Poacher Gets Prison & Big Fine

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Aug 23, 2020
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From Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Tourism:

SHARON MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR POACHING 60 DEER

MEDICINE LODGE, KANSAS – John Blick, Jr. of Sharon, Kansas appeared in Barber County District Court on November 4, 2020. In the one hundred thirty-nine (139) count complaint, Blick was found guilty of the illegal hunting and poaching of sixty (60) whitetail and mule deer, and being a felon in possession of a firearm during the commission of those crimes.

District Judge Frank Meisenheimer sentenced Blick to serve fourteen (14) months in prison. After Blick completes his prison sentence, he will be on Post-Release Supervision for at least twelve (12) months with the Kansas Department of Corrections. As part of the felony sentence, Blick was assessed three hundred ten thousand two hundred thirty-four dollars and sixty-eight cents ($310,234.68) in restitution that is owed to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism for the value of the deer killed.

These cases were the result of a multi-year investigation by Game Wardens Jason Harrold, Scott Stoughton and K9 Officer Gypsy of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. The criminal case was prosecuted by Barber County Attorney Gaten Wood. Additionally Blick was charged and plead guilty to 33 misdemeanors in Harper county and was fined an additional $15,000 worth of fines with Restitutions amount ordered of $17,407.04 for the 3 trophy deer that he killed in Harper Co in 2019 and also the forfeiture of his hunting privileges for 5 years from the date of his conviction.

The criminal case was prosecuted by Harper County Attorney Richard Raleigh. In both counties the charges pled guilty to included numerous counts of Criminal Hunting, Hunting with Aid of a motor vehicle, Criminal discharge of a firearm, Felon on possession of a firearm, Fail to purchase or to tag deer, Exceed bag limits, Hunt with Artificial light, Hunting without a valid license and take Trophy deer illegally. The deer heads will be destroyed in pursuant with 32-1047. All equipment and firearms seized is ordered to be forfeited to the state of Kansas.

KDWPT would like to thank Anthony PD Officer Becky Mendoza, the Barber County Sheriff’s office, and the numerous individuals in Barber and Harper County’s whom provided the much needed information over the years in helping bring this individual to justice. The information provided and discovered during the course of the investigation will possibly lead to future prosecutions of other wildlife violators.

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Wapiti1

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Welcome back Tony. Hope things are good with you.

At first, it doesn't seem like he got much of a sentence, then I read forfeiture of all equipment and firearms. That could be an extensive list. And it looks like other charges are pending.

Sad that some people do this garbage.

Seized gear, equipment and firearms usually go to auction depending on the laws of the state.

Jeremy
 
OP
Outdoor Writer
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Aug 23, 2020
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Glendale, AZ
Welcome back Tony. Hope things are good with you.

Thanks. I'm still hangin' in there.

P.S. Actually, I've been around these parts for a while but mostly posting in the classified section as I divest myself of all my hunting, fishing, camping gear and related stuff such as book & memorabilia.

As for this dirtbag, I've covered a lots of news over the past 50 years, and I'll venture a guess this is the most egregious case of poaching in this country that I recall ever seeing.
 
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rclouse79

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Dec 10, 2019
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Sounds like a real piece of work. I am guessing hopes of rehabilitation are low for someone so far gone. Hopefully he has enough net worth for the state to squeeze all of his fines out of him.
 

5MilesBack

"DADDY"
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Wow, Kansas has some expensive deer there......over $5k each "for the value of the deer". If they're really worth $5k a piece, why aren't deer tags that high?
 

Radams406

FNG
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Apr 24, 2019
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Sickening that this goes on, a good hunt is a challenge enough without the likes of this fella depleting the resource.
 
Joined
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Lenexa, KS
Wow, Kansas has some expensive deer there......over $5k each "for the value of the deer". If they're really worth $5k a piece, why aren't deer tags that high?

Please don't assume I'm a defender of KDWP, but the value of a deer does not equate the price of a tag, because the tag only represents the opportunity at a deer. There are harvest rates right? So, a minimum, the value of a deer is the tag price divided by the success rate. There should also be a premium for larger animals, of course.

I think it's fair to equate the value to what a non-resident would spend on an outfitted hunt where they'd expect to shoot a deer of some specific size.
 

WCB

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Jun 12, 2019
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I don't think there should be restitution and then "Trophy" restitution. How about just you poach a deer it is a $5,000 fine. buck, doe, fawn don't matter. Then suspended or completely revoke hunting privilege, and equipment including vehicles and weapons are forfeited. Be done with it.

Poach a Racoon....$5000 fine. Poaching is poaching is poaching.

Then double for second offense, triple for third etc. Oh you poached two deer $5000 for the first and $10,000 for the second=$15,000. Oh a third well that'll cost you $15,000.
 

5MilesBack

"DADDY"
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If the fine was the same price as a tag why would people ever buy a tag?
Here's the quote......"Blick was assessed three hundred ten thousand two hundred thirty-four dollars and sixty-eight cents ($310,234.68) in restitution that is owed to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism for the value of the deer killed".

Says that's just for the "value" of the deer killed. So a KS deer tag (even NR tag) is an absolute bargain for such expensive deer. They can probably raise their tag prices if they're that valuable.
 
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Joined
Jul 30, 2015
Messages
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Lenexa, KS
Here's the quote......"Blick was assessed three hundred ten thousand two hundred thirty-four dollars and sixty-eight cents ($310,234.68) in restitution that is owed to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism for the value of the deer killed".

Says that's just for the "value" of the deer killed. So a KS deer tag (even NR tag) is an absolute bargain for such expensive deer. They can probably raise their tag prices if they're that valuable.

Is logic not your thing?
 
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