I think alot of hunters on this forum have done just as bad and I know of at least one that did much much worse.I have to say we are very quick to criticsize. yeah he did do wrong he plead no contest and paid the fine.Charges are what they are they can always be negotiated so they are reduced.As far as Conservation Officers
go there are alot of them that can be very very understanding and don't lay charges at all.All these officers have seen it all from hunters andthey are not out to get every hunter and chop him up.Mistakes are made in the field by a hunter on a daily basis weather it be on purpose or accident.Yeah Ted shot an illegal buck he shot it without looking at the regs and got off for it.Yeah that is illegal and a form of poaching. However the animal was recovered and meat eaten nothing to waste.This is probably what his Lawyers told the judge and prosecutor and why it got dropped. What is worse doing that what Ted did or shooting a legal buck wounding it loosing the animal only to let it suffer an ugly death and letting the meat spoil and going out the very next day and shoot another.Now this is legal but what is worse.Conservation officers know accidents happen and if you are upfront with them you will get a huge verbal lecture nave a small fine that is deserved but I have been told by them if you retrieve the animal and not let the meat waste they are more lenient than making a mistake and leaving it in the bush.That's when they get mad and are out for your head.Ted did make mistakes But unlike alot of hunters did not leave it there to rot.