Reporting poachers

urcayuse · #1 10-07-2018, 11:15 AM

So this am I was out hunting on our property with my son. We heard three pretty quick shots that were definitely on our place. Phoned the wife and got her to drive around the field in case we couldn’t get there fast enough. She found them and called us, we all got together and confronted the two by that time they had the elk they shot loaded.
I let them know that we were reporting to FW and phoned the report a poacher hot line. About an hour later I get a call from a FW officer who was dealing with a grizz about 4 hrs away from my location. Meanwhile one of the two offenders claimed to be allergic to elk and was in desperate need of his epi pen and insisted on leaving but that I could follow him to his camp. I told him to leave the elk but he refused. Not wanting to escalate anything I let him go and did follow him to the edge of his property line. So far still waiting to hear from the local FW and it’s been about three hours. I’m sure not knocking FW cause I know just how understaffed they are. What the hell is a guy supposed to do in this situation call 911? Very disheartening and can sure see why guys deal with this their own way.

bobalong · #2 10-07-2018, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urcayuse

So this am I was out hunting on our property with my son. We heard three pretty quick shots that were definitely on our place. Phoned the wife and got her to drive around the field in case we couldn’t get there fast enough. She found them and called us, we all got together and confronted the two by that time they had the elk they shot loaded.
I let them know that we were reporting to FW and phoned the report a poacher hot line. About an hour later I get a call from a FW officer who was dealing with a grizz about 4 hrs away from my location. Meanwhile one of the two offenders claimed to be allergic to elk and was in desperate need of his epi pen and insisted on leaving but that I could follow him to his camp. I told him to leave the elk but he refused. Not wanting to escalate anything I let him go and did follow him to the edge of his property line. So far still waiting to hear from the local FW and it’s been about three hours. I’m sure not knocking FW cause I know just how understaffed they are. What the hell is a guy supposed to do in this situation call 911? Very disheartening and can sure see why guys deal with this their own way.

Pictures of everything, people, vehicle, licence plates, elk and hopefully a recognizable landscape in the photo as well to prove location. Ask for his name, probably won't give it but the licence plate will handle that. Call some neighbors to come over right a way, surround their vehicle. If only one exit park across it with your vehicle.....and keep the camera handy. Phone RCMP although around here that would be pretty well useless.

Sledhead71 · #3 10-07-2018, 11:26 AM

I think there are many that feel your frustration... Too bad about the illegal activity you are dealing with.

Last time this happened to myself, I rolled in to find an older gentleman gutting a nice whitetail in my alfalfa field. I stopped and approached and he was certainly proud of his accomplishments, I asked who owned the property and he was quick to provide a name. Unfortunately it was not mine and I was quick to correct him.. I helped him load the deer and advised him to never come back.

Hope you receive the resolution you want for this infraction.

urcayuse · #4 10-07-2018, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobalong

Pictures of everything, people, vehicle, licence plates, elk and hopefully a recognizable landscape in the photo as well to prove location. Ask for his name, probably won't give it but the licence plate will handle that. Call some neighbors to come over right a way, surround their vehicle. If only one exit park across it with your vehicle.....and keep the camera handy. Phone RCMP although around here that would be pretty well useless.

Well we’ve got lots of pics and videos license plate and their names so maybe we have enough evidence. It if the fish cops don’t hurry they won’t recover the elk.

urcayuse · #5 10-07-2018, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sledhead71

I think there are many that feel your frustration... Too bad about the illegal activity you are dealing with.

Last time this happened to myself, I rolled in to find an older gentleman gutting a nice whitetail in my alfalfa field. I stopped and approached and he was certainly proud of his accomplishments, I asked who owned the property and he was quick to provide a name. Unfortunately it was not mine and I was quick to correct him.. I helped him load the deer and advised him to never come back.

Hope you receive the resolution you want for this infraction.

I think you did the right thing in that situation. These guys are around here every year pretending to be lost on various people’s property.

