POACHED!!! Now What?

[xrem597x1977]

hey folks,

i'm looking for an opinion, and I know you all have one (especially on this subject).

a group of my buddies and I have a just got our hunting licenses in the past 2 years. I went out hunting with them only once. i'll never go again. the reason is because there was way too much alcohol involved. hunting while under the influence. roaming around the forest with loaded weapons drunk is not what i'm interested in...needless to say, I packed up and left after I gave them a good scolding.

so any way, back to the reason for this post.

the boys all bait for the deer. best friends or not I have reported them. with gps locations of the tree stands as well as parking spots and also included license plate numbers. of trucks and atvs (the atvs are used before noon as well just to add to the stupidity)

one of the guys decides he is going to hunt on his uncles property all the boys go, I stay behind and hunt on my own. its in a draw only area. he takes 1 doe...well actually he never killed any because the doe was neck shot and paralysed so he and his wife started filling the body with arrows which still did not kill the thing. so he called his uncle over from the farm to slice the throat because nor he or his wife had the stomach to do it.

so, no draw to hunt in that area, tags never put on the animal. the animal is butchered and packed up into the trunk of the SUV. and brought back down to Calgary for consumption.

just recently I have him and his wife over for supper. they told me not to cook any meat because they would bring some little doe tenderloin for us all to devour. after supper we are all sitting around the table bull****ting and we get on the topic of his "hunt", they tell us the story of how uncle had been baiting/feeding these deer for quite some time. how he has tree stands all over the property at each baiting location so that we can all go over there to hunt. uncle says "don't even bother buying deer tags in the future because you can hunt here whenever you want" and continues on to say "I haven't paid for a tag in 20 years!".

personally I don't want any part of that.

so you have a group of first year hunters all poaching for their first hunts ever and are convinced that there is nothing wrong with it because the "wise" old unlce says it's ok.

what do I do?

is it too late for me to call RAP?

am I guilty because I unknowingly consumed the illegally harvested?

that evening we got into a major ethics battle/discussion and eventually I kicked them out of my house (in the nicest way possible).

how does one deal with this situation?

[wildside2014]

Personally I don't even know what the question really is.....these guys need a lesson in how things need to be done. Its never too late to call RAP. Id call

[Albertadiver]

They've put you in an uncomfortable decision. This means you'll have to decide how much you value their friendship vs. knowing that you need to report them by writing a statement at the FW office.

I know I would struggle if I was put in that situation, but ultimately I'd have to do the right thing and report this blatant poaching.

Remember that this is everyone's resource and sounds like they have a long history of abusing it. If I had 'friends' that were doing these sorts of things, they aren't the type of people that I could continue to be friends with as my values would be far different than theirs.

The tricky part will be to find hard evidence for charges.

[R3illy]

evidence isnt for the person to collect. Its our job to report scum bags and up to others to do their jobs.

[craig82]

I would report them. Sounds like they figure they can hunt whenever they want and will do just that unless something is done.. kinda your responsibility even if you catch a bit of s@&t.
Also you probably don't want to hang out with people like that anyway.....

[hilt134]

My under standing is that you are not liable unless you had reason to suspect that the meat is illegal. For example if you buy deer meat from a guy on the side of the road for half the going price then you are hooped. I think that as long as you call them you should be fine no one really thinks their friend bring over illegal meat. Give rap a shout its not to late and even better if he still has the meat then they have potential proof.

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by hilt134

My under standing is that you are not liable unless you had reason to suspect that the meat is illegal. For example if you buy deer meat from a guy on the side of the road for half the going price then you are hooped. I think that as long as you call them you should be fine no one really thinks their friend bring over illegal meat. Give rap a shout its not to late and even better if he still has the meat then they have potential proof.

What's the going price? There isn't one because in Alberta it is illegal to sell game meat.

[wildwoods]

If you are so adverse to these peoples actions, time to pull the plug. Sounds like a crowd you have no respect for anyways. Good for you, it's not easy making the right choice here.

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by resmer77

what do I do?

is it too late for me to call RAP?

am I guilty because I unknowingly consumed the illegally harvested?

that evening we got into a major ethics battle/discussion and eventually I kicked them out of my house (in the nicest way possible).

how does one deal with this situation?

What you do and how to deal with this situation is up to you. For me, I would report these guys and I thought that earlier in your post you said you did? Maybe typo.?
Knowing these guys as you do, it is reasonable that you should have suspected the meat was illegal but I doubt that can ever be proven. If you report these guys and charges are laid, you may or may not be required to testify. If you are cross examined after your testimony you may be cross examined on your consumption of the illegal game meat and it may be suggested that you were also guilty and only reported your friends for some selfish reason.

If you report this the investigators may find sufficient evidence that may allow them to proceed without your testimony.

