By Glen Wunderlich

Most Michigan deer hunters are proud of the number of antler points on bucks they’ve taken.  Some call it bragging rights.  Hunters are well aware of what constitutes an antler point and always seem to stretch the tape to the one-inch mark to claim another one.  However, when that antlered buck is taken illegally, the “hunter” becomes a thief and when confronted by law enforcement, would rather not toot that horn.  And, as of February of this year, there’s good reason for being sheepish:   Penalties and fines have been increased substantially.

A 2015 research study by the Boone and Crockett Club found that 92.6 percent of sportsmen support higher fines for those convicted of poaching big-game animals, while 88 percent also support even higher fines for those convicted of poaching trophy-class, big-game animals.

Accordingly, Michigan’s lawmakers have passed legislation that has increased the penalty and fines for anyone caught poaching a buck. It was the first change to Michigan’s poaching law since 1990.

The new fines are based on the number of legal antler points and increase for larger racks. The restitution for illegally killing a deer remains $1,000, and jumps to $2,000 for antlered deer. In addition, poachers are now fined $500 per legal point for bucks that are between eight and 10 points, and $750 per legal point for bucks that have 11 points or more.

The word is getting out, as one cheater found out the hard way.

Josiah Killingbeck reported that an illegal deer case from 2015 was adjudicated in Lake County. The case involved a subject who had taken an 8-point buck during archery season of 2015 and purchased a kill tag for it the following day. CO Schaumburger assisted CO Killingbeck with interviewing the suspect in the Detroit area where a confession was obtained. The hunter was ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution and $435 in fines and costs. The hunter had his hunting license revoked for one year.

Here are a few more examples of clever cover-ups unraveled.

CO Brian Lasanen and CO Ethen Mapes responded to a RAP complaint of shots fired well after legal shooting hours.  As CO Lasanen and CO Mapes pulled up to the suspect’s house, they noticed four deer hanging in the barn.  CO Lasanen made contact with the suspect, and was advised his girlfriend had legally shot all four deer. CO Mapes made contact with the girlfriend and after a brief interview, it was determined she had not shot any deer this season, and her tags were at a friend’s house.  In light of the new information, CO Lasanen re-interviewed the suspect.  It was determined the suspect had shot all four deer.  The deer and the firearm used were seized.  Law enforcement action was taken.

Sgt. Joe Molnar was at a deer check station when a hunter came in to have his ten point buck checked which he had shot on opening morning. While talking with the hunter, it was determined that he shot the buck, and then purchased his hunting license. The hunter had only bought an antlerless deer license.  A citation was issued for taking a deer without a license.

One question remains for the poachers among us:  Are the rewards worth the risk?

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation strongly opposes Initiative 177, a measure on Montana’s November ballot that would immediately ban trapping on all public lands in the state. If passed it would severely cripple scientifically sound management practices that maintain healthy wildlife populations across Montana.

“Removing trapping as a management tool flies in the face of the science-based North American Wildlife Conservation Model which is the foundation of maintaining the healthiest and most successful wildlife populations in the world. And managing wildlife at the ballot box is extremely dangerous for our wildlife and should remain in the hands of state wildlife agencies,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “A trapping ban would lead to an immediate jump in the wolf population of at least 15 percent and likely greater than that, which would trigger an even greater detrimental impact on the overall size and health of our elk, moose and deer populations.” Read more