Poaching problem

[STW]

but around here you can get a permit to shoot deer at night and out of season if you can prove that the deer are causing crop damage

My wife's uncle has that problem only it's with problem elk. Last year he had a permit to take 10. He's in his 80's and would sleep in a camper on the upper end of his property. His wife wields the spotlight while he shoots a .257 Roberts. They'll hunt from 4 wheelers while still dressed in their pajamas. He doesn't do it on the weekends, however, because he can't get someone from the food bank down to take the carcasses.

 

[MattTheHat]

Gotta chuckle a bit about how times change. Back around 1890, my great-grandmother would send "the boys" out with the family break-open shotgun to get some doves. Shotgun shells were a nickel each, so the deal was to sneak around until you could see doves lined up on a limb. My grandfather, age five, was the "carry boy" for whatever birds, squirrels or rabbits were shot.

Reminds me of The scene in Quigley Down Under when he shoots the two bad guys long-range when they lined up.

That's just wise ammo usage.

-Matt

 

[oneounceload]

Justifying poaching today because grand-pa did it 80 years ago is absurd. There were lots of things that were considered "okay" 80 years ago that are now unacceptable. Like beating your wife, beating your kids and driving drunk. Claiming lack of money for gas to go to town and get free food is also a joke. Funny these folks can afford guns and ammo, and probably satellite TV. Probably drug the poached deer outta the woods with their ATV....or they called their BIL on their cell phone to come and help. Claiming pride drives folk to poach as opposed to accepting help means they'd rather be thought of as a criminal than a person in need. People poach today because they want to, not because they have to.

Amen to those observations - besides, if deer season is closed, turkey or fishing season is open, and EVERY poor family I ever know, even n the most urban environments, had a garden, so this starving to death in today's society is BS. They have program that will deliver to your door, and if you have your WIC/food stamps, even Schwan's will show up

This gives all ETHICAL hunters a bad name

 

[T.R.]

According to Pennsylvania Game News these are most the common statute violations:

- willful trespass
- taking more animals than allowed by law
- hunting before or after legal shooting time(s)
- hunting on Sunday
- hunting from a vehicle
- failure to tag the animal
- firearm violations

Magistrates have much leeway when handing down fines. In Pennsylvania, non-resident violators are typically hit harder with fines than locals. But the violator who takes a trophy animal illegally will be hammered very hard regardless of residency status. These policies have a lot to do with local public opinion(s) because Magistrates are elected officials.

TR

 

[HarleyFixer]

When I was growing up in the mountains of Idaho, we had what I think was called a Pioneer Lic. It allowed us to take all the game we could eat. Doubt they have anything like that any mor although my BIL says they have more game than ever.