That is a tough one but since you asked on this forum I think you know how most will advise you.

[xrem597x1977]

thanks everyone for your comments.

[purgatory.sv]

Originally Posted by resmer77

hey folks,

i'm looking for an opinion, and I know you all have one (especially on this subject).

a group of my buddies and I have a just got our hunting licenses in the past 2 years. I went out hunting with them only once. i'll never go again. the reason is because there was way too much alcohol involved. hunting while under the influence. roaming around the forest with loaded weapons drunk is not what i'm interested in...needless to say, I packed up and left after I gave them a good scolding.

so any way, back to the reason for this post.

the boys all bait for the deer. best friends or not I have reported them. with gps locations of the tree stands as well as parking spots and also included license plate numbers. of trucks and atvs (the atvs are used before noon as well just to add to the stupidity)

one of the guys decides he is going to hunt on his uncles property all the boys go, I stay behind and hunt on my own. its in a draw only area. he takes 1 doe...well actually he never killed any because the doe was neck shot and paralysed so he and his wife started filling the body with arrows which still did not kill the thing. so he called his uncle over from the farm to slice the throat because nor he or his wife had the stomach to do it.

so, no draw to hunt in that area, tags never put on the animal. the animal is butchered and packed up into the trunk of the SUV. and brought back down to Calgary for consumption.

just recently I have him and his wife over for supper. they told me not to cook any meat because they would bring some little doe tenderloin for us all to devour. after supper we are all sitting around the table bull****ting and we get on the topic of his "hunt", they tell us the story of how uncle had been baiting/feeding these deer for quite some time. how he has tree stands all over the property at each baiting location so that we can all go over there to hunt. uncle says "don't even bother buying deer tags in the future because you can hunt here whenever you want" and continues on to say "I haven't paid for a tag in 20 years!".

personally I don't want any part of that.

so you have a group of first year hunters all poaching for their first hunts ever and are convinced that there is nothing wrong with it because the "wise" old unlce says it's ok.

what do I do?

is it too late for me to call RAP?

am I guilty because I unknowingly consumed the illegally harvested?

that evening we got into a major ethics battle/discussion and eventually I kicked them out of my house (in the nicest way possible).

how does one deal with this situation?

From the description are you willing to come forward to build a case?

Fire.

[wildbill]

Originally Posted by resmer77

hey folks,

i'm looking for an opinion, and I know you all have one (especially on this subject).

a group of my buddies and I have a just got our hunting licenses in the past 2 years. I went out hunting with them only once. i'll never go again. the reason is because there was way too much alcohol involved. hunting while under the influence. roaming around the forest with loaded weapons drunk is not what i'm interested in...needless to say, I packed up and left after I gave them a good scolding.

so any way, back to the reason for this post.

the boys all bait for the deer. best friends or not I have reported them. with gps locations of the tree stands as well as parking spots and also included license plate numbers. of trucks and atvs (the atvs are used before noon as well just to add to the stupidity)

one of the guys decides he is going to hunt on his uncles property all the boys go, I stay behind and hunt on my own. its in a draw only area. he takes 1 doe...well actually he never killed any because the doe was neck shot and paralysed so he and his wife started filling the body with arrows which still did not kill the thing. so he called his uncle over from the farm to slice the throat because nor he or his wife had the stomach to do it.

so, no draw to hunt in that area, tags never put on the animal. the animal is butchered and packed up into the trunk of the SUV. and brought back down to Calgary for consumption.

just recently I have him and his wife over for supper. they told me not to cook any meat because they would bring some little doe tenderloin for us all to devour. after supper we are all sitting around the table bull****ting and we get on the topic of his "hunt", they tell us the story of how uncle had been baiting/feeding these deer for quite some time. how he has tree stands all over the property at each baiting location so that we can all go over there to hunt. uncle says "don't even bother buying deer tags in the future because you can hunt here whenever you want" and continues on to say "I haven't paid for a tag in 20 years!".

personally I don't want any part of that.

so you have a group of first year hunters all poaching for their first hunts ever and are convinced that there is nothing wrong with it because the "wise" old unlce says it's ok.

what do I do?

is it too late for me to call RAP?

am I guilty because I unknowingly consumed the illegally harvested?

that evening we got into a major ethics battle/discussion and eventually I kicked them out of my house (in the nicest way possible).

how does one deal with this situation?

OH MY!!!!!!!!! Look in the mirror, what kind of person are you? A cheater, criminal, poacher? We shouldn't have to reincarnate Albert Einstein to figure this one out!!!!!!! "oh my uncles a serial killer but he says he's been doing for 20 years and I don't know if it's ok ?" Use your head!!!!!!!!!!

[hayseed]

Cant wait for getting ready for spring bear...

