind of situation. Thats the issue a lot of libertarian leaning people like myself have with the fact that the rule of law has been completely taken advantage of.

 

[MuleyFever]

I don't know that I agree with the poaching for food argument. There are a lot of ways for someone to get food assistance from local government programs to churches to other food banks. I don't really see a reason one should have to poach a deer. Who is to say who should be able to poach a deer for food and not be punished? If I have a couple bad runs at the casino and can't afford food because I'm an idiot can I go poach a deer? What if I burn my pay check on booze and cigs? It just becomes a who is poor enough argument. No one should be poaching and the punishment should be equal for all.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

The families that I knew growing up thatvshot a few extra deer knew they were breaking the law and accepted the potential consequences. To them the reward outweighed the risk. There was no (to my knowledge) addictions or misuse of income, just a lack of it... say what you want about the practice, they never took a government handout that I know of though.

 

[MTHunter20]

I don't know that I agree with the poaching for food argument. There are a lot of ways for someone to get food assistance from local government programs to churches to other food banks. I don't really see a reason one should have to poach a deer. Who is to say who should be able to poach a deer for food and not be punished? If I have a couple bad runs at the casino and can't afford food because I'm an idiot can I go poach a deer? What if I burn my pay check on booze and cigs? It just becomes a who is poor enough argument. No one should be poaching and the punishment should be equal for all.

This. Exactly. A lot of ppl use the poach for food argument around here and it doesn't hold water with me. Most are already on food stamps or some government assistance anyway. No reason they shouldn't have to follow the same laws as everybody else.

The way I see it, when people purposely break game laws, they're stealing opportunities from the people that are hunting/fishing the right way.

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[elkyinzer]

This. Exactly. A lot of ppl use the poach for food argument around here and it doesn't hold water with me. Most are already on food stamps or some government assistance anyway. No reason they shouldn't have to follow the same laws as everybody else.

The way I see it, when people purposely break game laws, they're stealing opportunities from the people that are hunting/fishing the right way.

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I'm not saying the law should look the other way when people poach for food, but it sure ain't a felony offense.

How about enhanced penalties when broadcasting/media is involved? Any dildo with a cell phone camera and youtube account thinks he/she ais destined to be famous hunters these days. A lot of the most sickening poaching cases are driven by thirst for fame. Market hunting is a no no but the hunting media glorification "industry" for fame/pure personal gain is ok? #doublestandards

 

[seldomseensmith]

Poaching for food is lawlessness. I'm no angel but I would venture a guess that not many people around here support lawlessness in the city so what because this is a "country" folk crime we should look the other way?

 

[MTHunter20]

I don't watch much hunting tv anymore because of that very reason. But if they're not breaking the law then have at it.

I just don't see much excuse to poach for food when if you're that bad off, you probably qualify for food stamps or some kind of assistance. The point of making it a felony is to deter people from doing it, not to create more felons.

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[backcountry_hunter]

I just don't see much excuse to poach for food when if you're that bad off, you probably qualify for food stamps or some kind of assistance. The point of making it a felony is to deter people from doing it, not to create more felons

Living in a state that's considering felony g&F violations I very much doubt these are the people that more severe punishments are targeting. Almost all the discussion around felony g&F violations usually has some trophy element to itn. People with multiple offenses shining or trespassing for antlers/horns and leaving carcass type stuff. The guy that shoots a doe that doesn't have a tag will more than likely stay a misdemeanor offender.

Most of the people who take an extra deer or two for the winter have the "can't eat antler" mentality anyway. Imo like traffic DUIs (misdemeanor, gross and felony dui) there should be tiers to game and fish laws as well. Until now if you accidentally shot a 3pt thinking it had 4 on a side or poached a 370" bull at night for the 5th time, you were one in the same. This will just give officers more latitude with people that really can't grasp the concept...

 

[MuleyFever]

... say what you want about the practice, they never took a government handout that I know of though.

No, they just decided to steal a state resource and from fellow hunters.

 

[MTHunter20]

Also, where I live in TN, you can shoot 3 does a day during deer season. But you have to pay about 75$ to be able to hunt the rifle season. When you can get that much meat legally, it really makes it hard for me to see why anyone would need to poach for it also.

I do agree with maybe tiering things so honest mistakes are not turned into felonies. Mistakes happen and that's ok as long as someone is trying to do the right thing. It's the blatant breaking of the law that burns me up. Nothing worse than sitting in a stand during bow season and hearing rifle shots at 6:30 in the morning, etc.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

Also, where I live in TN, you can shoot 3 does a day during deer season. But you have to pay about 75$ to be able to hunt the rifle season. When you can get that much meat legally, it really makes it hard for me to see why anyone would need to poach for it also.

I do agree with maybe tiering things so honest mistakes are not turned into felonies. Mistakes happen and that's ok as long as someone is trying to do the right thing. It's the blatant breaking of the law that burns me up. Nothing worse than sitting in a stand during bow season and hearing rifle shots at 6:30 in the morning, etc.

this... I'm not trying to justify poaching at any level but I'm also fortunate to have never been in a situation where I needed to eat so bad it required me to kill something out of season. I'm not so naive to think there aren't people out there that are faced with that... despite being govt. programs, welfare, etc. All I was getting at was not all game and fish violations are the same in my book, some are more severe and belligerent than others. Those deserve to be prosecuted and punished as such.

 

[Jauwater]

Exactly, an honest man making a mistake, and working to make it right, and a rancher who shoots 25 elk to rot into the landscape should be treated differently. Both charged with the crime committed no doubt, but looked at differently. My opinion.

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[jm1607]

I feel that the jail time is excessive but the fine isn't enough...

