The Lawbreakers Thread

[MarkDarvin]

I had an interesting experience tonight. I was on the horn with a cousin of mine in southwest MN. For the uninitiated, SW MN is about the least hospitable place in the midwest for deer. Between no cover and not much respect for the animal, it's a hard place to consider hunting.

In this part of MN, you can only shoot one deer. My cousin informed me that his father in law had his wife purchase a bowtag and he proceeded to go out and shoot a deer with his bow and put her tag on it. She's never shot a bow in her life. In MN, that is illegal. And he's back out hunting again for another deer already.

Deep down, I hope guys like this kill every deer in their area and are forced to sit in the stand and see nothing for a few years.

 

[Jeff H]

It's really hard to change a culture....any culture, but it can be done with education and time. For many education is off the table. Hopefully educating the next generation can change the culture.
I know a man who lives on 400 acres in Backwoods Mo. He's a good man, and an honest hard working man, he truly is. I sat at his kitchen table with his grandson as he said " if I need a deer I just go shoot me a deer,no matter what time of year it is". His grandson looked at me and rolled his eyes. Sometimes you just have to wait them out.

 

[boot]

I read that the number of deer killed illegally every year in the United States is roughly the same as the number of deer killed legally, its that kind of attitude and culture that fuels the disrespect towards wildlife and wildlife laws.

 

[swat1018]

In many places that will get you a visit from the warden. It's funny to watch a woman who's never touched a bow pull back her husband's bow. I've seen it, and it was worth the price of admission. Hubby said, "Ok, I killed it."

 

[MarkDarvin]

Please no arrows here, but I think this is one thing the younger generations will fix.

 

[George]

That's pretty mild, you should sample the government sanctioned poaching culture in SE Iowa.

G

 

[Podad]

What judicial branch prosecutes game violations in your state?

In Georgia it is handled by the same court as a traffic violation, penalties similar.

 

[ChrisPBrown]

A friend of mine lives up near St. Cloud. I give him a hard time if he shoots a deer about killing one of the three deer in that state! He kills a few, but he moved there from Illinois and the deer hunting up there is WORLDS different.
Here in Kentucky, we can kill one buck per year....rifle, bow, crossbow, or muzzleloader doesn't matter one buck and it's does from there on out for you and depending on what zone you are in you might be done hunting all together. I know plenty of guys that will buy license for their spouses, children, cousins, etc. so they can kill more than one buck. Same thing goes on at some of the duck blind draws around here so they have a better chance at getting their choice spot. I try to put a positive spin on it.....when they shell out that extra money that is money that is going back into the wildlife we hunt.
There are also the guys that kill whatever they want anytime they want on their land. The guys that do it to feed their families I give a pass on...times can be tough and a deer or two is a small price to pay to keep a family fed. It's the guys that trophy hunt without a license that get me. Part of the excitement of killing a big deer is sharing it with others.....why kill a monster if you have to hide it?

 

[g squared 23]

A friend of mine lives up near St. Cloud. I give him a hard time if he shoots a deer about killing one of the three deer in that state! He kills a few, but he moved there from Illinois and the deer hunting up there is WORLDS different.
Here in Kentucky, we can kill one buck per year....rifle, bow, crossbow, or muzzleloader doesn't matter one buck and it's does from there on out for you and depending on what zone you are in you might be done hunting all together. I know plenty of guys that will buy license for their spouses, children, cousins, etc. so they can kill more than one buck. Same thing goes on at some of the duck blind draws around here so they have a better chance at getting their choice spot. I try to put a positive spin on it.....when they shell out that extra money that is money that is going back into the wildlife we hunt.
There are also the guys that kill whatever they want anytime they want on their land. The guys that do it to feed their families I give a pass on...times can be tough and a deer or two is a small price to pay to keep a family fed. It's the guys that trophy hunt without a license that get me. Part of the excitement of killing a big deer is sharing it with others.....why kill a monster if you have to hide it?

I disagree with allowing the poor old boys who are "just feeding their families" a pass. Hunting/poaching isn't free. It requires a weapon and ammunition. Those things aren't free. If you are REALLY that desperate, pawn or sell that equipment. Even poaching takes time, and time = money. GET A JOB and earn your food legally. Unless you are in a true backwoods situation where you are hours from civilization and literally need to kill to live, there are ways to get by without poaching. Ever seen "Below Zero?" Even the guy living alone without any power equipment still respects the seasons despite living days from society in very hungry country. It just creates an excuse for the older, uppity and entitled generation.

 

[OkieKubota]

The days of killing a deer because you have to feed your family are over. We have several of those "survivalist" folks living near us in campers and they are constantly running to town in their truck and I know they aren't drilling oil and refining it on these 10 acre tracts so they have money. Most everyone of them has at least 1 person working and they purchased these plots of land because the owner sold each 10 to them in the not too distant past. They target the big racked deer and shoot them with rifles during bow season. Almost everyone of these lots have several big mutty dogs and if they are using any other deer it isn't to feed themselves...it's to feed the dogs...