[Xbolt7mm]

Originally Posted by hayseed

Cant wait for getting ready for spring bear...

[Bub]

I still do not understand what the guy is asking. He said he reported them; then asks if it's not too late to report still...
It's like there are at least two different stories here.

From the way I read the story, and now that I write this, it seems to me that the op had some friends that were baiting and hunted while wasted, while breaking other laws, etc. So he reported those guys with all the details. Story one. Then another friend comes for dinner, bringing some deer meat, which the op later learns has also been poached and that there is an uncle, who had been poaching for decades (also invites others to do so on his property). Story two. And now the op is not really sure what to do about another friend, friend's wife and friend's uncle.

Also, how many people can you really feed with tenderloins from a deer?

[xrem597x1977]

Originally Posted by Bub

I still do not understand what the guy is asking. He said he reported them; then asks if it's not too late to report still...
It's like there are at least two different stories here.

From the way I read the story, and now that I write this, it seems to me that the op had some friends that were baiting and hunted while wasted, while breaking other laws, etc. So he reported those guys with all the details. Story one. Then another friend comes for dinner, bringing some deer meat, which the op later learns has also been poached and that there is an uncle, who had been poaching for decades (also invites others to do so on his property). Story two. And now the op is not really sure what to do about another friend, friend's wife and friend's uncle.

Also, how many people can you really feed with tenderloins from a deer?

I reported one of the guys during the hunting season on a separate occasion for baiting and using an atv outside of the legal hours of usage.

the question I was asking is if it was too late to report the guy who took the doe. (it was thanksgiving weekend when the deer was killed. I didn't hear the story from him about how it was taken (poached) until January.)

[HunterDave]

Originally Posted by Bub

I still do not understand what the guy is asking. He said he reported them; then asks if it's not too late to report still...
It's like there are at least two different stories here.

From the way I read the story, and now that I write this, it seems to me that the op had some friends that were baiting and hunted while wasted, while breaking other laws, etc. So he reported those guys with all the details. Story one. Then another friend comes for dinner, bringing some deer meat, which the op later learns has also been poached and that there is an uncle, who had been poaching for decades (also invites others to do so on his property). Story two. And now the op is not really sure what to do about another friend, friend's wife and friend's uncle.

Also, how many people can you really feed with tenderloins from a deer?

Yup.

[srs123]

The truth is , half the hunters are poachers. Half the people hunting private lands bait or shoot animals out of season and this is not the first time I hear this. Many people don't even obtain tags.
Report it but don't hold your breath.

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by srs123

The truth is , half the hunters are poachers. Half the people hunting private lands bait or shoot animals out of season and this is not the first time I hear this. Many people don't even obtain tags.
Report it but don't hold your breath.

Where do you get your information? Or is this just something you know

[Xbolt7mm]

Originally Posted by resmer77

hey folks,

i'm looking for an opinion, and I know you all have one (especially on this subject).

a group of my buddies and I have a just got our hunting licenses in the past 2 years. I went out hunting with them only once. i'll never go again. the reason is because there was way too much alcohol involved. hunting while under the influence. roaming around the forest with loaded weapons drunk is not what i'm interested in...needless to say, I packed up and left after I gave them a good scolding.

so any way, back to the reason for this post.

the boys all bait for the deer. best friends or not I have reported them. with gps locations of the tree stands as well as parking spots and also included license plate numbers. of trucks and atvs (the atvs are used before noon as well just to add to the stupidity)

one of the guys decides he is going to hunt on his uncles property all the boys go, I stay behind and hunt on my own. its in a draw only area. he takes 1 doe...well actually he never killed any because the doe was neck shot and paralysed so he and his wife started filling the body with arrows which still did not kill the thing. so he called his uncle over from the farm to slice the throat because nor he or his wife had the stomach to do it.

so, no draw to hunt in that area, tags never put on the animal. the animal is butchered and packed up into the trunk of the SUV. and brought back down to Calgary for consumption.

just recently I have him and his wife over for supper. they told me not to cook any meat because they would bring some little doe tenderloin for us all to devour. after supper we are all sitting around the table bull****ting and we get on the topic of his "hunt", they tell us the story of how uncle had been baiting/feeding these deer for quite some time. how he has tree stands all over the property at each baiting location so that we can all go over there to hunt. uncle says "don't even bother buying deer tags in the future because you can hunt here whenever you want" and continues on to say "I haven't paid for a tag in 20 years!".

personally I don't want any part of that.

so you have a group of first year hunters all poaching for their first hunts ever and are convinced that there is nothing wrong with it because the "wise" old unlce says it's ok.

what do I do?

is it too late for me to call RAP?

am I guilty because I unknowingly consumed the illegally harvested?

that evening we got into a major ethics battle/discussion and eventually I kicked them out of my house (in the nicest way possible).

how does one deal with this situation?