 

[devildog.34]

I don't understand why poaching to feed your family is accepted? That's like saying I can go steal from the grocery store because I'm poor. Wildlife belongs to the people of the state, so there is a victim in the crime. Most of the so called "Poaching to feed my family guy" drives a jacked up diesel truck worth $60,000. I know my fair share of poachers, many are on government assistance but have the latest and greatest equipment, can afford gas to drive around hunting. When they finally do get caught they get a court appointed attorney because they are indigent.

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

I'm not saying the law should look the other way when people poach for food, but it sure ain't a felony offense.

How about enhanced penalties when broadcasting/media is involved? Any dildo with a cell phone camera and youtube account thinks he/she ais destined to be famous hunters these days. A lot of the most sickening poaching cases are driven by thirst for fame. Market hunting is a no no but the hunting media glorification "industry" for fame/pure personal gain is ok? #doublestandards

I agree with you on this. Raising something to a felony could have a backward effect. The only way to avoid this is strict enforcement of the existing laws. The rule of law seems to be meted out in an unfair and sometimes heavy handed fashion. I would not want to see any anti-hunting group to go after other hunters and protest when the fullest extent of the law was not brought to bear. This gives rise to excessive and egregious sentences that are really unfair. I also agree that we should not be treating animals as humans. This only further supports the PETA crowd. Let's not cast the first stone here, shall we?

While I would not expect anything different from hunters on a hunting forum, I believe that there should be a balance to the punishment.

I feel that the jail time is excessive but the fine isn't enough...

Agreed, appropriate jail time for any professional would be enough of a punishment, but if someone doesn't work, then raise the fines accordingly and leave it to the judge's discretion, don't make them mandatory sentences/fines.

As for feeding your family.. I can see both sides of the argument. It is easy for one side to point the finger at the other. Poaching to feed a family is never understood until you meet people who have done it. Ask them their viewpoint and they will explain in terms that make sense. But yes, in this day and age, we have a lot of other resources out there to assist with the hungry.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

I don't understand why poaching to feed your family is accepted? That's like saying I can go steal from the grocery store because I'm poor. Wildlife belongs to the people of the state, so there is a victim in the crime. Most of the so called "Poaching to feed my family guy" drives a jacked up diesel truck worth $60,000. I know my fair share of poachers, many are on government assistance but have the latest and greatest equipment, can afford gas to drive around hunting. When they finally do get caught they get a court appointed attorney because they are indigent.

I don't know that anyone is arguing that it should be accepted, but the poachers you know vs. the one's I knew growing up sound like they're on two different wave lengths. The one's from my area were lucky if they had a truck that ran, one family I'm certain I remember didn't have running water, etc... I'm sure they would have qualified for govt. assistance which was a 45min trip into town (1-way). But then a doe pops out at their bird feeder and you could do the math. It was still poaching but I'll be transparent in my belief that I have more "understanding" for those folks than the guy that kills a close-to 400" bull, takes a pic, hacks the head off and leaves the carcass.

 

[Rmauch20]

In most county's in Kansas (the western half anyway) the S.O will put the you on a salvage list if you contact the local Sheriffs Dept. Basically someone hits a deer, they call you and you go out and pick it up, they issue you a salvage tag. You get to keep the meat and it cost you nothing. I can remember going out with my dad and picking up deer when I was younger. In most cases I just don't buy the "I am poaching to feed my family".

There have been times that after completing the accident report and if I can't get a hold of anybody I'll load the deer up in the back of my patrol pickup take it home and then process it out when I get off. I'll just have another officer issue me the salvage tag.

 

[elkstabber]

Rokslide is a great forum for learning from each other.

In Virginia poaching of deer is often a $50 fine, if it's not dismissed. The game wardens aren't allowed to set up a robot deer with more than a 3x3 rack because it is considered "entrapment" by the courts.

Also, felons in Virginia can get their gun rights restored. It is commonly done. Here is the link: Virginia State Police - Restoration of Firearms Rights

In 2014 a law was passed that allowed Sunday hunting. It was best supported by democrats. The republicans wanted to keep the Sunday hunting ban in place.

I'm not trying to derail the thread but just pointing out how different the states are. Most of all I truly hope that Virginia's game laws evolve out of the 1950's. I'm glad to see New Mexico pushing for stiffer penalties.

 

[SheepDogRob]

I don't understand why poaching to feed your family is accepted? That's like saying I can go steal from the grocery store because I'm poor. Wildlife belongs to the people of the state, so there is a victim in the crime. Most of the so called "Poaching to feed my family guy" drives a jacked up diesel truck worth $60,000. I know my fair share of poachers, many are on government assistance but have the latest and greatest equipment, can afford gas to drive around hunting. When they finally do get caught they get a court appointed attorney because they are indigent.

No doubt there would be no reason to poach in the State or Oregon where a huge portion of our tax dollars go to feed grown men who spend their days lounging in the city park. Everything is free in Oregon if you're unwilling to provide for yourself.


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[kicker338]

Read through all the posts here and have come to some conclusions. All pochers should be just taken out in the woods, be shot in the head and ltheir bodies be left to feed the coyotes. Next change the constitution to give all animals same equal rights as humans, oops make that more rights than humans. Stupid comments yep but get real guys, it's just a deer, repeat, just a deer which when the last time I looked at the numbers there are more whit tails alive today than ever been recorded. The only price you can put on one is the one you dream up. A friend of mine, a farmer has a price, he would pay me $50 a head for everyone I killed on his place if he could. Said that the damage they do to his crops, his income, he would be money ahead paying me. Not saying game laws wrong, we have to have them but some of you seem to be elevating a game violation to the leavel of an un pardonable sin.