hunting – Page 3 – Syndication Server

Hunter bags 905-pound, problem-causing alligator; lively debate ensues

The hunter saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but plenty of critics voiced opposition as to the plight of the troublesome gator.

A renowned hunter from Mississippi was given a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to hunt a huge alligator that was suspected of eating livestock around a lake on private property in South Florida.

Doug Borries of Dynamic Outdoors TV, owner of nine world records and 36 state records for hunting and fishing, wound up bagging a 905-pound alligator and claimed it was the largest gator ever taken in Florida by a non-resident hunter, as reported by WXXV 25.

https://www.facebook.com/DynamicOutdoorsTV/posts/2268475133299757

The alligator measured 13 feet, 4 inches and was about a foot short of a state record, according to the Sun Herald. The longest gator captured in Florida was 14 feet, 3.5 inches, caught in Lake Washington in Brevard County. The record weight is 1,043 pounds for a 13-foot, 10.5-inch gator taken in Orange Lake in Alachua County.

“This guy said he’d seen the gator since he was a child,” Borries told WXXV in Mississippi. “It was time for the gator to go because some of the calves were disappearing. So, he was down deer hunting with me, and he asked me if I wanted to come and hunt the gator. I said, ‘Absolutely.’ To me it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Borries told the Sun Herald the meat was processed for eating and he was having a full, life-size mount made of the hide.

However, not everybody on the Dynamic Outdoors TV Facebook page was pleased with the story, many suggesting the troublesome alligator should have been trapped or sedated and relocated to a zoo or wildlife sanctuary.

“It is really sad to take the life of a creature that is part of our world,” one commenter wrote. “We need to leave nature alone, they are part of our ecosystem.”

Another wrote, “So sad. It sickens me.”

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Others defended the legal and ethical hunt Borries conducted.

“Some of these people clearly don’t understand hunting regulations or why they are necessary for a healthy animal population,” one wrote.

And yet another wrote, “It’s easy for other people to condemn another when it’s not their family or livelihood at stake.”

At last count, there were 372 comments about the story on the Dynamic Outdoors TV Facebook page.

Hunting pressure continues to impact Yellowstone wolves

For those who may be wondering, the number of Yellowstone National Park wolves killed by hunters this season has increased to at least 23.

That’s the highest number of park wolves harvested by hunters in one season since the predators were reintroduced in 1995-96.

All 23 wolves were legally harvested after they had wandered outside park boundaries, mostly in Montana.

The high number is attributed to the easing by Montana of hunting regulations for 2021-22. New regulations increased quotas and eliminated buffer zones.

A Montana hunter/trapper can harvest as many as 20 wolves, with restrictions. A legal wolf is any male or female, including pups.

Members of the Junction Butte Pack. Top image shows a Wapiti Lake wolf. Credit: Yellowstone National Park

The overall Yellowstone wolf population is now an estimated 91 animals.

In a tally maintained by the park, 18 of the 23 wolves were killed by hunters in Montana. Three were harvested in Wyoming; two in Idaho.

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Packs most impacted: Phantom Lake (as many as 7 wolves killed); Junction Butte (6); Wapiti Lake (2), 8 Mile (2), and Bechler (2).

Four wolves were collared: 1234M of the Wapiti Lake Pack; 1109F, an older female recently dispersed from the Junction Butte Pack; 1238M of the Mollie’s Pack, and 1266M of the Wapiti Lake Pack.

Four pups were among the Yellowstone wolves harvested outside the park: two from the Bechler Pack and two from the Junction Butte Pack.

In early January, park officials issued a statement to the AP saying the high number of wolf kills represented “a significant setback for the species’ longterm viability and for wolf research.”

A state review is initiated after 450 wolves are killed, or when quotas are reached in either of seven regions. Otherwise, Montana has not backed off; the general hunting season runs through March 15.

–Note: This post is intended as an update for park aficionados and does not delve into the politics of wolf management or the reasoning behind changes of hunting regulations.

Poachers ‘stealing’ wildlife remains a troubling issue in Utah

Wildlife authorities in Utah this week revealed that more than 1,000 wild animals were killed illegally in 2021, marking the continuation of a troubling trend.

According to the state’s Division of Wildlife Resources, hunters and anglers last year illegally harvested 1,153 animals with an estimated value of $6,100.