There's just to much wrong with all this for me ! There is moral issues as well as legal issues. The issues go over a period of time that should have been dealt with at its earliest stages. The drama about eating the tenderloin well thats just for effect of the story. The op comes on here and states stuff that not only implies illegal activities but directly states it. As far as i can see, the op is as responsible for the illegal activities as the poachers if he needs to ask it on this site. There is no question what needs to be done and if there is then the op needs to give up hunting and stick to team sports because he does not have the moral fortitude to continue with this sport. Too much drama,,,,way too much. Do what's right and chose your friends better.

[700-223]

Originally Posted by Xbolt7mm

the op is as responsible for the illegal activities as the poachers if he needs to ask it on this site.

He did not take part in the illegal activities, he told his hunting companions they were being irresponsible and unethical and he has reported some of their illegal activity.

The hunt is now long over, and he is wondering if he should report something in the past for which there may be currently no evidence. Most people would understand its not easy to report your friends or family even when its the right thing. Jumping on him for asking for advice before he does something that could have serious consequences his hunting buddies and him is an ...... move.

To the OP: you've done the right thing so far, and in the right way. You did better than many would have. Sounds like some serious unethical hunting and poaching going on at this uncle's place, though. The right thing to do is to report it to a CO. If they look into it, and everything is by the book there will be no problem.

PS I'm a novice hunter myself, only 3 seasons and 2 deer under my belt plus helping my hunting partners with their kills.. Don't know where you hunt, but send me a PM if you're still looking for a hunting partner by next fall.

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by 700-223

He did not take part in the illegal activities, he told his hunting companions they were being irresponsible and unethical and he has reported some of their illegal activity.

The hunt is now long over, and he is wondering if he should report something in the past for which there may be currently no evidence. Most people would understand its not easy to report your friends or family even when its the right thing. Jumping on him for asking for advice before he does something that could have serious consequences his hunting buddies and him is an !@#hole move.

I agree with all you said and even the part that was edited out by mod.

[Xbolt7mm]

Originally Posted by 700-223

He did not take part in the illegal activities, he told his hunting companions they were being irresponsible and unethical and he has reported some of their illegal activity.

The hunt is now long over, and he is wondering if he should report something in the past for which there may be currently no evidence. Most people would understand its not easy to report your friends or family even when its the right thing. Jumping on him for asking for advice before he does something that could have serious consequences his hunting buddies and him is an ...... move.

To the OP: you've done the right thing so far, and in the right way. You did better than many would have. Sounds like some serious unethical hunting and poaching going on at this uncle's place, though. The right thing to do is to report it to a CO. If they look into it, and everything is by the book there will be no problem.

PS I'm a novice hunter myself, only 3 seasons and 2 deer under my belt plus helping my hunting partners with their kills.. Don't know where you hunt, but send me a PM if you're still looking for a hunting partner by next fall.

My point is there should be no wondering at all if they should be reported and no advise should be required if a hunter knows the rules, which any hunter should. His buddies should also already know the consequences of their actions. Once again no advise required. If you feel that its too hard to do such a thing and the consequences are too steep then inviting him hunting may just be replacing his old friends with more of the same, there, now you have a reason to call me names young fella.

[700-223]

Originally Posted by Xbolt7mm

My point is there should be no wondering at all if they should be reported and no advise should be required if a hunter knows the rules, which any hunter should. His buddies should also already know the consequences of their actions. Once again no advise required. If you feel that its too hard to do such a thing and the consequences are too steep then inviting him hunting may just be replacing his old friends with more of the same, there, now you have a reason to call me names young fella.

There is no harm in taking time to get advise, to consider things before acting. Didn't say it's too hard, just hard. He did the right thing, and I understood he is asking for advice as he wants to keep doing the right thing. It's not a very time-sensitive situation really.

We should be piling on those who are breaking the rules, and encouraging those who are speaking out against it instead of criticizing them for not acting immediately.

I agree, his buddies should already know better and know the consequences of their actions. Pretty clear they don't though do they?

[srs123]

I think this website should have a little link on the side of every page to share with fish and wild life. the OP is not at fault in my opinion and would have nothing to worry about. but should come forward with the information.

[WHITIEY]

Hunting is hunting and poaching is poaching.They are not the same

[wildwoods]

Originally Posted by nekred

I see black dodge dually tracks everywhere in this post

Haha you're not the only one. But truth is stranger than fiction sometimes...

[Okotokian]

The pack is howling now.

[play.soccer]

It's believable. Call RAP/F&W.

My ex co-worker was Michelle Hasseloh, the chick that racked up 110 charges with her boyfriend Chris Brophy a few years back. Serial poaching like this happens all the time I'm sure.

[super7mag]

Maybe take a knee and consider your options!