poaching – Syndication Server

Poachers take ‘gross over-limits’ of surf perch using an illegal method

California game wardens in a patrol boat during the opener of the spiny lobster season witnessed the illegal activity occurring on shore.

Wildlife officers in a patrol boat during California’s spiny lobster season opener witnessed illegal fishing activities occurring near a jetty at the entrance to the Channel Islands Harbor.

During the investigation, officers discovered that three of the fishermen had been illegally using a Hawaiian-style throw net to take a variety of fish, and they were in possession of “gross over-limits” of surf perch.

The three throw nets and 78 fish that were taken illegally were confiscated, and the three anglers deemed responsible for the illegal activities were cited and released.

The confiscated throw nets. Photo credit: California Department of Fish and Wildlife

“Poaching doesn’t pay! Poachers are subject to steep fines for fish and wildlife violations,” the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Facebook post stated.

“One such poacher caught illegally using a throw net to take more than their limit of fish recently appeared in court and was found guilty on numerous counts with a fine totaling $5,725.”

The fate of the other two poachers remains unclear.

https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDFW/posts/pfbid0NLCnDMGUkmaNybnWHU6nobD3yEC4nE2yiVjickdg8Bdo61tg4BfrAWmDkpQ21weZl

Some commenters on the CDFW Facebook post were critical of the punishment. Some of the comments:

“The punishment for the violators is a joke, absolutely useless. Especially with those ridiculous fines and then they are released.”

“Lock them up [and] revoke all hunting and fishing rights for life and $10,000 fine, plus 1 year in jail.”

Also on FTW Outdoors: Hunters who didn’t want to stop shooting get ‘sad slap on the wrist’

“Should have seized their vehicles.”

“They need to lose their license for life.”

“Though the fines are too low—thank you for doing what you can to protect our resources with the constraints of the law. It’s because of short-sighted, selfish bad apples like these that we’re regulated so heavily.”

Photos courtesy of the CDFW.

Two men convicted of wildlife killing spree after long investigation

Hatchery fish, bull elk and bear were the targets in this case of reckless killing by two men, who paid a steep price for their crimes.

An investigation that began with the brutal attack of several large hatchery fish in 2021 ended with the conviction of the two Montana men responsible for the fish deaths and the killing of four big-game animals.

“This case took a few years, but thanks to the hard work of our game wardens, we are glad to finally wrap this case up,” FWP Region 4 Warden Captain Dave Holland said in a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks press release. “The sentences imposed by the court reflect the value of the resources taken by these two individuals, and especially the importance that the community places on the Giant Springs Hatchery.”

In the 8^th Judicial Court of Cascade County, Richard Van Meter, 22, and Ty Robert Lewis, 21, were convicted of unlawful possession of a game animal, unlawful possession of a game fish, waste of a game animal, waste of a game fish, and hunting without a valid license.

Lewis paid $16,000 in fines and restitution; Van Meter paid $8,000. Both lost their hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for 20 years.

The Giant Springs Fish Hatchery. Photo credit: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

On Aug. 23, 2021, Montana game wardens discovered that several large fish in a display pond at the Giant Springs Fish Hatchery had been speared. Some were left at the scene. Those that survived had to be euthanized later.

Less than a month later, game wardens received a report that a bull elk had been shot and abandoned on a ranch near Cascade. The head and antlers were taken, and the rest of the body was left behind to waste.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Hunters who didn’t want to stop shooting get ‘sad slap on the wrist’

The investigation revealed that three bull elk and one black bear had been taken illegally, and tips from the public led game wardens to Van Meter and Lewis, who eventually confessed to the crimes.

Montana Fish, Wildife and Parks stated that Van Meter then left the state. Holland thanked game wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for facilitating the return of Van Meter to Montana from California.

Generic feature image of a bull elk courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Poachers from Mexico busted with illegal red snapper haul off Texas

The three men, caught fishing north of the Maritime Boundary Line, were turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The U.S. Coast Guard this week seized a fishing boat with 200 pounds of red snapper caught illegally by Mexican fishermen in federal waters off southern Texas.

The agency explained in a news release that it also transferred the three fishermen to U.S. Customs and Border Protection “for further processing.”

Several Coast Guard crews participated in the bust Tuesday as the men were observed fishing illegally north of the Maritime Boundary Line.

