Category: Poachers

Two Kawkawlin men ticketed for over bag limit on redhead ducks

Two Kawkawlin men, both 22 years old, were ticketed Tuesday, Oct. 14, for being over the bag limit for redhead ducks, according to Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers who investigated the incident.

At approximately 8:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, conservation officer Nick Atkin was at the Pine River Boating Access Site in Arenac County checking waterfowl hunters when he encountered the pair. He noted they were acting nervous when he spoke to them, but because of the darkness and fog he couldn’t see that the pair allegedly hid a stringer of 18 redhead ducks under the boat dock at the site. The bag limit for redheads is two per hunter. When the hunters arrived on shore with their boat, Officer Atkin noted they had two redhead ducks in the boat with them.

On Tuesday, the DNR received a Report All Poaching (RAP) Line complaint from a hunter who found a stringer of 18 redhead ducks shoved underneath the boat dock at the access site. Officer Atkin, along with conservation officer Phil Hudson, then tracked down the hunters Atkin had encountered the previous night and obtained a confession from them that they shot 20 redhead ducks while hunting that day.

The men were ticketed for being over the bag limit for redhead ducks and face restitution payments to the Game and Fish Protection Fund of $100 to $500 per duck. They have previous waterfowl hunting violations, according to the officers. Read more

Poachers

Michigan Deer Poacher Tests New Law and Loses

By Glen Wunderlich

“Hello.  My name is Jacob Powers and I am a convicted poacher.”  Those are the words I’d have Mr. Powers repeat over and over to throngs of youngsters at Michigan schools and hunter safety courses, as part of his sentencing requirements under Michigan’s new enhanced guidelines for poaching deer.  Mr. Powers has earned the dubious distinction of being the first to test the teeth of new state laws designed to deter poaching of antlered bucks.

Before detailing his case, here are the specifics of the new progressive penalty system adopted earlier this year:

  • For any deer with or without antlers, the base restitution will be $1,000;
  • For any antlered deer, there will be an additional restitution of $1,000 plus;
  • For antlered deer with 8 to 10 points, an additional $500 will be assessed for each point; and
  • For antlered deer with 11 or more points, an additional $750 will be assessed for each point.
  • In addition, poachers also now face stronger penalties related to hunting privileges. Under previous law, poachers would lose their hunting privileges for the remainder of the year of conviction plus three years. Under the new law, poachers who kill an antlered buck will now lose their hunting privileges for an additional two years on their first offense (potentially six years in total) and an additional seven years on second and subsequent offenses (potentially 11 years in total).

Stiffer penalties for trespass have also been adopted.

Now, let’s get back to Jacob Powers.  On Sept. 21, Michigan DNR conservation officers responded to a complaint phoned in to the Report All Poaching (RAP) line involving an adult suspect, who allegedly killed two trophy white-tailed deer during the 2014 Youth Hunt, while acting as a mentor to an 8-year-old hunter.

After receiving the information from the RAP Line dispatcher, three DNR conservation officers began an investigation in Lowell and Grand Rapids attempting to locate Powers and two deer. Locating Powers at approximately 3 a.m. at his workplace, officers were able to obtain a confession to the incident and return to his residence, where they were assisted by the Lowell City Police recovering evidence.

Officers concluded their investigation issuing an appearance ticket with a court date and left the home. Five days later, a conservation officer discovered two hides and evidence of deer processing that had been dumped in a parking lot at the Lowell State Game Area in Ionia County. Having not recovered these items on the night of the original investigation, the officer returned to meet with Powers and obtained a confession to the littering on state lands, leading to an additional charge.

It was determined Powers had taken both deer himself that morning in Bushnell Township of Montcalm County, while accompanying an 8-year-old youth on his first hunt. Powers illegally tagged one deer with the Mentored Youth Tag issued to the young hunter and procured a second license tag from a 6-year-old female family member prior to transporting the animals.

