Poacher caught!

[g8rvet]

A buddy and I were turkey hunting in the bottom near a river on a private, very large lease. We had heard a bird earlier and were seeing if we could get ahead of him - he had only gobbled once on the limb.  We had been sitting for a about an hour with no answers.   Decided to use a gobble tube before moving to see if one answered.   After I did it a boat cranked up to our north and ran to our south and shut down.  Did not think much of it until we heard someone yelping on a box call.  Just to be funny I gobbled back.   He turned up the volume, cutting and yelping and I waited a minute and gobbled again.  Started feeling guilty thinking it could be a member coming in from the river so we eased down to the river.  Saw him pulling up.  Told my buddy this guy is coming here.  Not wanting to get shot we stepped behind a tree like 50 yards away and watched him step out of his boat.  I was still wondering if it was a member so I walked to him before he could grab a gun.  As soon as he saw us he jumped in his boat fired it up and hauled butt with me saying "hey, hey, wait up". He gunned it out of there like his britches were on fire and his tail was catching. As he sped away with me hollering he picked up a fishing pole like he had been fishing. I texted the lease manager and a GW was contacted. We decided to hoof it out of there (3/4 mile walk and a 1/2 mile UTV ride).  We loaded the machine and drove around to the nearest landing (pretty good ways by water).   We were standing on the ramp talking to a gentleman fishing there and guess who pulls up!   Oops.  LEO had called me directly (manager gave him my number) and was there before the attempted poacher could get loaded.  He asked the guy if he had been on the property and he said no.  Then the officer called me over and we showed him the picture I snapped as he was leaving.  Major whoops.  He wrote him and we may have to go back if it goes to court but totally worth it.  Older gentleman ought to know better- he said he was old and in poor health, but when he saw us walking to him, he sure moved like a young man!  Charges were pressed (by the timber company).  I probably would have caved, but the land owner is adamant about wanting all trespassers charged.

What really stunk is as we were heading out my brother had texted me and telling us two gobblers got by him and where we should head.  It was on our way out and we saw them when we were about 100 yards short of the powerline they were traveling.  We would have easily been there ahead of them if we had not been messing around with this idjit.

[camotoe]

Nice , it's not hard to follow the law.


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[Chief Razor]

I hate that it ruined your hunt, but at least he was caught. It's frustrating for sure.

[Sir-diealot]

Glad to hear he got busted, have no use for that trash.

[Turkeybutt]

Good for you. l love when everything works out.

[762hunter]

Makes you wonder how many times he has done that before.
Y'all will get in those birds and can play that game another day.

Wonder if the charges will stick and what fine that guy may face.
What state agency if you don't mind disclosing.


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[RutnNStrutn]

Those turks will be around. More important to catch a scumbag poacher. Nice job Larry!!!

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[g8rvet]

Thanks Jim.   

FWC.  We took him right to the spot it occurred too.  We stood where we were and he stood where the guy got out of his boat.   The FWC guy thanked me multiple times.  I kept saying no, thank you.   


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[GobbleGitr]

Good to see you pursued this...too many guys shrug it off and it emboldens trespassers.  It is just common decency not to step across a property line

[crow]

This sounds like one of those old guys on the "Boring 20's" team.

Probably his Depends was full and came ashore to take care of business. Tripped over his boxcall getting out of the boat and squawked  out a turkey noise.

Who's going to admit that to a game warden, more dignified just to accept the ticket.

[quavers59]

   He should be Tarred + Feathered and sent on his way...

[justin.arps]

Glad you guys caught him.


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[High plains drifter]

I am all for seeing poachers arrested at all times.If you see anything,  call it in immediately.  Don't hesitate!

[gunboy203]

Good for you!!!!   Great that you caught him...