It was at least the third consecutive year in which the number of poached wildlife increased.

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Deer topped the list, with 180 deer, including 34 “trophy” bucks, having been killed illegally.

Elk (113, including18 trophy bull elk) were the second most targeted species.

Also on the the list: 17 mountain lions, 11 bears, five moose, one bighorn sheep, and 374 fish.

“The remaining illegally killed wildlife include a variety of small game animals, waterfowl and a variety of other wildlife species,” the DWR stated in a news release issued Wednesday.

In 2020, 1,079 animals worth an estimated $387,000 were killed illegally in Utah. In 2019, 1,065 animals worth $384,000 were poached.

In 2021, the state issued 4,394 citations and suspended the hunting or fishing privileges of 48 people. The suspension figure was up from 2020 (35), but down significantly from 2019 (84).

Said DWR Capt. Chad Bettridge: “Each animal that is illegally killed in our state is one less animal for legal hunters, wildlife enthusiasts and everyday residents to enjoy. Poachers steal our ability to enjoy Utah’s wildlife.”

–Elk image courtesy of ©Pete Thomas

Hunter hit with fines, suspensions for poaching bighorn sheep

A Montana resident has been fined more than $5,000 for illegally killing a bighorn sheep and leaving the meat to waste.

Harold Horine, 45, shot the bighorn sheep ram on Nov. 22 in the Highland Mountains. A witness contacted Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks after discovering the abandoned carcass.

Horine later told FWP wardens that he mistook the sheep for an elk.

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In a news release issued Wednesday, FWP stated that Horine pleaded guilty in Madison County Justice Court on Dec. 7. Charges included hunting without a valid license, unlawful possession of a game animal, hunting on private land without permission, and waste of a game animal.

Horine, who is from Deer Lodge, was ordered to pay $5,245 in fines and restitution. Additionally, his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges were suspended for two years.

–Bighorn sheep image courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Two women wreak havoc on legal bear hunters; hunting dog injured

Three hunters return to their vehicle to discover two women in the act of vandalizing their truck, and things got heated from there.

Three Vermont hunters returning to their vehicle after an unsuccessful bear hunt found two women letting air out of the tires of the vehicle, and after an ensuing argument, one woman released her dog, which attacked and injured one of the hunting hounds.

The incident occurred in the 26,000-acre Groton State Forest near Noyes Pond on Oct. 9. After an investigation by the Vermont State Game Warden, the two women identified as Donna Babic and Betty Eastman were cited on Nov. 11 and on Nov. 22 they were found guilty in Caledonia Superior Court of interfering with hunters.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department announced on Tuesday that the two women were each fined $262 and lost their license privileges for fishing, hunting and trapping for a year.

Theodore Shumway and two companions were hunting black bear with hounds when a bear led the hounds onto private property before climbing a tree.

The hunters went onto the private land to retrieve the hounds and then left the bear in the tree. According to the outdoors site MeatEater, hunters are allowed to retrieve their hunting dogs from unenclosed private property even without permission to actively hunt the land.

“On returning to his truck with leashed hounds, Mr. Shumway encountered Donna Babic and Betty Eastman releasing air from the tires of his truck,” the VFWD stated. “Following an argument between the parties, one of the two women allowed a German shepherd out of their vehicle. The loose German shepherd attacked and injured one of the leashed hounds, which required veterinary care.

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“Vermont State Troopers responded to an emergency call from Mr. Shumway to defuse the situation.”

The investigation revealed that the hunters were acting lawfully; they were licensed and permitted to hunt bear. The game warden cited Babic and Eastman with violations of Title 10 VSA 4708, Interfering with Hunting, Fishing or Trapping.

“Vermonters don’t always agree on wildlife management, especially when it comes to big game,” said Colonel Jason Batchelder, Fish and Wildlife’s Chief Game Warden. “Even so, I would ask that Vermonters respect one another’s constitutional right to hunt. Intentionally interfering with legal hunters in any fashion will result in court action, especially in a potentially dangerous fashion as we saw in this case.”

Batchelder told MeatEater that the German shepherd’s attack on the leashed hound caused severe injuries to its head, legs and pelvis. The veterinary bill was “well in excess of $2,000.”

From MeatEater:

Babic told responding officers that she had intended to “make a statement” with her actions.

