Is poaching truly this prevalent?

[cjarchery]

Have you ever actually watched a man drive on deer? Most of those guys are so reckless and shoot so bad, its a wonder there aren't more people killed than deer.

It’s horrific. I hear about guys getting shot almost every year. I’m primarily an archery season guy but the first couple years I tried gun season I went with a guy that was always putting a random group of people together and it was always a circus. Not knowing half the people’s names. No one really sure where anyone else is on the drive. And definitely no one showing up to help clean deer after. I even heard a slug wizz past my head one day. I should count my blessings everyday I never got shot. These days I go with a really small group of guys (usually 3 including myself) and if I’m lucky I’ll never go with anyone else. Everyone’s on the same page. Everyone’s safe. If we only fill a couple tags or hell even no tags then big deal. We still had a good time. The biggest buck in the world isn’t worth someone getting shot.

 

[jgilber5]

Curious how others handle other violations in the field that don't equate to poaching necessarily. OHVs on closed roads are almost inevitable where I hunt. I don't feel like there's much I can do about it though. I have started reporting alot of shed hunters having huge bonfires out here when we're in a fire ban though. Feels bad, but thats how our town burned down the last time.

 

[Pilsner]

Wildlife Poaching Is Costing Americans an Outrageous Amount of Money

Researchers discovered that poaching happens way more often than we realize, and it usually goes undetected and unpunished.

www.outdoorlife.com

I asked one of the members of our Arkansas wildlife commission about the rates of poaching and how it effects their population estimates. I got a surprising answer:
The state of Arkansas figures that something north of 40% of deer in certain counties do NOT get tagged/reported.
As someone who has lived in one of those 40% counties for the last decade, I think those numbers are LOW if anything!

The first year that I lived here I caught flak from the neighbors because one house of two folks with zero kids had 6 bucks hanging. I mentioned that the limit was 2 per person and was informed "They shoot deer for food" as if that was an excuse - my problems started when I mentioned that I doubt the first 6 deer they found while hunting for food were all 140"+ bucks...
Yet somehow I was the A-hole for pointing out this to everyone...

Before anyone tries to give me flack for complaining about "poaching for food" or whatever your particular cope is - in the last 2 years alone we have trapped, killed, butchered, packaged, and donated to our neighbors well over 150 adult wild hogs and dozens of does that we cull based on CWD tags,

 

[Pilsner]

Curious how others handle other violations in the field that don't equate to poaching necessarily. OHVs on closed roads are almost inevitable where I hunt. I don't feel like there's much I can do about it though. I have started reporting alot of shed hunters having huge bonfires out here when we're in a fire ban though. Feels bad, but thats how our town burned down the last time.

Removing tire valve stems results in $0 of damage thus there is no way to prosecute for vandalism. Just gotta leave the vale stems behind with the vehicle.
Do with this piece of info what you will.

 

[Yoder]

This comparison is ignorant! The outcome of driving intoxicated can kill innocent people.

The getting away with it is one thing, but to tie it with drinking and driving just doesn’t sit right with me.

Both are irresponsible, illegal and widely accepted. Both give you 100 chances without taking your privileges for life and both are money making opportunities for law enforcement. Both also usually involve violating your constitutional rights. Setting up check points, and detaining you with no probable cause. I think it's a valid comparison.

 

[Pilsner]

Both are irresponsible, illegal and widely accepted. Both give you 100 chances without taking your privileges for life and both are money making opportunities for law enforcement. Both also usually involve violating your constitutional rights. Setting up check points, and detaining you with no probable cause. I think it's a valid comparison.

Not sure that the risk comparison for by standards is exactly 1:1 but you other comparisons are on point.

 

[jgilber5]

Removing tire valve stems results in $0 of damage thus there is no way to prosecute for vandalism. Just gotta leave the vale stems behind with the vehicle.
Do with this piece of info what you will.

I like the way you think. Did this to a guy at a boat ramp one time. Non-motorized lake, I was throwing muskie plugs off an SUP. Dude rips over to me with a 150 horse, almost knocks me off, then chucks a musky lure about 4 feet from my face. Just pulled the tires off his trailer and left a nice pile of lug nuts.

 

[*zap*]

Yes it is.
Maybe more than you think.

 

[Nine Banger]

I like the way you think. Did this to a guy at a boat ramp one time. Non-motorized lake, I was throwing muskie plugs off an SUP. Dude rips over to me with a 150 horse, almost knocks me off, then chucks a musky lure about 4 feet from my face. Just pulled the tires off his trailer and left a nice pile of lug nuts.

Is this a criminal or civil matter?

Statute of limitations up?

I hope you're just huffing and puffing and full of crap.