I think anyone who knowing takes or attempts to take a game animal in violation of any regulation or law is a poacher.
Ethics are not based on the situation or your interpretation of what you think the law or regulation should be. They are what they are, nothing more or less.

The shooting time thing is a good example of situational ethics.
It is light enough for you to see your target and sight pins so to you it is ok to shoot even though it is 2 minutes past legal shooting time. Where does one draw their "ethical line" for the situation? Is it at two minutes, five minutes or ten minutes. Why is one any different or more illegal that another set number of minutes? Honestly they are all violations.

The degree of appropriate punishment for those poachers that are apprehended may become a judgement call when considering the situation and degree or intent but that is a totally differnt issue.

If you steal $10 from a rich man or $10 from a poor blind begger you are still a thief. If you take the Kings Deer illegally in anyway intentionally, you are a poacher.