If this topic has been discussed I've not seen it. Over the past month I have read several threads concerning land management, state laws with season dates and bag limits, preditor control, etc. I'm not singling any one individual out, but it seems someone will post along the lines of "I know a guy that kills (x) number of birds over the limit each season". My question is are you doing your part in reporting this person you know to your local game warden (DNR) and assisting with information to get them caught or prosecuted. If you are, that's great but it never seems to be posted what you did about it. To my way of thinking this is another form of preditor control. This game hog cares nothing about the resource. He takes what he can to boost his numbers on what he feels is a stellar resume. I'm not referring to someone who plays by the rules and tags out every year then travels to extend their season. I'm talking about the ones killing twice or more their limit in the same state.
Every year I assist with prescribed burns, food plots, and trapping to support better turkey habitat and successful hatches. I know many of you here do the same. I can't see putting all that time, money and sweat into something I care so much about and knowing someone is poaching the resource and not doing what I can about it.
Don't just complain, do your part.
Sorry, I had to get that off my chest. Obviously if you're doing your part this doesn't pertain to you.
I managed 3k acres for the past 5 years in my former home state. I also pay lots of non res. fees to hunt other states mostly later in the season. Maybe I do more than most and certainly less than others.
I was a committee member for the NWTF and DU for years, ya I know everyone here loves the ole NWTF.
Turned in someone baiting once, snow had melted and you could see the corn from the highway, seriously about an acre of corn, dude killed 2 stud bucks earlier that season, couldn't let that one slide!
Hopefully starts an interesting discussion.
If you see illegal activities, call 911 right away. Poachers are scum, and need to be jailed, and heavily fined. Montana, has a problem with road hunting Poachers with 22s.They like Japanese pick up trucks, with toppers.
My best friend in high school called me one night and begged me to let him shoot a large buck on our property that night. I told him if it was during legal shooting hours he could have him, but if he killed it illegally I'd report him to the game warden no differently than I would anyone else. He didn't shoot it and we're still good friends to this day.
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Growing up on the area i did, game laws were more of a suggestion. Thankfully my mother raised me better. I used to hang out with some fellows that were just flat out poachers. Not even the least bit concerned with regulations or actually hunting. I decided to cut ties years ago when I realized that I couldn't change them(I tried for years) I also realized that their crappy morals carried over to other aspects in life and it was nothing I wanted part of. Any more if its blatantly illegal and I see it then it gets reported. They are spoiled, selfish,lazy, childish, bums that don't have regard for anything. Not to say I have been absolutely perfect to the letter of the law in my life but I should be nominated for sainthood in that neck of the woods. The few minor things I did wouldnt even raise an eyebrow in that area. I even reported myself the last time. The officer laughed and asked why I even bothered calling him.
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In Florida you won't call 911. There is a Wildlife Violation number right on your license and they connect you to the local office in the State.
We saw some schmucks shooting cormorants on our local lake during duck season. If it flew, they shot it. We called. The lady said they were busy in other areas but would try to send someone-we were there until we limited on ducks (couple more hours) and left. No one ever came. Back when I hunted there a lot, I had the cell number of 2 of the local wardens. Called them many times. Saw about 10 people get tickets one day for not checking in to a WMA. It was awesome. Next time I saw him he told me he wrote 10 violations! Watched a guy shoot a Canada Goose down - they were legal on one side the the highway and illegal on the other (the side he was on). I called. They got him. Turned out I knew him and he was telling me about getting the ticket. I told him I was the one that called. He asked why I did that and I said because I saw him do it. He asked if I knew it was him and I said, "Honestly, no. But I still would have called." He told me he better never see me do anything illegal and I told him good luck.
I talked to someone at the check station just last week about someone entering part of the WMA before they checked in, there was no way they could have because my nephew was there and they had not yet opened the gates.
I agree 100% with the OP. It is our obligation as good stewards of the resource.
Quote from: High plains drifter on March 25, 2021, 10:58:59 AM
If you see illegal activities, call 911 right away. Poachers are scum, and need to be jailed, and heavily fined. Montana, has a problem with road hunting Poachers with 22s.They like Japanese pick up trucks, with toppers.
911 is not the poaching hotline.
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Don't call 911, unless its the only alternative. But by all means call.Don't wait.Gather as much info as possible, and turn these idiots in.You may receive a cash reward!!