Thanks weasel.
We made it back down to the Texas Hole on Saturday. It was 0 degrees when we left and both Dan and I were skunked again. I hooked one nice bow but it released itself so I'm still looking for my first trout caught on fly.
We awoke today to a foot of fresh powder.
I also awoke sub 200lbs on the scale.
Weasel, I really feel the same, I could care less about poacher celebrities. My beef has always been the way Iowa encourages and coddles poachers while the big buck resourse continues to go down hill fast. I did look at chit chat on the forums. Then a copy of the ticket stating unlawful transport (purchased tag after harvest) surfaced.
Some said it's a fake, it's not a fake. Many said oh this isn't an honest mistake, this is poaching and the forums immediately were locked. Funny thing is the poacher in Farmington who received the same ticket and had his gun and deer head confiscated last year, since Lee's ticket was issued, had his gun and deer head returned to him. It would seem that nobody in the hunting industry or the IDNR wants to call poaching a deer without a license, poaching. Actually one person in the IDNR, Dale Garner the head of the IDNR called it poaching. He said that he was going to have a conversation with Mark his head law enforcement man and get back to us but he never did get back to us.
Meanwhile some folks are worked up about this, one such person and one such letter circulated through out the IDNR and Lee's sponsors.
On Feb 26, 2017 9:22 PM, "Dan Cole" <dc240nt@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Tammie Krausman,
I'm writing in regards to the Lee Lakosky case. I have attached a copy
of the CO report with written citation.
I have a popular hunting blog with over 50,000 readers per month, it's
safe to say that I speak for tens of thousands of sportsman and women
throughout North America.
I'm very curious as to how this guy could not have been charged with
poaching when the the CO report literally says "purchased tag after
harvest"? Please read the statement Lee Lakosky released about the
incident, its a complete contrast to the CO report. Here's a couple
contradictions between the two;
1) If he truly had the proper license in his pocket, then why did he
have to "purchase tag after harvest"?
2) The license was purchased by his mother in law 18 minutes after
legal shooting hours.
3) He didn't "make an honest mistake", as he explains, he blatantly
shot a deer when he didn't have the proper license to do so. Thus the
proper license being purchased by his mother in law 18 minutes after
legal shooting hours.
4) A quote from an IDNR official, "If this had gone to trial there
would have been several more charges." Seriously? Would this have been
the case for the rest of us as well?
Every state and province that I have either personally hunted or know
the game laws from, have specifically stated that a hunting license
has to be purchased before entering the field and that license/tag has
to be on the person while in the field. According to all states and
provinces, any thing different would be considered poaching if an
animal is taken.
I'll admit, I'm not familiar with the Iowa game laws, I'll assume
there is a "Lee's Law" that allows a celebrity to hunt until they
shoot a deer then purchase the appropriate license after the fact?
Would I, or any other hunter be able to do this without receiving a
poaching citation? I'm sure not! The average sportsman would have had
the law book thrown at them, lost their firearm, hunting privileges,
paid a heavy fine, and been charged with poaching!
Maybe Iowa has a two tiered judicial system where celebrities are not
held to the same standards as regular every day hunters are? I'm sorry
for the sarcastic under tone, it wasn't my intention in the least. But
the more I think of this the more absurd it actually becomes and the
higher my frustration level rises.
Letting Lee Lakosky off without a poaching violation is a slap in the
face and complete insult to every law abiding hunter in the country!
There is still time for you to get this situation corrected and hand
out the proper violation, which is no less than a poaching charge!
The law abiding sportsman and women of North America are not only
watching, but we are expecting Iowa to correct this situation and
bring the same charges that would have been levied on the rest of us.
We feel very strongly that Iowa has damaged its reputation and
completely embarrassed its wildlife law department because of this.
Please do the right thing and either change the law so we can all do
what Lee Lakosky has done, or correct this situation and bring the
same violations the rest of us would have received.
Sincerely,
Dan Cole
Dan Cole
701-866-5520
http://thewhitetailshooters.com
I said along that nothing will be done, the IDNR and the hunting industry knows how their bread is buttered.
Lee had his camera man with him so those interested in their show will probably get to watch a deer being poached on tv.
An honest hunter only has his reputation.
G