The morality of poaching

[Broomd]

To me….poaching is shooting that 10 point from the road, cutting his antlers and taking off.

Taking a doe to eat, in an isolated area, most likely on private land…that’s not really poaching IMHO.

Top example is morally wrong, second example is just illegal because the government says so…

You're a huge part of the problem.
I was going to chime in here simply to state that we all know what constitutes poaching, but your take is exactly the definition of poaching. I can see now that I was 100% wrong.

 

[PNW bow hunter]

I think in current times there is plenty of federal, state, city, county, and charitable organizations out there helping to feed the hungry that poaching for survival isn’t a valid excuse. In my state lots of school districts have free breakfast & lunch, plus offer that in the summer.

If you aren’t buying premaid foods, it’s not to hard to survive of state and federal benifits for a family of four(at least from the dollar amounts I have seen people receive).

In current times I don’t think there is an excuse to choose poaching/stealing to feed the family.

 

[bsnedeker]

My family is starving and there are no deer around so I guess the only option I have is to rob a bank....I have my pride after all!

 

[KurtR]

I dont have a problem with some one shooting some deer for meat to live. I know places here where your 100 plus miles form any food pantry or churches and thats 50 bucks in gas these days.

You can sure tell who the city people are that just think you can go across the road to get help

 

[Wvroach]

May have been a necessary thing a long time ago but now days there are too many welfare and assistance programs to justify it. Pride is not an excuse, period.
Wolves are something else.

This is most likely true for the majority of the US, for some areas of Appalachia I can't say that though. A good majority of these areas still have dirt roads and a good hour drive to any town. They also do not have access to Internet, or cell phone coverage. Many folks would rather do what they have done thier entire lives then to ask for government assistance and many more don't even know the assistance that is available exist. Southern and central WV and Eastern Kentucky were left mostly desolate once the coal mines shut down. I hope no one here has to make the choice.

Ps this was the early 2000s when I was in the above situation I'm not talking 1950s or distant past and many folks still face these same decisions today.

 

[rclouse79]

I am against it 9.999 out of ten times. I would guess many who claim they need poached game meat to survive spend plenty of money on beer and cigarettes.
The only thing that makes me think twice is all of the surrounding states that are having to fight every year to keep politicians and voters from banning bear or lion seasons. I am sure deer and elk are next on the agenda. I may change my tune when I find myself in a world where I can no longer hunt because it is no longer legal and the government is using my tax dollars to control game population in a manner uneducated voters have deemed acceptable.

 

[KurtR]

This is most likely true for the majority of the US, for some areas of Appalachia I can't say that though. A good majority of these areas still have dirt roads and a good hour drive to any town. They also do not have access to Internet, or cell phone coverage. Many folks would rather do what they have done thier entire lives then to ask for government assistance and many more don't even know the assistance that is available exist. Southern and central WV and Eastern Kentucky were left mostly desolate once the coal mines shut down. I hope no one here has to make the choice.

Ps this was the early 2000s when I was in the above situation I'm not talking 1950s or distant past and many folks still face these same decisions today.

My wife worked for dss had to do a well fair check on some kids. They lived 100 plus miles from nearest town no running water no electricity down an old dirt road on the prairie of south dakota. More people still live like that than people realize. They had a deer hanging up and she hunts so knew it wasnt deer season. While wrong by law she felt it wasnt morally wrong as thats how they survived. Kids were all good while living different they were happy and healthy. Had an old pick up that barley ran and maybe made it to a store once a month. Its hard for todays people to understand people still live this way.

 

[Hall17]

Some don't like to think about the reality of the way some live. I have a very hard time even imagining how some live. I feel very fortunate to live the life I do but I don't want to ignore the fact that when it comes to hunger we can all think its so easy to get welfare, etc. I don't know personally but I will say this. If it came down to my 2 year old boy surviving or dyeing because of hunger, I can guarantee I would find/get him food at any cost. Right or wrong goes out the window when I am keeping my family alive. Again, this would have to be a very specific situation and again I've never lived in a situation that poor.