At arraignment, Powers, 25, of Lowell, Michigan, entered a plea of guilty to the charge and was assessed $335 in fines and costs, $12,000 in restitution for payment to the state’s Fish and Game Protection Fund, and five days mandatory minimum jail time to be served as community service. In addition, Powers now faces up to five years of hunting license revocations in Michigan and 41 other states that participate in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

Powers has yet to appear on charges in Ionia County for littering.Officers seized two large antlered heads, meat and a shotgun used to take the animals while at the Powers residence.

The new poaching penalties outlined above just don’t seem to go far enough when youngsters are used as pawns for such scoundrels.  For that reason, I’d love to see the penalties doubled in all respects for such egregious and unthinkable “mentoring”, just as the penalties for injuring or killing a worker in a road construction zone doubles.

Hunting, Poachers, Wildlife ,

Michigan DNR conservation officers report first case involving enhanced deer violation penalties

GW:  An egregious offense with a penalty to cover typical poaching.  Fine.  But, involving two youngsters?   Jacob Powers can be thankful I am not in charge of punishment.   

A Kent County man has pled guilty in a deer-poaching case that occurred in September in Montcalm County and is the first case of a violation meeting the new enhanced sentencing guidelines for poaching that became law in Michigan earlier this year.

On Sept. 21, Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers responded to a complaint phoned in to the Report All Poaching (RAP) Line involving an adult suspect who allegedly killed two trophy white-tailed deer in Montcalm County during the 2014 Youth Hunt while acting as a mentor to an 8-year-old hunter. Jacob Powers, 25, of Lowell, Michigan, was arraigned Oct. 3 on the charge of taking two white-tailed deer during the closed season before a magistrate of the 64B District Court at Stanton in Montcalm County.

At arraignment, Powers entered a plea of guilty to the charge and was sentenced. He was assessed $335 in fines and costs, $12,000 in restitution for payment to the state’s Fish and Game Protection Fund, and five days mandatory minimum jail time to be served as community service. In addition, Powers now faces up to five years of hunting license revocations in Michigan and 41 other states that participate in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. Powers has yet to appear on charges in Ionia County for littering. Read more

Poachers , , ,

Yellowstone Plundered by Market Hunters

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (Sept. 19, 1876) – Soon on newsstands in all 38 states, an upcoming edition of “Forest and Stream” will feature a report by editor George Bird Grinnell on a poaching crisis still plaguing Yellowstone even in its fourth year as a U.S. national park.

Grinnell, back from an expedition in the area, witnessed the sad carnage and writes, “It is estimated that during the winter of 1874-1875, not less than 3,000 buffalo and mule deer suffer even more severely than the elk, and the antelope nearly as much.”

The concerned editor is urging Congress to help stop the rampant market hunting and exploitation of wildlife, timber, geysers and other natural resources of the park.

That’s how early sportsmen might have announced the launch of a long crusade that would change the course of conservation in America.

The plight of Yellowstone and the public outcry that followed Grinnell’s articles on what he called “the park grab,” proved to be a tipping point that rallied the 1887 formation of the Boone and Crockett Club. Founder Theodore Roosevelt was resolute in establishing the fledgling outfit’s first order of business: Protect the park.

Yellowstone elk poached by Fredrick and Philip Bottler near Mammoth Hot Spring during the spring of 1875.

Today, Boone and Crockett is commemorating the 120th anniversary of the Club’s first major success, the Yellowstone Protection Act of 1894.

“The campaign to preserve Yellowstone was the first time a natural resource issue secured the popular support of both sportsmen and non-sportsmen,” said current Boone and Crockett Club President Bill Demmer. “Yellowstone thrust Boone and Crockett into the national limelight as an organization of hunters leading America’s early conservation movement.” Read more

Hunting, Poachers, Wildlife

Arraignment set for Oct. 6 for Sanilac County poaching suspects

GW:  Really?  Poaching a spotted fawn?  Hang ’em.  Hang ’em high!

