Tag: Crime

Another walleye fishing tourney marred by cheating scandal

Another fishing tournament is in the spotlight because of a cheating scandal – this time involving Lake Erie walleye that had allegedly been stuffed with smaller fish to make them appear heavier.

Another fishing tournament is in the spotlight because of a cheating scandal – this time involving Lake Erie walleyes that had allegedly been stuffed with smaller fish to make them heavier.

Peter Smith, 57, a competitor at the Bart’s Cove Walleye Duel July 29-30 in Dunkirk, N.Y., was disqualified after director Mark Mohr discovered that two of Smith’s walleyes appeared to have been stuffed with smaller fish.

One contained a 12-inch walleye with its tail portion removed. Another contained a fully intact white perch. Both smaller fish had lip holes, indicating that they had recently been caught.

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Mohr told Outdoor Life: “The 12-inch walleye, it looked to me like they tried to stuff it and it wouldn’t go down, so they cut the last three inches off. It was suspicious because the fish was still really bright, and then I picked it up and could see a hook mark in its lip.”

Smaller fish that were found stuffed inside tournament walleyes. Photo: Mark Mohr/Facebook

Grand prize for the event, which boasted a field of more than 30 teams, was an all-inclusive Panama fishing trip valued at $14,500.

The incident is under investigation, at the request of tournament organizers, by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Folks might recall that two men were sentenced to 10 days in jail in May after being found guilty of felony charges stemming from their actions during a walleye tournament on Lake Erie in October 2022.

The men were found to have stuffed lead weights into fish they had caught.

–Images courtesy of Mark Mohr/Facebook

Poachers in Florida nabbed with gross over limits of lobster

Three fishermen were cited in Florida on Wednesday after they were caught in possession of 102 lobsters over the legal limit.

A sad reality in fishing is that some people exhibit blatant disregard for regulations designed to protect resources.

That appears to have been the case Wednesday in Florida, when officers cited three fishermen for possessing 102 lobsters over the legal limit.

The bust might not have occurred had the fishermen not been flying a dive flag while they were underway. (Dive flags should only be flown when divers are in the water.)

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“On the first day of the two-day mini-season, our officers saw a commercial vessel with a dive flag flying while the boat was underway,” Florida Fish and Wildlife explained in a news release. “Stopping the vessel to speak to the operator about the incorrect use of the dive flag, they conducted a routine fisheries inspection, discovering a total of 138 lobsters!”

The fishermen were cited and the poached lobsters, which had perished, were collected as evidence in a case that remains under investigation.

The mini-season Florida Fish and Wildlife referred to was the Spiny Lobster Sport Season conducted Wednesday and Thursday.

–Image courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 

Man cited after landing helicopter to picnic in Grand Teton NP

A pilot has been cited after an unauthorized helicopter landing on a lake shore in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. He had hoped to picnic with a companion.

A pilot has been cited after an unauthorized landing on a lake shore in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.

Peter Smith, owner of West Elk Air in Gunnison, Colo., landed the aircraft at Moran Bay on Jackson Lake on June 24. He and a companion were picnicking when they were greeted by rangers.

The park stated in a news release that Smith had violated FAA regulations and was charged with two misdemeanors that carry fines up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail.

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The park elaborated: “The unauthorized landing of helicopters is prohibited on the lands and waters within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park in order to protect wildlife and other natural resources and to preserve the visitor experience.”

Four months earlier, Smith was cited for flying an airplane at an unsafe altitude in Gunnison National Park. He was fined $530.

His court date for the Grand Teton National Park case is scheduled for August.

Nonresident Idaho hunter kills protected grizzly bear

A nonresident Idaho hunter is at the center of an investigation after he shot and killed a protected grizzly bear that he mistook for a black bear.

A nonresident Idaho hunter is at the center of an investigation after he shot and killed a protected grizzly bear that he mistook for a black bear.

The incident occurred June 8 north of Upper Priest Lake in the Panhandle Region.

According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the hunter reported his error soon after inspecting his kill and identifying the bear as a grizzly.

The hunter is said to be cooperating with the investigation.

Courtesy IDFG

Grizzly bears are protected under state and federal law. Hunters are responsible for knowing the difference between grizzly bears and black bears. (See the accompanying chart.)

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On May 1 near Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, a hunter killed a grizzly bear in another apparent case of mistaken identity.

Patrick M. Gogerty, 65, of Cody, Wyo., left the bear carcass alongside the North Fork Highway. Images of the carcass went viral before Gogerty turned himself in the next morning.

He was was charged with killing a protected grizzly bear without a proper license and faces up to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine (plus restitution).

–Generic grizzly bear image courtesy of ©Pete Thomas

Grand Teton launches probe after bison calf is harassed in park

Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park is asking the public for help in identifying two men who were photographed harassing a bison calf.

Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park is asking the public for help in identifying two men who were photographed harassing a bison calf.

A park news release states that the men were spotted approaching and touching the baby bison Sunday at about 1 p.m.

The news release contains the following advisory:

“If you were in the Elk Ranch Flats area on the afternoon of June 4, and have information that could help in this investigation, or if you know who these individuals are (pictured), please call the park Tip Line 307-739-3367. If you see any harassment of wildlife happening in the park, you may also call the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 307-739-3301 to report the incident.”