DisplacedCaper · #6 10-07-2018, 11:34 AM

I’ve read a few similar posts over the years in here and it’s pretty disheartening to be honest. I’m not a land owner, and follow the rules. Yet there are years I’ve had tag soup while these jerks, mostly it seems, get away with it.
What if the poaching aspect was removed and a phone call was made to the effect of someone trespassing on your property with a gun and shots were fired?
It’s the truth and I would assume get a more prompt response from law enforcement?
Just a thought hat came to mind, sorry to hear this anyways, my hats off to you for keeping your composure. Hopefully F&W can charge and confiscate some gear to be a deterrent.

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Sledhead71 · #7 10-07-2018, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urcayuse

Well we’ve got lots of pics and videos license plate and their names so maybe we have enough evidence. It if the fish cops don’t hurry they won’t recover the elk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by urcayuse

I think you did the right thing in that situation. These guys are around here every year pretending to be lost on various people’s property.

Not sure if the correct term will be poaching, sounds like my circumstance where they were trespassing and harvested an animal on a legal permit during and open season. If the animal is seized, it's wasted and petty trespassing is the charge. Sad but that's the way the system works.

elkhunter11 · #8 10-07-2018, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sledhead71

Not sure if the correct term will be poaching, sounds like my circumstance where they were trespassing and harvested an animal on a legal permit during and open season. If the animal is seized, it's wasted and petty trespassing is the charge. Sad but that's the way the system works.

Seeing as how an elk was killed, the charge should be , along the lines of being in possession of an illegally harvested game animal. The actual charge has been posted here previously, but I don't recall the exact wording. In that case, the animal is seized, and the hunters could face suspensions. This is a newer law that was enacted because some people were purposely shooting big game animals on private property without permission, because they only faced a petty trespass charge, with o risk of being suspended.
I believe it may have been Walking Buffalo that posted the exact legislation.

Sledhead71 · #9 10-07-2018, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Seeing as how an elk was killed, the charge should be , being in possession of an illegally harvested game animal. In that case, the animal is seized, and the hunters could face suspensions. This is a newer law that was enacted because some people were purposely shooting big game animals on private property without permission, because they only face a petty trespass charge.

I do know there was an amendment to the pretty trespassing act in 2004, but have yet to see anyone charged for illegally harvesting big game as the OP described.

Can you provide a link or support Elk for this ?

elkhunter11 · #10 10-07-2018, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sledhead71

I do know there was an amendment to the pretty trespassing act in 2004, but have yet to see anyone charged for illegally harvesting big game as the OP described.

Can you provide a link or support Elk for this ?

This was an amendment to the Wildlife Act, not the Petty Trespass Act. I don't remember the exact legislation off hand, and I don't have time to look for it, perhaps Walking Buffalo can post it.

daveyn · #11 10-07-2018, 12:52 PM

So this guy is allergic to elk and is out elk hunting without his Epi-pen? Sound to me, given the circumstances, that he's allergic to honesty.

Pioneer2 · #12 10-07-2018, 01:16 PM

The poacher hotline is a joke.You end up talking to telecom operator in Edmonton that doesn't even know how to read a map.F+W may or may contact you days later.

58thecat · #13 10-07-2018, 02:00 PM

Pictures, date, time of event, plates etc gather the Intel, call the report a poacher and they will get to you as soon as they can. Remember they are stretched thin and are going to get busy dealing with idiots so be patient.

Flatlandliver · #14 10-07-2018, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

This was an amendment to the Wildlife Act, not the Petty Trespass Act. I don't remember the exact legislation off hand, and I don't have time to look for it, perhaps Walking Buffalo can post it.

