Does this seem like a slap on the wrist for poaching?

Question

Check out this story below. A guy poaches an elk out of a public park in 2004 and is just now being fined after FINALLY being convicted. They had to take DNA samples, hair and tissue samples and go through the court procedures for 2 + years and he only gets a $3000.00 fine and a year of probation. It seems like the DNA tests would cost at least that, not to mention court costs, etc. Doesn't seem like much of a punishment for poaching on restricted land. This really pizzes me off since I haven't been able to fill my elk tag yet and this bozo poaches and gets a slap on the wrist! Not to mention he butchers the carcass in the field and leaves the meat hanging for four days, probably ruining it. Seems like he should have gotten a much larger fine and at least some serious community service or jail time.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/343617_elk15.html

I am most certainly not "mad" at him for getting an elk when I didn't, I am pissed because he got an elk by hunting on a public park where the elk herds are protected. ANYONE could get an elk there regardless of their "hunting ability". I could get up at 8:00 in the morning tommorow and go over to Tiger Mountain (also a protected area) and have an elk in the locker by noon. If elk hunting was easy, he wouldn't have been poaching on public lands!

Answer 1

His a** would be grass here in Arkansas.

That really is a slap on the wrist. Here he would have been charged with a felony, lost his hunting / fishing rights, had any property on him at the time confiscated, and faced a huge fine W/ possible jail time.

Answer 2

Leaving evidence is a violation of Standard Criminal Proceedure. The man should be forced to stand at the park gate with a sign that says "I be stupid".
Redirect your anger toward Nancy Pelosi who supports a plan to slaughter a whole herd of elk on an island off California's coast for no good reason, even though the herd is healthy and is very well protected from CWD, something that will make it valuable if the disease wipes out elk in other places.

Answer 3

The fines for game/fish violations are based on the state's estimated value of the animal. Apparently In Wa. they have determined that an Elk is worth approximately 3,000 dollars. Other punishment this person may have received would include revocation of hunting and fishing privileges for a specified period. I know in Wi. a first offense gets this revocation for 3 years automatically. Any subsequent offenses and the privileges are lost for life. I agree that this seems to be rather light punishment for the magnitude of this crime.

Answer 4

don't get me wrong the bass's turd should fry for it
not so much because he poached but because he let the meat go to waste that is just immoral and unethical. Not that I condone poaching I would say the punishment fit the poaching crime but you have the wasted meat also which is another crime in itself and the restricted land issue also they could have gotten him on other charges as well.

however don't get mad at him for your inability to hunt you not filling your elk tag is your fault not his.

OK OK OK your right it would be extremely easy to get an elk on protected land where they are abundant sorry for the sarcasm I was wrong

Answer 5

Until I hear more details I feel that is a sufficient fine. The meat was hung just like any hunter would do, nothing was wasted. How do think meat was stored years ago before refrigeration? He didn't just kill it and leave it, or just cut the antlers off. How do you know he wasn't just an out of work slob trying to feed his family? Doubtful, but you are pretty quick to judge someone without knowing all the facts. I don't condone what he did, he broke the law and he was punished.

Answer 6

That's ridiculous, where I live if you do something like that, they can take anything you hunt with (guns, trucks, quads) and pretty much kick you in the face with fines and jail time. It is a huge penalty, but it fits the crime in my opinion.

Answer 7

Yes i agree, pretty crappy only $3000 in fines is a joke & he should have gotten a $10000 fine, lost his hunting rights for 5 years.



Just giving us resonsable hunters a bad name.

Answer 8

I think that is a misdemeanor!

I agree, it should be a felony conviction, with a $10,000.00 fine, and at least six months in jail along with the 1-3 year probation.

Jackasses like him give all ethical hunters a bad name.

Doc

Answer 9

Yeah, but the only thing is that they can only fine you so much for a crime. There is a limit on every crime and it's different in every state. That's most likely why he got off so easy.