Something I read reminded me of this poaching case a few years back. It was near Hailey, ID.
A hunter spotted a herd of elk in a valley below him. He sneaked down a ways and sat down to figure out the best approach. Suddenly below him it sounded like a war zone. Before the shooting was over, 5 elk were dead. He stayed there to watch and it turned out to be only 2 shooters. When he was sure of his facts, the guy sneaked back over the hill and got to where he had cell service and called Idaho's poacher hot line. He explained what he saw and gave them the GPS coordinates. Then he returned to the site and sat down to watch what happened. In less than 30 min, a chopper full of game wardens skimmed over the ridge and set down right on top of the poachers. Love it! Technology saves the day.
Rock Chuck: Interesting - a cool win for the good guys.
Chalk another one up from our high country pack in Elk camp this past season.
A notorious suspected poacher Hunted our area year after year during archery season and his above average success during the archery season always was accompanied by "a gun shot" in the immediate area he was Hunting in!
A hike to a peak by someone I know after "the shot" this past season and a cell phone call from there resulted in an arrest of said "hunter" by Montana Game Wardens the next day.
Said poacher was using a short barreled T/C type pistol to aid in his archery Hunting.
Further details of the investigation, the arrest and the gathering of evidence will not be divulged at this time so as NOT to aid other poachers (of whom I hope none frequent this site).
Saddens me that folks will diminish themselves by poaching a game animal(s)!
These type folks are NOT Hunters or sportsmen they are criminals that tarnish real Hunters and sportsmen's reputation and sport.
Modern technology is indeed helpful in bringing all manner of criminals to bag.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Was fishing one day in a small spillway canal known for its trophy Redfish. The canal opens into the bay and is roughly 100 yards long & 30 feet wide. Wade fisherman line one side daily. I was on the elevated bridge observing when a center console came ripping up the canal from the bay. I could only see the driver at the helm. As the boat neared it appeared to be full of dark bundles lining the floor. The driver ran the boat aground between two fisherman and instantly 5-6 wardens sprang from the floor & commenced on the wade fisherman. Thought it was a pretty cool tactic.
Game & fish nabbed some 'fish shockers" last summer on the Choctawhatchee river . They dressed up like fishing bums at the dock then slapped the cuufs on them when they returned that night .
Great Glad they go them..
A sad one here about a dozen years back. Locals encircled an elk herd frequenting a pivot and opened up at dawn day one of bull season. Unfortunately the wardens were not on site and no one was willing to be a witness. Two bulls were claimed, and about 4 other bulls and 5 cows were discovered around the perimeter. No pinches. The community was pissed.
I was fishing with my daughter at Elk Horn Slough. I told her that the Department of Fish and wildlife was probably watching us hidden in the hills. She caught a ray and within five minutes the game wardens approached us. After they check my license and my cooler they said have a nice day and they left.
After they left I said my daughter "See I told you they were watching."
She looked at me and said " I never doubted you."
They do a good job here trying to catch the poachers.
Was fishing one day in a small spillway canal known for its trophy Redfish. The canal opens into the bay and is roughly 100 yards long & 30 feet wide. Wade fisherman line one side daily. I was on the elevated bridge observing when a center console came ripping up the canal from the bay. I could only see the driver at the helm. As the boat neared it appeared to be full of dark bundles lining the floor. The driver ran the boat aground between two fisherman and instantly 5-6 wardens sprang from the floor & commenced on the wade fisherman. Thought it was a pretty cool tactic.
Were the wade fisherman being really suspicious or something?
It seems to me like that tactic would just intentionally interrupt a lot of legal fisherman...unless for whatever reason the wardens knew or strongly suspected the wade fisherman were poaching.
Were the wade fisherman being really suspicious or something?
It seems to me like that tactic would just intentionally interrupt a lot of legal fisherman...unless for whatever reason the wardens knew or strongly suspected the wade fisherman were poaching.
In Texas the game wardens do that stuff on a regular basis in certain areas considered to be high risk for illegal taking of game.
Years ago when they were bringing loads of those Laotian boat people, the poaching of fish was rampant for a while. It took them a long time to figure out that fishing isn't available year round for free. F&G departments were pretty busy writing tickets.
This reminds me of a true and humorous Game Warden story. I stopped one afternoon at a rural restaurant for a cup of coffee. Sitting alone was a senior Game Warden known for his no nonsense attitude. I struck up a conversation with him about his years of service.
After a few minutes he grinned and asked, "do you want to hear a story." I did. He had been on a country road and as he drove over a creek he noticed a kid downstream fishing. It was about two weeks before Trout season opened. He stopped the car and walked down to where the kid stood holding an old rusty steel pole in one hand and a stringer of small trout in the other. "Do you know who I am?" "Yes sir, you're the game." "Nice string of trout you have there." "Yes sir" "Do you know Trout season hasn't opened yet?" "Yes sir, I got another another stringer down stream." "Wanna see them" "Sure, I'd like to see your other stringer of Trout."
He said, "after a few minutes I realized that kid isn't coming back and there I stood, fish pole in one hand, string of trout in the other, cars going by, folks tooting their horn, waiving to me." "Two weeks before Trout season, two weeks before my retirement and I had just been snookered by a ten year old kid." "I put the pole in the car and a week later I stopped at the farm house by that creek." "Knocked on the door." "Farmer wife answered the door and a kid was peeking around the kitchen corner." "I said nothing, just handed her the pole and walked away."
He tipped his head back and laughed and then said, "just bought a new pole, reel, line, sinkers and hooks." "There"s a kid I met while I was working and he needs a better pole." "Going to ask him if he'll take me fishing."
Years ago when they were bringing loads of those Laotian boat people, the poaching of fish was rampant for a while. . . .
they still do at various places here. they keep whatever fish
or game they can take regardless of size or possession limits.
i'm not sure they're all laotians though. some are cambodes
some viets
We got a bunch of Laotians but within a few years the majority had moved to other states where they had more of them to be with.
Were the wade fisherman being really suspicious or something?
It seems to me like that tactic would just intentionally interrupt a lot of legal fisherman...unless for whatever reason the wardens knew or strongly suspected the wade fisherman were poaching.
In Texas the game wardens do that stuff on a regular basis in certain areas considered to be high risk for illegal taking of game.
I wonder how many hours it took for the reds to move back in.