It’s in the wildlife act

“Hunting on occupied land
38(1) In this section, “occupied land” means
(a) privately owned land under cultivation or enclosed by a fence of any kind and not exceeding one section in area on which the owner or occupant actually resides, and
(b) any other privately owned land that is within one mile of the section referred to in clause (a) and that is owned or leased by the same owner or occupant.
(2) No person shall hunt any wildlife or discharge any firearm on or over occupied land or enter on occupied land for the purpose of doing so, without the consent of the owner or occupant of it.
1984 cW-9.1 s40‘

elkhunter11 · #15 10-07-2018, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flatlandliver

It’s in the wildlife act

“Hunting on occupied land
38(1) In this section, “occupied land” means
(a) privately owned land under cultivation or enclosed by a fence of any kind and not exceeding one section in area on which the owner or occupant actually resides, and
(b) any other privately owned land that is within one mile of the section referred to in clause (a) and that is owned or leased by the same owner or occupant.
(2) No person shall hunt any wildlife or discharge any firearm on or over occupied land or enter on occupied land for the purpose of doing so, without the consent of the owner or occupant of it.
1984 cW-9.1

If the land in this situation meets the definition of occupied, that legislation will apply

urcayuse · #16 10-07-2018, 03:41 PM

Well it worked out best case scenario. An officer showed up and they have been charged. The elk is going to a family in need.

35 whelen · #17 10-07-2018, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urcayuse

Well it worked out best case scenario. An officer showed up and they have been charged. The elk is going to a family in need.

Hopefully they get the book through at them ,glad the elk got used.

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Sooner · #18 10-07-2018, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveyn

So this guy is allergic to elk and is out elk hunting without his Epi-pen? Sound to me, given the circumstances, that he's allergic to honesty.

My thoughts too. If you know your allergic, why you hunting them or helping a friend hunt them?????

Nice try to get out of dodge.

Good to hear they got caught.

Albertadiver · #19 10-07-2018, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urcayuse

Well it worked out best case scenario. An officer showed up and they have been charged. The elk is going to a family in need.

Great news!!

Zuludog · #20 10-07-2018, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urcayuse

Well it worked out best case scenario. An officer showed up and they have been charged. The elk is going to a family in need.

Great to hear. Thanks for reporting them and hopefully the penalties are substantial.

350 mag · #21 10-07-2018, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urcayuse

Well it worked out best case scenario. An officer showed up and they have been charged. The elk is going to a family in need.

Wow.

It was ballsy of them to remain in area.....or stupid....lol.

A smart criminal would have gotten out of Dodge....

Good job for catching them!

beaver hunter · #22 10-07-2018, 07:28 PM

In some cases, when you're busted you're busted....

Suzukisam · #23 10-07-2018, 10:09 PM

If found guilty under petty trespass under wildlife act they will get a 1 year suspension and will have to take a hunter course before they can get a hunting license again. And course can not be taken till one year suspension is up

Rifle · #24 10-07-2018, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urcayuse

Well it worked out best case scenario. An officer showed up and they have been charged. The elk is going to a family in need.

That's awesome. Thank you for being one of the few landowners with the guts to actually press charges. Most land owners just yell at them and tell them to get off their land. Which means that they just shot a trophy buck or elk or a moose and the only price they had to pay was hanging their head for 5 minutes and apologizing. You think they're really going to think twice when they see a trophy deer on land where they don't have permission? Not if they know all that's going to happen is that they're going to be yelled at. So congratulations to you. It's great to hear.

58thecat · #25 10-08-2018, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 350 mag

Wow.

It was ballsy of them to remain in area.....or stupid....lol.

A smart criminal would have gotten out of Dodge....

Good job for catching them!

They could make a get a way cuz they dodge broke down.....

Good to hear, all,ya had todo was report it and sit back.

gtree · #26 10-08-2018, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urcayuse

Well it worked out best case scenario. An officer showed up and they have been charged. The elk is going to a family in need.

Good to hear how this end.

Sledhead71 · #27 10-08-2018, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urcayuse

Well it worked out best case scenario. An officer showed up and they have been charged. The elk is going to a family in need.

Good, glad it all worked out in the end. Curious thou, do you have to testify against these individuals ? And the distribution of the elk, does it go through a butcher to the family in need after the court case ?

Hound · #28 10-08-2018, 11:06 AM

One bad apple spoils the barrel

silver lab · #29 10-08-2018, 11:34 AM

Post a picture of his face for some good’ol public shaming. I think this is way worse for him then telling his friends he doesn’t have any time to hunt next year.