B & C Study - 96% Poachers Get Away

[elkduds]

I worked with a guy who was a county assistant DA in WI in a past life. The guy is a non-hunter. In conversing about wildlife violations, he mentioned hunters clamoring for stiff penalties for poachers and his attitude suggested that we over-react to such small potatoes as someone illegally killing a deer when they've got murderers, rapists, and child abusers they are dealing with on a daily basis. For someone not really in the hunting space, it seems pretty hard to argue with them that the life of a deer is of significant concern compared to the other heinous stuff in front of them. Especially in eastern states that treat deer like varmints.

Poaching wildlife is theft from the public trust, meaning an offense against all citizens.

 

[El Jason]

Poaching wildlife is theft from the public trust, meaning an offense against all citizens.

But, it’s also largely viewed as a victimless crime.

 

[mtmuley]

But, it’s also largely viewed as a victimless crime.

Need to start making the poachers the victim. mtmuley

 

[Laszlo Cravensworth]

Competition for resources…

100%

I typed and deleted a line about that 2 or 3 times.

I'll advocate for a bigger pie so DAs can be more effective. Unfortunately, we hate taxes more than we hate crime.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I agree with you that that is a common sentiment, but it's a false equivalence. One can't care about both?

Sure, but in most cases they just aren't going to feel the same weight of damage to society because a deer died compared to the other heavy stuff they are working on.

Non-hunter who drives by 100+ road killed deer annually, deals with deer eating his landscaping/garden/orchard, knows the state allows hunters to kill 2 bucks OTC and encourages hunters to kill a bunch of additional does to control the population, knows farmers get issued depredation permits, is not likely going identify with the vitriol against one jackass who killed a buck with the wrong weapon or before/after legal hours. Not when they are prosecuting murderers, people who abuse women and children, and even threaten him and authority trying to hold them accountable. The deer is small potatoes due to the weight they feel with their other responsibilities.

 

[mtmuley]

IIRC the one time i called MT TIP line they had the applicable warden contact me. I met him in person later in the day after I made the call. I think this was in 2019.

Glad it has worked for some. For me, I chose to cut out the middleman. Better and faster results. mtmuley

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Glad it has worked for some. For me, I chose to cut out the middleman. Better and faster results. mtmuley

I'd do the same in an area i was local to and have in my home state.

 

[BourbonSnowCone]

In Montana, I’m not sure it’s so much the fact that there’s not enough game wardens as it is they’re not allowed to patrol most of the state (private land). Can’t enter private in MT without permission or a search warrant and not too many rich people and outfitters are going to give the warden permission to poke around on their private. You see wardens mostly on the public and BMA where there’s also less game to poach. Also MT specific, but has anyone tried using the Tip MT line lately? Used to be able to talk to an actual person now you get a phone tree and voicemail or get directed to report it on the website. I’m sure there’s plenty of folks who encounter that and decide if Fish and Game doesn’t take it serious enough to answer the phone they aren’t going to waste their time reporting it.

 

[shrapnel]

Who gets caught for any offense? Shoplifting costs us all a lot more than we think in added cost at the cash register.

How many times does a drunk driver get caught vs how many times he drives drunk?

The inefficiency of any enforcement agency isn’t due to lack of funding or LEO, as much as it is an indictment on society that has deteriorated to the point that this kind of behavior is acceptable to the violators as they justify it for nothing more than selfish reasons…

 

[RealMuddyboots]

October 17, 2025​

Four Trophy Bull Elk Illegally Killed, Colorado Poachers Could Face Lifetime Bans​

Four Trophy Bull Elk Illegally Killed, Colorado Poachers Could Face Lifetime Bans

In a poaching case that one wildlife official said is the worst he’s ever seen, four trophy-sized bull elk were shot and left to rot in southern Colorado…

cowboystatedaily.com

 

[WVmike]

October 17, 2025​

Four Trophy Bull Elk Illegally Killed, Colorado Poachers Could Face Lifetime Bans​

Four Trophy Bull Elk Illegally Killed, Colorado Poachers Could Face Lifetime Bans

In a poaching case that one wildlife official said is the worst he’s ever seen, four trophy-sized bull elk were shot and left to rot in southern Colorado…

cowboystatedaily.com

shouldn't be a could face lifetime bans, should have lifetime bans and be unable to possess a weapon.

 

[Moserkr]

shouldn't be a could face lifetime bans, should have lifetime bans and be unable to possess a weapon.

If people lost their rights to own firearms, then I would bet poaching would decrease significantly. Also confiscate any hunting related items used while poaching - truck, freezer, guns, gear. Make it hurt.

Restitutions for fines should be paid back with community services at minimum wage too, with the work being done for conservation projects. Fines should be steep. If you face 400 hours of service, at 8 hours a day, thats also 50 full days you will never get back.

Maybe, just maybe, for first offenses give them a way to earn their right to hunt and own firearms back. Anything past first offense add some jail time and lifetime hunting/firearm ban.

 

[mtmuley]

If people lost their rights to own firearms, then I would bet poaching would decrease significantly. Also confiscate any hunting related items used while poaching - truck, freezer, guns, gear. Make it hurt.

Restitutions for fines should be paid back with community services at minimum wage too, with the work being done for conservation projects. Fines should be steep. If you face 400 hours of service, at 8 hours a day, thats also 50 full days you will never get back.

Maybe, just maybe, for first offenses give them a way to earn their right to hunt and own firearms back. Anything past first offense add some jail time and lifetime hunting/firearm ban.

I agree take their stuff away. Then jail. mtmuley

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Somebody has to explain to me the "thrill" of killing a big game animal at night then leaving it? There are some wires not connected somewhere in those brains. I don't believe people like this are anywhere being "normal" and nothing can be done to rehabilitate them. Which goes to lifetime ban on licenses and firearms IMO.

 

[BenP]

I know one of the reasons that people don't report on others that are poaching is because the poachers are law breakers, and they are willing to break multiple laws and usually don't care about the consequences.

Therefore, there is fear of what retaliation will happen as it will get out on who called, I've seen it happen multiple times. Next thing you know there are nails in your driveway, combines set on fire, shots fired at vehicles, and the list goes on. Also doesn't help when the people committing the crimes grew up with the law man and are buddies who hunt together.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Sounds like a burner phone might be in order. Text the whole darn CO chain of command to insure it can't get buried.