They were aboard a sleek and speedy vessel known as a launcha. Launchas are typically 20 to 30 feet long and powered by a single outboard engine.

The low-profile boats, which can travel at 30 mph, are commonly used for illegal fishing within the United States Exclusive Economic Zone near the U.S.-Mexico border in the Gulf of Mexico.

Launchas are also used in drug-smuggling operations.

The fish were donated to the Harte Research Institute, and Sea Turtle, Inc., to feed turtles under rehabilitation.

Endangered gray wolf poached in Oregon, reward set at $10,000

The radio-collared wolf, known to researchers as OR 159, was found dead in an area where the animals are federally protected.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in a case involving the illegal killing of a protected gray wolf.

The agency explained in a news release that the incident occurred in Morrow County west of Highway 395, where gray wolves are federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

The radio-collared male wolf, known to researchers as OR 159, was found dead Nov. 8 on private property about 20 miles south of the county seat of Heppner.

The USFWS and the Oregon State Police are conducting a joint investigation.

The USFWS asks that anyone with potentially helpful information should call the Service at (503) 682-6131, or OSP Dispatch at (800) 452-7888, text *OSP (*677), or email TIP@osp.oregon.gov. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Missouri deer hunter charged after shooting cougar from tree stand

Mountain lions are protected in Missouri and the animal was walking away from the elevated stand when it was shot.

A Missouri deer hunter who shot and killed a mountain lion as it passed beneath his tree stand last month has been charged with a misdemeanor.

According to KY3 News, Joseph Licklider of Desloge, Mo., informed the Iron County Sheriff’s Department on Nov. 16 that he had shot the mountain lion, or cougar, while in the tree stand with his partner.

Missouri does not have an established cougar population, but a handful of sightings are reported each year. The protected animals can only be killed in self-defense or to protect pets or livestock.

The cougar that Licklider killed was wearing research tags from the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, and walking away from the elevated stand when it was shot.

The charge for illegally killing protected wildlife was leveled after an investigation determined that Licklider’s action was unjustified. He’s scheduled to appear in court in February 2025.

Oregon hunters join effort to catch crossbow deer poacher

“The acts represent a multitude of violations including using a crossbow to kill big game animals and shooting in city limits.”

Authorities in Oregon are seeking information that could help them solve a case involving the recent poaching of two deer with a crossbow in Corvallis.

Joining in the effort is the group Traditional Archers of Oregon, which this week chipped in $500 to bring the reward in the case to $2,000.

Both deer were bucks that roamed Corvallis with arrows in their bodies before they died.

“The acts represent a multitude of violations including using a crossbow to kill big game animals and shooting in city limits,” the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife stated in a news release. “Several members of the public contacted Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Troopers to report the injured deer wandering in the area.”

Traditional Archery Hunters of Oregon President Riley Savage is quoted: “As you can imagine, being traditional archers, using a crossbow to commit such heinous crimes goes against everything we hold dear.

“The operator does not need the same skills required to use a handheld, vertical bow, like getting close and knowing when to draw and when to shoot. They are an assassin, lying in wait, at long distance, with no detectable movement visible to their prey.”

The bucks were shot on or around Oct. 25 and Nov. 18 near NW Walnut and NW Witham Hill Drive.

Anyone with potentially helpful information is asked to contact OSP’s Albany Fish and Wildlife office via dispatch at 800-442-2068 or *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone. Case reference number: #SP24-383408.

Arkansas deer hunter accused of ‘contest fraud’ in Louisiana

An Arkansas man faces possible jail time after allegedly poaching a 15-point deer in Arkansas and entering the animal in a big-buck contest in Louisiana.

Andrew Riels, 27, of Crossett, Ark., was cited recently for hunting contest fraud and violating interstate commerce regulations by agents with the Louisiana Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.

The agents were informed of Reils’ activities by wildlife agents in Arkansas.

“During the investigation, agents learned that Riels illegally harvested a 15-point buck during illegal hours on Sept. 8 near Crosset, Ark.,” the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries stated in a news release. “Riels then entered the buck into the Simmons Sporting Goods Big Buck Contest in Bastrop [La.] later that same day.”

Riels was cited for the illegal killing of the buck on Oct. 30 in Arkansas.

Hunting contest fraud in Louisiana is punishable by a fine of up to $3,000 and one year in jail. Violation of interstate commerce regulations is punishable by a fine of up to $950 and 120 days in jail.