 

[Blizzard Ridge]

There are very few of the generation left that fed their family off of their kills. My grandpa was one of them and the hardest working man I have ever known. I am actually writing a book right now about my grandpa's life. Back in the 30's and 40's they were killing deer before people in this part of Illinois even knew there was a deer around. My grandpa's family were very poor farmers breaking open the few acres they had for the first time ever. They farmed there little piece and worked the richer neighbors pieces. In between those times they were killing deer, squirrels, coons and all other small game to feed the family. That was a tough habit to break for my grandpa through his years. There was always fresh kills hanging in the cellar. Not only did they eat the meat of anything they killed and I mean anything, they also sold the hides to help pay the bills. He did this until he was too sick to hunt anymore.

 

[Mennoniteman]

Poaching is actually taking someone else's property. Years ago it was a cultural thing. Today, it starts with us, we all need to work together to break that cycle, leading by example, respecting other people and their property at all times, hopefully our younger generation coming along will follow.

 

[Blizzard Ridge]

From what I have seen the cycle of poaching getting broke is not in the near future. With the amount of trespassers I dealt with last deer season, I am guessing that we have a lot of work to do. Some of these guys even trespass with their kids. Hell one of my farms I finally gave up to the trespassers that were illegally killing deer (poaching) on my private ground. The sad thing is I am the type of guy that if a guy needed some deer meat for his family I would gladly let him hunt and kill a doe to take home or even kill one myself and give it to him. I can't even count how many times in the last year that I was told I was trespassing on my own ground. This cycle will get broken after many fines and maybe a few of them spending a day or two in the county jail.

 

[Jeff H]

That's just NUTS !

 

[Mennoniteman]

From what I have seen the cycle of poaching getting broke is not in the near future. With the amount of trespassers I dealt with last deer season, I am guessing that we have a lot of work to do. Some of these guys even trespass with their kids. Hell one of my farms I finally gave up to the trespassers that were illegally killing deer (poaching) on my private ground. The sad thing is I am the type of guy that if a guy needed some deer meat for his family I would gladly let him hunt and kill a doe to take home or even kill one myself and give it to him. I can't even count how many times in the last year that I was told I was trespassing on my own ground. This cycle will get broken after many fines and maybe a few of them spending a day or two in the county jail.

One huge variable is the laws in each state. PA has one of the weakest trespass laws in the nation, therefore it's almost impossible to stop people. From stories Iv'e heard states like Wisconsin and the southeast you don't want to be caught, you'll pay a fine immediately. Maybe someone can confirm this? I'll stick to my idea that us respecting other people and their property can make some kind of a difference, leading by example. I'm always been very firm and very polite when I catch someone and it works for me. I will even apologize for having to chase them off my own land. "sorry but I hunt here" "don't ever come back and there won't be any trouble" Never had one back twice.

 

[swat1018]

Florida is rough on them. "Armed Trespass," is a felony.....

 

[Mennoniteman]

Florida is rough on them. "Armed Trespass," is a felony.....

and I hear they take your gun and pickup truck?

 

[Mennoniteman]

From what I have seen the cycle of poaching getting broke is not in the near future. With the amount of trespassers I dealt with last deer season, I am guessing that we have a lot of work to do. Some of these guys even trespass with their kids. Hell one of my farms I finally gave up to the trespassers that were illegally killing deer (poaching) on my private ground. The sad thing is I am the type of guy that if a guy needed some deer meat for his family I would gladly let him hunt and kill a doe to take home or even kill one myself and give it to him. I can't even count how many times in the last year that I was told I was trespassing on my own ground. This cycle will get broken after many fines and maybe a few of them spending a day or two in the county jail.

Missed this statement earlier "if a guy needed some deer meat for his family I would gladly let him hunt and kill a doe to take home " Thank you, people like you are to be commended!

 

[Blizzard Ridge]

Mennoniteman I am probably not quite as nice as you are when I catch trespassers. When you deal with it weekly you tend to get a little grumpy. I started out the year being fairly nice about it, after having a guy try to run my son over with his truck after being caught for a second time I kind of lost the drive to be respectful to the trespassing thieves. We grow and hold trophy quality bucks on our farms, that are hunted very low impact so they do not end up being killed by the neighbors. One disrespectful trespasser can ruin what we have worked for all year in 5 minutes of walking through one of my sanctuaries.

 

[Vandy]

Being raised to respect others and their property it is amazing to me the balls of some of the trespassers we catch as well. Although up north wi on our land it isn't deer hunters so much as Bird and bear. The one guy we caught had parked truck in driveway right next to a "private property posted sign" (we have about 200 surrounding property). We hear guy with dog close to driveway so we go and tell him hey your trespassing and tell him where county land is (not even close to property) at this point we were being decent because hey he has a gun and maybe just got turned around. As guy walking out he gets lippy and just a jerk, then admits to coming on our land several times (even mentioned the trail cam locations).. so at this point no more nice guy, call the police to come out. Guy is in his truck by this time and says well you cant even do anything because lands not posted...sign is literally 3ft from him and there are 5 more on his way out.. point out sign an say some "kind words" to guy and he peels out. Cops of coarse get there 5 min later we give him plate and info but highly doubt anything happened.

prosecuting to full extent only way to slow this issue land owners all have down. If guy gets turned around that's one thing but complete disrespect is another