New Idaho Poaching convictions in two year long case.

[44hunter45]

Two-year investigation leads to multiple convictions for wildlife violations in Twin Falls County

A two year investigation led by Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers in the Magic Valley Region has resulted in multiple convictions and significant restitution following the discovery of unlawfully taken wildlife in southern Idaho.

idfg.idaho.gov

 

[44hunter45]

Were I in the Idaho Legislature, my first bill would be that fines in poaching cases at least cover the expenses of the investigation for all involved agencies.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Recent Oregon studies have shown poaching is at least equal to the number of deer and elk killed by vehicles.
As a retired cop I’m always impressed with the effort and skill of the “fish cops”. Incredibly difficult to make a case under the circumstances they operate under.
I would agree that the penalties are insufficient to curb the activity.

 

[44hunter45]

Recent Oregon studies have shown poaching is at least equal to the number of deer and elk killed by vehicles.
As a retired cop I’m always impressed with the effort and skill of the “fish cops”. Incredibly difficult to make a case under the circumstances they operate under.
I would agree that the penalties are insufficient to curb the activity.

If this was a drug case they would be seizing vehicles and gear for auction. I've always wondered why that is not in play for wildlife violators.
There would be a buyers market for ATV at auction if gate crashers lost their toys.

 

[Salmonchaser]

I really think part of the resistance to increasing penalties is that guys really did poach to feed their families. The price of fuel, trucks, guns, opportunity cost; going poaching instead of working O/T substantially limits that argument. But my contacts in the “fish cops” has me convinced it’s nearer 1/100 poaching cases is for feeding the family. The rest is willful criminal activity.
Actually kind of surprised the Anti Gun Crowd hasn’t seized on the opportunity for firearm crime enhancements to wildlife crimes.
Easy enough to create statute and sentencing guidlines separating out the Zeko brothers from the guy using a Bushnell banner scope who inadvertently shot a forked horn bull in a spike only unit.
Then we go after the ass hats driving the closed roads, my disdain those guys is almost as much those who poach.

 

[WapitiBob]

I asked a state game trooper several years ago if he'd ever caught a poacher that needed the animal to feed his family.
"Never, and If I did, I'd help him load it in his vehicle. The last guy I popped was driving a new Dodge diesel that still had the dealer plates on it".

 

[44hunter45]

I really think part of the resistance to increasing penalties is that guys really did poach to feed their families. The price of fuel, trucks, guns, opportunity cost; going poaching instead of working O/T substantially limits that argument. But my contacts in the “fish cops” has me convinced it’s nearer 1/100 poaching cases is for feeding the family. The rest is willful criminal activity.
Actually kind of surprised the Anti Gun Crowd hasn’t seized on the opportunity for firearm crime enhancements to wildlife crimes.
Easy enough to create statute and sentencing guidlines separating out the Zeko brothers from the guy using a Bushnell banner scope who inadvertently shot a forked horn bull in a spike only unit.
Then we go after the ass hats driving the closed roads, my disdain those guys is almost as much those who poach.

I saw an paper once that showed (some) serial poachers psych profile very much like serial killers of humans. Google Fu is failing me. I can't find it now.
Its conclusion recognized this was only one of a host of motivations for poaching.