Is poaching truly this prevalent?

[LongWayAround]

Poaching is definitely a major issue and is easy to do because the game wardens are spread too thin to effectively cover their areas. Then, you have all the dipshits that think the warden is just out to get them (see previous threads here).

I also think a lot of ass hats with the type of here say stories are just blowing smoke. The guys that I would actually be concerned about are not the ones telling every dude that will listen about their supposed exploits.

 

[Huntindog45]

The one that gets me is how many people who in the same breath while complaining about poachers talk about using other peoples tags or applying for different units for different people in the family but everyone hunts every unit. Wardens love that ticket. The crazy thing in most instances the person could have just shot a deer without a tag and violated less laws. When someone else's tag is used each person gets tickets. Not only do they get the same hunting without a valid license ticket they also get the illegal transfer of a ticket... (most states have some similar language) the tag owner gets a ticket too so its far more of a penalty.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Party hunting waterfowl is definitely not legal regardless of how you want to think about it. That said, I would imagine the majority of group limits are shot according to the group's total limit.

I grew up in a state where party hunting deer was legal. The same logic also got applied to pheasants and waterfowl even though it was not legally correct.

I don't think it's legal down here in TX. I sometimes have the curse of shooting very well and I'll be sitting with 6 birds and the rest of the group might be lucky to have 1 or 2 combined between them. In these situations I stop shooting not because of the law but I feel like it takes away from their experience and I want to let them enjoy hunting and shooting their own. Not to mention they obviously need practice lol. Now I will say when I sit and watch usually they don't even know who's dropping what birds, all they know is they fell, so I have zero qualms with group limits... but we will have a discussion if anybody hunting with me wants to keep more than a limit or shoots/at something they shouldn't.

 

[Predator_SD]

Probably, but who cares these guys are scumbags. Likely the same prevalence of scumbags in the hunting world as the general public.

But all you can do is report em when you see em (or you’re part of the problem) and just do your own part to be a legal, ethical hunter on your end.

So i don’t worry about em much even though i put poachers down their with thieves, rapists, and drug dealers. I personally don’t associate with any of these types of losers so it’s not really a part of my daily existence.

 

[Britt-dog]

This is one of the most brilliant anti-poaching moves I've ever heard of. People would turn in family to get 10 draw points.

On paper its a great idea, but good luck getting the pay off. In WA you awarded points if there is a successful prosecution and the state agrees it is due to your information. Unfortunately the WDFW is underfunded and the enforcement guys don't have time to pay attention much less pursue everything reported.

Only absolutely airtight cases are going to result in bonus points. You better catch them in the act and hold them at gunpoint until the law arrives.

 

[Wagondriver]

I had called about 2 guys shooting from a road, onto private property. They fired many rounds and left the 264 win mag brass in the road. They had killed one cow an wounded another and then took off. I dropped off my buddy so he could go finish off the spine shot cow, I chased them down and got a license plate and description of both. DOW showed up and so did Eagle County Sheriff Deputies, with no where to go the offenders headed up Red Table road with cops in pursuit. I heard some of it over the radio, they had tossed their guns in the snow and took off running. Both were caught. Turns out their tags were not bull tags, for a unit nowhere near where we were.
While we were cleaning up the elk, one of the Sheriff's deputies asks me if there are a bunch of elk around, telling me that he was on duty the whole season. Then asks me if I would shoot an elk for him. I really don't think it was a set up, I think he really wanted me to shoot one for him.

 

[Kingofthemountain83]

I agree, however, with the value of points diminishing in WA state, they really should offer a separate pool of points for incentive tags...pretty sure people would actively go looking for poachers.

I know a person with 30+ points in quality elk WA... Got 10 from turning in what turned out to be a poaching case... Think he still has less then 2% chance at drawing the tag he puts in for...

 

[Brock A]

I know a person with 30+ points in quality elk WA... Got 10 from turning in what turned out to be a poaching case... Think he still has less then 2% chance at drawing the tag he puts in for...

Yep, that tracks.