“I saw them come up through, and I knew they were illegally on the land, so we came up here,” Babic said in a recorded statement captured by an officer’s body camera. “We let a little air out of the tires. We wanted them to stay here because they were illegal. My underlying first thought would be that I’m sick and tired of bear dog hunting in the neighborhood, and that I knew they were illegal. I was trying to make a statement.”

Babic told the responding troopers and investigators with VFWD that she did not intend to release the German shepherd but accidentally let it out of Eastman’s back seat in the wake of the heated argument.

It was reported that neither of the women owned the private property in question.

Photos courtesy of Vermont Fish and Wildlife and Wikipedia Commons.

Florida deer, alligator poaching case described as ‘shocking’

Wildlife officials in Florida have charged four people with multiple poaching-related violations after social media posts turned up “shocking” evidence against the suspects.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced Thursday that its officers obtained warrants for the suspects’ social media accounts and discovered images and videos showing illegally harvested deer and alligators from Nov. 2020 through September 2021.

The evidence helped officers determine dates and locations of the suspected poaching activities. The suspects booked into the Dixie County Jail.

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“The scope of the illegal activity is shocking and shows complete disregard for our shared natural resources,” stated Maj. Scott Lee, commander of the FWC’s North Central Region. “I appreciate the dedication of our officers for their diligence with this case in bringing these individuals to justice.”

The case will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial Circuit.

The FWC listed the suspects’ names and the charges they face:

Jerrell Austin Clyatt Everett (DOB:08/07/2001) of Old Town, Florida:

–Five counts possession of deer in closed season 379.404(1). –Six counts possession of antlerless deer 379.404(3). –Three counts of taking/possession of alligator 379.409(1). –One count of taking deer by illegal method 68A-12.002(3)(b)2.

Kasen David Brown (DOB: 09/26/2002) of Cross City, Florida:

–Four counts of possession of deer in closed season 379.404(1). –Two counts of taking/possession of alligator 379.409(1).

Kayla Mckenzie Kline (DOB: 07/07/2003) of Old Town, Florida:

–Three counts possession of deer in closed season 379.404(1).

Keaton Aaron Brown (DOB: 07/22/2002) of Old Town, Florida:

–Three counts possession of deer in closed season 379.404(1).

–Two counts possession of antlerless deer 379.404(3).

–One count of shooting deer from roadway/right of way 68A-4.008.

–One count take deer by illegal method 68A-12.002(3)(b)2.

–One count taking deer after hours 68A-12.002(2).

–Two counts discharging firearm from roadway/right of way 790.15(1).

–One count of discharging firearm from vehicle within 1,000 feet of another person 790.15(2).

Watch: Woman tries to feed duck decoys, admonishes hunters

Video footage posted this month on a hunting-themed Facebook page shows a woman attempting to feed decoys in front of hunters hoping to shoot real ducks.

Video footage shared this month on a hunting-themed Facebook page shows a woman attempting to feed decoys in front of hunters hoping to shoot actual ducks.

In the footage – click here to view the video – the hunters can be heard asking the woman to stop tossing feed, informing her that live ducks are off in the distance and that baiting inside a hunting area is illegal.

“Those aren’t real ducks,” one of the hunters says.

“They’re all fake,” says another.

https://www.facebook.com/100003917073235/videos/1259052394605499/

The woman, momentarily unconvinced, looks around before turning to the hunters and admonishing, “You would spend all this money just to murder a duck? They never did anything to you.”

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One hunter responds, “We eat them.” Another adds, “They’re delicious.”

The woman becomes angrier. “Buy it in Wegmans!” she says, before stomping away.

Wegmans is a grocery store chain. The footage was posted to the Long Island Deer Hunting group page and shared by ODU Magazine.

One of the many comments reads, “Buy it in Wegmans? Regardless one way or another someone is killing it.”

–Generic mallard image courtesy of USFWS

Rescued deer has new look, hunters ask if buck can be shot

A mule deer rescued in mid-October after its head became ensnared in string has a new lease on life and a sporty new appearance.

A mule deer that was rescued in mid-October after its head and antlers became ensnared in string has a new lease on life and a sporty new appearance.