 

[wapitibob]

A few years ago I asked a warden if he'd ever caught a poacher that really needed the meat. He said "never, but If I did I'd help load it in their truck". He went on to say the last guy he popped was driving a new dodge diesel.

 

[87TT]

How and where we live is basically a choice. Doesn't make poaching/ stealing right. If someone became temporarily lost in the woods and killed something to survive, fine. Just for the record, I live in a fairly poor rural county and have worked in worse. People can always justify bad choices or bad behavior.

 

[Smada962]

Interesting discussion, but I’d like to know of all the game animals that are killed illegally every year what percentage were done by someone who truly had to do it to feed themsleves or their families. I bet it’s like 1% or less.

 

[Wvroach]

How and where we live is basically a choice. Doesn't make poaching/ stealing right. If someone became temporarily lost in the woods and killed something to survive, fine. Just for the record, I live in a fairly poor rural county and have worked in worse. People can always justify bad choices or bad behavior.

Guess it depends who is being the judge of what constitutes as "bad behavior".

Not sure how and where we live is exactly a choice, especially while children. Yes I believe everyone in America has the ability to pull themselves out of poverty many were never presented a opportunity to or shown how.

 

[87TT]

Guess it depends who is being the judge of what constitutes as "bad behavior".

Isn't that morality?

 

[Buffalo0922]

You're a huge part of the problem.
I was going to chime in here simply to state that we all know what constitutes poaching, but your take is exactly the definition of poaching. I can see now that I was 100% wrong.

Whoa dude.

In regards to the spirit of the conversation, I was making the statement that there is a difference in morally wrong and legally wrong.

I don’t think my statement makes me a “huge part of the problem”

Sure, it is the legal definition of poaching, I think that the OP argument is how egregious the offense is.

I am fortunate and not in the position of having to take game out of season to provide. I would not mind doing so if my family was hungry though.

 

[Wvroach]

Isn't that morality?

Morality is what is right or wrong, weather subjective or objective.
Objectively, there is no problem with harvesting a animal to provide for yourself or family.

Subjectively, I personally see no issue with it when necessary, but as some others have shown they do.

That is the beauty of living in a place where we have freedom of speech and freedom to express our opinions. We can have a conversation and disagree and still get along.

 

[cod007]

I think our current govt supports poaching. I see where many govt officials are saying if you need baby formula for your kids it’s not unreasonable for you to break into a shop and sledgehammer a few glass display cases to get some jewelry or other items you might need.

 

[j02p13]

100% agree.

MuleyFever. Will you please e mail me. I have a question for you. [email protected]

 

[huntngolf]

I have absolutely no problem with a poor family taking a deer if the meat is all used and none wasted. I think a guy would feel better about themselves going out and getting the meat instead of standing in line for handouts at a food bank. Kids would probably think it’s pretty cool to see their parent do that too. Again, this would be a pretty specific situation

 

[Travis907]

Interesting discussion, but I’d like to know of all the game animals that are killed illegally every year what percentage were done by someone who truly had to do it to feed themsleves or their families. I bet it’s like 1% or less.

I agree “most”use people use the excuse for “needing food” that dont honestly need it. I’ve heard that line numerous times from people caught poaching with $1k high powered rifles and $60k trucks!
If someone truthfully needs meat for life or death then that’s a completely different story but honestly there are plenty of opportunities if people reach out. Food banks, churches, and most local sheriff departments have a list of needy families that are giving road kill deer!
This is a hot topic and always has bern. Need to poach and want to poach is completely different but in the end legally poaching is poaching just decide what’s morally right or wrong! Survival would be my deciding factor!

 

[Crowmangler]

Interesting discussion, but I’d like to know of all the game animals that are killed illegally every year what percentage were done by someone who truly had to do it to feed themsleves or their families. I bet it’s like 1% or less.

Here's a good way to tell:
If it was someone who did it to feed their family, they would leave the head & take the meat
a poacher would take the head & leave the meat