Erie, PA council Protest Hunting fines.

eddiee · 12-11-2002, 06:08 PM

City Council Protests Hunting Fines
Wednesday, December 11, 2002

The Erie City Council voted Tuesday night to send a resolution to the State Game Commission in Harrisburg because of reported high fines levied against local hunters.

The council voted 4-2 to send the resolution, which will also be sent to legislative leaders.

Councilwoman Joy Greco says she has received complaints from hunters who expected to pay $25 fines for taking a deer with less than four points. She says some hunters have been fined hundreds of dollars.

The state hunting manual states that fines for taking an illegal buck could range from $25 to $300.

National News by ABC

Personally I feel that the Game commission is doing exactly what should be done. The people that are getting the big fine are those who shot an illegal buck and tried to pass it off as a mistake. Shame on the city council. If a hunter is UNSURE of their target then DON'T SHOOT and you won't have to worry about a fine?

Eddie

Turd Fergusen · 12-11-2002, 06:47 PM

eddie,sorry to disagree with you but I'm glad the council is doing what it's doing.The game commision needs reined in.The warden in my county fined a 70 year old farmer at a butcher shop the first day,the old guy shot a spike one antler measured 2" the other measured 3-7/16.$500.00 fine for not properly identifying his target,plus another $200.00 fine for improperly tagging an animal he used his doe tag.This is plain BULL SH&T!! Like I said before some hunters ACTUALLY do make honest mistakes.Are you perfect? No one is,granted there are slob hunters out there but I'm sure some were really mistaken kills.If you commit a murder at least you get a trial,with the antler restrictions the warden is judge,jury,7 executioner.For Christ's sake some of these guys are real pricks.Who are they to determine if you made a mistake or did it on purpose?I say do away with the antler restrictions,you want bigger bucks go to slug guns.Next year all the bucks that everybody passed up this year & bragged about feeling good letting them walk,next year they'll probably be sporting a 14" 8 point rack & you know what-BANG!!!DEAD DEER!!! As soon as these bucks get 3 on a side or 4 on a side they're dead! Don't B.S. yourself the average age will probably jump to 2 1/2 or 3 years old & thats it.Just my opinion.

Deleted User · 12-12-2002, 09:39 PM

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mhogan · 12-14-2002, 06:12 PM

The $500 fines should have been rarer than hen's teeth this year. Only the most obnoxiously criminal careless cases should of received them. I'm hearing it was an effort to sabotage the AR program that caused this splurge of $500 fines in the NE. Sad. If true, I hope people lose their jobs over it.

TreestandEd · 12-15-2002, 09:41 AM

Glad to see they dropped the hammer.

TrestandEd

"Hard work ... conviction ... pride ... responsibility ... class ... character ... success...BOWHUNTING

BTBowhunter · 12-17-2002, 03:38 PM

Turd
Lets look at this story objectively. First of all, the guy got arrested at the butcher shop. He had the wrong tag on the deer. It was the kind of buck that while legal last year, would have taken a close situation to see the horns. I would guess he thought he was shooting a doe. Doesnt sound to me like he turned himself in for the $25 fine. It sounds like he either tried to pass it off as an "antlerless" buck or he was too stupid to measure the spike and/or didnt bother to know the rules. Either way, what made you think he has no right to a trial? He most certainly does have that right.

Mark,
you have an interesting point about a misguided AR protest from within the PGC. I hope it's not true but if it is, I hope they all get fired. Not because I disagree with them but because it would be an extreme abuse of their police powers. Lets hope it's not true!

Eddiee

We've heard a few of these stories that have turned out to be just rumors. You quoted ABC news. Did you see the report or did someone tell you about it? If someone told you, are you sure he/she is reliable and quoting the story accurately.

Member of NRA, BASS, Buckmasters and Life member of UBP.........Kill a big doe, Let the little bucks grow

Edited by - btbowhunter on 12/17/2002 16:41:01

Edited by - btbowhunter on 12/17/2002 16:43:17

eddiee · 12-19-2002, 05:11 PM

This statement is the exact one posted on the wjet tv web page. I JUST copied it.
Eddie

Jason N · 12-20-2002, 05:38 AM

I can verify the story. I watch WJET TV 24/FOX 66 out of Erie. The story was on the news a short while ago, but I haven't seen or heard anything more about it.