“Remember the mule deer that got tangled in some string a couple weeks ago? Well, look at him now with his all-new bling (GPS collar),” the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources wrote Friday on Facebook. “Check out this wildlife before and after!”

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The deer was tranquilized and fitted with a collar after residents of Parowan reported seeing a buck “with an unidentifiable mass of string caught in its antlers,” the UDWR stated on Oct. 13. “The buck was not able to see through what we suspect was a tangled hammock.”

Reaction to Friday’s post, showing a side-by-side, then-and-now image, might not be what some expected.

While some comments were congratulatory, others were from people wondering whether it’s OK to shoot the buck during hunting season.

“So if we do shoot a collared deer & report it, we won’t be harassed?” one person asked. “I mean you collar a big deer like that, that may be one in a lifetime for me. Ima shoot it!”

The UDWR responded with an answer that might surprise some of its followers, stating that the collared buck is fair game during hunting season.

“We encourage hunters not to shoot collared deer,” the agency wrote. “But if you do just make sure to report it so we can pick up the collar and reuse it.”

–Image courtesy of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

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Domestic violence call leads to multiple deer-poaching charges

A Michigan man previously convicted of illegally killing white-tailed deer faces 15 new charges after the discovery of nine poached bucks in a Decatur barn.

Police responding to a domestic violence complaint on Oct. 17 spotted the deer and tipped off the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR determined that the deer belonged to Justin Ernst, 33, a convicted felon who is suspected of killing the deer while scouting from his truck and illegally shooting the bucks with the aid of a spotlight.

DNR Conservation Officers Matt Page and Tyler Cole seized eight trophy bucks on Oct. 17. Two days later, a day after Ernst was arrested following the domestic violence complaint, Page discovered another freshly dead buck in the barn.

The homeowner allowed Page and Cole to conduct searches on both dates.

Antlers seized as evidence. Photo: Michigan DNR

On Oct. 20, Conservation Officers executed a search warrant and discovered two shotguns and a crossbow, and a bloody crossbow bolt from the bed of Ernst’s truck. Officers also found a handheld spotlight under the driver’s seat.

Ernst, who was arranged Nov. 9 in 7th District Court in Paw Paw, could be ordered to pay $59,500 in restitution. His next court appearance is Dec. 20.

In 2018, Ernst was convicted of illegally harvesting and possessing white-tailed deer. His felony record includes possession of methamphetamine, fleeing a police officer, and a third strike for driving under the influence of alcohol.

White-tailed deer. Photo: US Fish & Wildlife Service

Lt. Gerald Thayer of the Michigan DNR Law Enforcement Division stated in a Thursday news release:

“It’s a shame that this criminal ruined the chance for ethical, legal hunters to have their opportunity to take one of these trophy deer. Not only did this felon steal from the natural resource, he also damaged agriculture crops, and has been doing so for some time.”

Among the charges against Ernst are two counts of firearm possession by a felon; two felony firearms violations; hunting with a revoked license, and nine counts of illegal deer harvest.

The nine bucks included five with 10 antler points, a nine-pointer, and three eight-pointers.

After shooting decoy, charges pile up for suspected deer poachers

Three individuals were arrested in Massachusetts recently after officers observed one of them shooting a deer decoy from inside a vehicle after legal hunting hours on private property.

Three individuals were arrested in Massachusetts after officers observed one of them shooting a deer decoy from inside a vehicle after legal hunting hours on private property.

The Massachusetts Environmental Police stated in a news release that officers on patrol in the Templeton/Phillipston area saw a vehicle spotlight illuminating the woods before one of the individuals shot the decoy with a crossbow.

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“Realizing it was a decoy, the vehicle attempted to flee but was subsequently stopped by Officers,” MEP said of the Nov. 11 incident. “Officers then observed deer legs within the truck bed in plain view.

“Three individuals in the vehicle, including the operator, were arrested. Through the interview process, it was reported that additional deer had been taken illegally.”

Officers seized the crossbow as evidence and impounded the vehicle.

The individuals were arraigned Monday on charges that include firing of a crossbow within 150 feet of a road; illegal hunting with a crossbow; hunting with the aid of a vehicle; hunting with artificial light; hunting after hours; tagging violations, and hunting on public land without permits.

Massachusetts Environmental Police added that additional charges stemming from violations in another state “are forthcoming.”

–White-tailed deer image is generic