Grand Teton National Park is hoping somebody can ID these men.

Park regulations require tourists to remain at least 25 yards from bison.

The same rule is in effect in Yellowstone National Park, just to the north, where more than 5,000 bison reside.

ALSO: Yellowstone guide saves motorist from momma grizzly bear’s wrath

Bison give birth to calves early each spring. They’re commonly referred to as “red dogs” because their coats are reddish in the first several weeks of their lives.

Approaching or touching bison is considered harassment. Grand Teton National Park explained:

“Interference by people can cause wildlife to reject their offspring. In this case, fortunately, the calf was successfully reunited with its herd, but often these interactions result in euthanizing the animal. Approaching wildlife can drastically affect their well-being and survival.”

–Top image showing a “red dog” bison is courtesy of ©Pete Thomas

Details emerge regarding robbery of two Browns players over the weekend

New details emerged on Tuesday regarding the robbery of two Browns players over the weekend

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New details have emerged regarding crimes committed against two Cleveland Browns over the weekend.

Defensive back Greg Newsome II and lineman Perrion Winfrey were the victims of an armed robbery by six masked men early on Monday morning. Neither were harmed during the incident but, according to ESPN, the suspects left the scene in Newsome’s vehicle with stolen jewelry in tow.

Running back Demetric Felton also had his car stolen over the weekend, though preliminary reports haven’t indicated that he was present at the time of the theft.

It is worth noting that quarterback Deshaun Watson was the victim of car theft earlier in the year, and at this time it is unclear whether any of these incidents are related.

News about the spate of crimes came on Tuesday just before the Browns reported to Berea for Cleveland’s mandatory minicamp. Developments in the story are sure to follow, so stay tuned to Browns Wire for all the facts about this regrettable incident.

Browns players Greg Newsome, Demetric Felton had cars stolen over the weekend

Two #Browns players had their vehicles stolen over the weekend

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Cleveland.com has reported that two Cleveland Browns players were robbed of their vehicles over the weekend. Running back Demetric Felton and cornerback Greg Newsome were the victims of the senseless carjackings. Late Monday night Newsome commented on the situation with a tweet reading “it’s a cruel world we live in”.

News about the thefts came after quarterback Deshaun Watson had his vehicle stolen from a dealership earlier this year. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries from either of the incidents in the past week, though the situation is, obviously, regrettable for all parties involved.

It is unclear if these crimes are related in any way, or if the Browns’ players are being deliberately targeted. Information regarding this spate of thefts is relatively scarce, but with three players now involved, the media is sure to get more involved in reporting details as they become available.

Stay tuned to Browns Wire for updates on the situation.

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Man who caused bison calf death is fined; does penalty fit the crime?

A Yellowstone National Park visitor pleaded guilty to intentionally disturbing wildlife.

The Yellowstone National Park visitor who caused the death of a bison calf by his reckless actions pleaded guilty to one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife on May 31.

Clifford Walters of Hawaii intentionally disturbed a bison calf by trying to push it up from the Lamar River after it became separated from its mother and the herd when they crossed the river.

Walters pushed the struggling calf up from the river and onto the roadway where visitors later observed the calf walking up to and following cars and people.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Bear swims for its life after getting swept away in raging rapids (video)

“Interference by people can cause wildlife to reject their offspring,” Yellowstone National Park stated in a previous press release. “In this case, park rangers tried repeatedly to reunite the calf with the herd. These efforts failed. The calf was later killed by park staff because it was abandoned by the herd and causing a hazardous situation by approaching cars and people along the roadway.”

For his irresponsible actions, Walters was charged a $500 fine, a $500 Community Service payment to Yellowstone Forever Wildlife Protection Fund, a $30 special assessment, and a $10 processing fee, this according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice District of Wyoming.

Yellowstone National Park law enforcement officers investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne M. Martens.

“There was nothing in the report that revealed Mr. Walters acted maliciously,” the news release stated. Nevertheless, there are those who might question whether the relatively small penalty fits the crime, particularly in light of all the warnings the park issues and posts.

For those who need a reminder, the press release stated:

“Yellowstone National Park wants to remind the public that approaching wild animals can drastically affect their well-being and, in this case, their survival.

“Park regulations require that people stay at least 25 yards away from all wildlife (including bison, elk and deer) and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves. Disregarding these regulations can result in fines, injury and even death. The safety of these animals, as well as human safety, depends on everyone using good judgment and following these simple rules.”

Man arrested in Yellowstone National Park, body found in car

Authorities have launched an investigation after a woman’s body was found inside a vehicle in Yellowstone National Park.

Authorities have launched an investigation after a body was found inside a vehicle in Yellowstone National Park.

The park explained that rangers on Saturday discovered a vehicle that had crashed into a snowbank, and a male standing outside. A deceased female was found inside the vehicle.

“The male was detained and subsequently arrested for drug possession and other traffic-related charges,” the park stated in a news release. “Investigators are determining what led to the female’s death and attempting to complete next-of-kin notifications.”

The vehicle was discovered on Craig Pass south of Old Faithful. Additional information was not disclosed.

The investigation involves the National Park Service, FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Teton County Coroner’s Office.

–Image courtesy of Yellowstone National Park