Three individuals are set to be arraigned Monday, Oct. 6, in 73A District Court in Sanilac County on poaching charges related to an incident on Sept. 14 in Sanilac County.

Three men and a woman were arrested after a Department of Natural Resources conservation officer working on a homeland security patrol was alerted by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection air and marine helicopter that it observed people shining deer and shooting from a vehicle in Marion Township. The incident took place at about 9 p.m. Read more

Poachers, Wildlife

DNR conservation officers seeking information on elk poaching cold case

As elk hunting season gets under way in Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources is reminding hunters and northeast Michigan residents that it is still seeking information on an elk poaching case from late 2013.

On Dec. 28, 2013, a large elk bull carcass was located near Decheau Lake Road and Meaford Road, north of Atlanta in Montmorency County. The elk was illegally killed and parts of the animal were removed.

Conservation officers at the DNR’s Gaylord Customer Service Center are seeking any information that would assist with the investigation. “If anyone saw anything or has any information, we’d like to hear from them,” said Lt. Jim Gorno, DNR Law Enforcement Division supervisor for the area. Read more

Poachers

DSC Praises Tanzania’s Crackdown on Green Mile Safari Co.

DALLAS — Reacting to egregious, alleged violations in hunting ethics and laws, Tanzanian wildlife officials have revoked all hunting licenses and concessions for Green Mile Safari Co. The Dallas Safari Club (DSC) had urged the crackdown and is praising the move as a strong step for hunting and conservation.

According to media reports, the safari company, a private outfit owned by United Arab Emirates families, is threatening to sue the Tanzanian government for lost revenue caused by the revocation.

Allegations against Green Mile include hunting with automatic weapons, hunting female and young animals, using vehicles to chase and knock down animals and hunting protected species. Read more

Hunting, Poachers, Wildlife

SCI Keeps Pressure on FWS to Reverse Ban on Elephant Importation

Washington, DC – Yesterday, the House Natural Resources Sub-Committee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs held a hearing on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) policies regarding the importation of sport hunted elephants and other lawful ivory trade. Safari Club International (SCI) was represented by Air Force Veteran Scott O’Grady who highlighted the impact that the importation ban has on conservation in Africa Former Congressman Jack Fields and Itai Hilary Tendaupenyu, principal ecologist of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority also testified as to the important role that hunting plays in conservation and the devastating effect that the importation ban is having on conservation funding in Zimbabwe.

“Today’s hearing before the sub-committee gave hunter-conservationists the opportunity to express how important sustainable wildlife management is in Africa and around the world,” said SCI President Craig Kauffman. “SCI is proud of the Members of Congress who understand that funding generated by hunting is absolutely essential to conservation in Africa.” Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Poachers, Wildlife

SCI Foundation Hosts Director Of CAMPFIRE Association To Address White House Council, Congressional Caucus

June 13, 2014

Washington, D.C. – This week, Charles Jonga, Director of the Community Areas Management Program for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) in Zimbabwe came to Washington as a guest of the SCI Foundation.  He discussed the necessity of community involvement in wildlife management before the Presidential Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking (Advisory Council) and shared how hunting is an integral source of funding for CAMPFIRE programs. Additionally, Director Jonga addressed over 150 U.S. Congressional staffers at the International Conservation Caucus Foundation to inform policy makers on CAMPFIRE’s anti-poaching efforts, and to demonstrate the negative impacts created by the recent U.S. ban of elephant imports.

“The CAMPFIRE program benefits over 750,000 households across Zimbabwe. I was very thankful for the opportunity to speak, so that I could articulate just how severe an impact would occur if U.S. government policies continue to undermine our funding base,” Jonga said. “Organizations such as CAMPFIRE rely on American hunters as a primary revenue source to fund anti-poaching programs. The current ban will severely cut CAMPFIRE’s budget and our ability to protect elephants.” Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Poachers, Wildlife
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