Maryland hunters go the extra mile to illegally bait bears

Nine hunters were cited for violating the ban during the recent five-day season; some had spread out a virtual smorgasbord.

Authorities in Maryland cited nine hunters for illegally using bait during the state’s recent five-day season for black bears.

But it was the extent of baiting and variety of items that stood out in a news release issued Friday by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

One hunter was issued two citations after he admitted to hunting from a stand overlooking an area baited with bacon grease, chicken grease, corn, molasses, vanilla icing, and licorice.

As if that weren’t enough, the hunter also possessed an illegal “bear bomb” spray to help lure bears to within shooting range.

In another case, two hunters were cited after hunting from separate stands over an area baited with cracked corn kernels and grease or lard spread onto a tree trunk near their stands.

Two other hunters, including an 84-year-old, hunted over a site baited with corn dispersed as close as 10 yards from their elevated blinds.

Another hunter was found to have used bacon grease, corn, apple peelings, and apple processing waste placed between 23 and 50 yards from his blind.

In yet another case, two hunters from Pennsylvania were cited for utilizing a site baited with dog food, animal carcasses, apples, syrup, strawberry jam, and shelled corn.

It was made clear before this year’s hunt, which concluded Oct. 26, that the use of bait or hunting near previously baited areas was prohibited. (The use of bait while hunting white-tailed deer is legal on private property in Maryland.)

According to the Maryland DNR, 950 hunters were randomly selected via lottery to participate in the annual black bear hunting season.

The nine who were cited face fines of up to $1,500 for a first violation, and up to $4,000 if there was a second violation.

Amid Montana investigation, deer left to roam with arrow in back

Authorities are requesting public assistance in an attempt to identify the person who fired the arrow.

Authorities in Montana are investigating a poaching case involving a mule deer buck that’s still carrying an arrow that somebody shot into its back.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, wardens responded to a call from a Billings Heights resident about the wounded deer on Nov. 2.

Wardens located the deer and decided that it had been shot the same day, within city limits where hunting is banned. (Montana’s archery deer-hunting season ended Oct. 20.)

An image released to the media shows the arrow deeply embedded into the top of the deer’s back, near its spine. But the deer apparently has full mobility, so FWP decided against a capture effort.

Injured mule deer. Photo: Montana, Fish, Wildlife & Parks

“FWP does not believe the arrow wound will be fatal for the deer and at this time are not planning to capture the deer to remove the arrow,” the agency stated Tuesday in a news release.

Anyone with potentially helpful information is asked to call the regional warden at 406-860-7805, or submit a report via tipmont.mt.gov.

Oregon poachers are harassing, killing deer with pellet guns

Five carcasses have been discovered in one neighborhood and at least one deer died after a pellet became lodged in its lung.

Authorities in Oregon are hopeful that a newly offered $2,000 reward will help them identify and prosecute the person or persons responsible for harassing and killing deer with pellet guns.

Five black-tailed deer carcasses have been discovered so far this month in Roseburg, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. At least one deer died after a pellet became lodged in its lung.

“It was a nice, forked horn buck that ended up dying next to a resident’s barn,” said Jason Stone, an Oregon State Police/Fish & Wildlife senior trooper. “The pellet broke a rib and clipped its lung, which caused it to hemorrhage. Both lungs then filled with blood.”

The carcasses were discovered in the Meadows neighborhood. Troopers who canvassed the neighborhood were told that some residents use pellet guns to haze deer away from their gardens.

Said Stone: “People think that pellet guns won’t hurt deer, but if the pellet lodges in the right place, it can be lethal. Regardless of if they intend to harass or haze animals, if they kill the animal, it is still an unlawful take and we don’t want to see that continue.”

Several of the carcasses had decomposed in hot weather, making it difficult for authorities to determine the cause of death.

The reward was put up by the Oregon Hunters Association. A tip that leads to an arrest or citation in any of the incidents can earn the provider $2,000 or preference points toward state-sanctioned hunts.

Said the OHA’s Kelly Forney: “The wanton shooting of deer in this busy neighborhood is a serious offense that should be punished. A significant TIP reward will encourage those that know about this crime to come forward.”

Those offering tips via the Turn in Poachers line can remain anonymous.

–Black-tailed deer image courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service