Moose Poacher .......
04-14-2005 | 09:22 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 1
From: Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
Moose Poacher .......
For some background, the 'mainland' Nova Scotia moose is a smaller sub-species. And as you can see from the article, there's only about 1000 left, and they are an Endangered species.
Do you think the penalty was stiff enough? Some of the comments make me think this guy is a 'career' poacher.
"Moose poacher gets lifetime ban
House arrest, forfeitures among penalties
By TOM McCOAG / Amherst Bureau
AMHERST - The first person to be convicted under Nova Scotia's new Endangered Species Act has been banned for life from hunting and from possessing any type of venison, including moose meat.
The ban was handed down moments after Terry Patterson, 40, of Joggins pleaded guilty in Amherst provincial court Monday to three counts of killing an endangered species - a mature female moose and two calves - last December near Parrsboro.
Mr. Patterson was also sentenced to 12 months of house arrest, fined $6,000 and ordered to forfeit his pickup truck valued at $5,000, a .22-calibre rifle and several other items, including a buck knife, butcher knives and a meat saw.
Defence lawyer Anthony Morley told the court his client offered no excuse for killing an endangered species but he noted that Mr. Patterson accepted responsibility at the earliest possible moment.
Judge Carole Beaton said his early guilty plea was the only mitigating factor in his favour.
"There is nothing in Mr. Patterson's involvement . . s. that can be characterized as anything but a flagrant violation and disregard for what the government and people say is responsible behaviour toward the conservation of an endangered species," the judge said. "Your actions have had a direct impact on a species that has been identified by the government as endangered."
In handing down the sentence, Judge Beaton said she wanted to send a clear message not only to Mr. Patterson but to any other poachers. She warned Mr. Patterson that any further poaching of endangered species would leave the court no choice "but to send you to jail."
During the first eight months of his house arrest, Mr. Patterson will be allowed out of his home only to work, visit his lawyer or probation officer, get counselling, meet court appointments or, for two hours per week, take care of his personal needs.
For the final four months of his house arrest, Mr. Patterson will be under a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Crown attorney Bruce Baxter dropped three charges of possessing the remains of an endangered species.
Two other Joggins men, Jamie Daniel Brown, 29, and Dale George Brown, 41, pleaded not guilty to three charges each of possessing the remains of an endangered species. Their trials have been set for Nov. 16.
The court was told that Natural Resources officers and the RCMP were patrolling near Parrsboro on Dec. 9 when they came upon a pickup truck on a dead-end road that was occupied by a man dressed in hunting clothes. A .22-calibre rifle was sitting on the seat as well as 15 beer.
The occupant said he was hunting rabbits.
Officers found another pickup truck nearby that had a meat saw and two plastic fish tubs in the back. Following tracks in the snow that led from the truck, they came across two men, including Mr. Patterson, who appeared to have blood on his jeans. The other man had a backpack covered in blood from which a warm heart was taken.
Asked if they were hunting deer, the two were reluctant to talk but minutes later Mr. Patterson admitted he had shot three moose with a .22-calibre rifle. The men led them to the moose carcasses that had already been gutted and were lying in a pile.
Bullet fragments taken from the animals were linked through forensic testing to the weapon found at the scene.
Evidence showed that Mr. Patterson had previously been fined $2,500 for removing timber from Crown land in 2001 and $395 for violating hunting regulations in the Chignecto Game Sanctuary in 1999. He was also fined $2,300 for possessing deer meat and $750 for possessing moose meat in 2002 and $1,500 for possessing moose meat last September.
Natural Resources officers had warned Mr. Patterson on two previous occasions that the Endangered Species Act was coming into effect and fines of up to $500,000 per animal could be levied against poachers. Both times Mr. Patterson told the officers he had given up poaching moose.
The court was told that only about 1,000 moose live on mainland Nova Scotia and the population is continuing to decline. A ban on hunting moose anywhere on the mainland has been in effect since 1981. A regulated hunt still exists in Cape Breton, where moose still thrive."
Ron
Do you think the penalty was stiff enough? Some of the comments make me think this guy is a 'career' poacher.
"Moose poacher gets lifetime ban
House arrest, forfeitures among penalties
By TOM McCOAG / Amherst Bureau
AMHERST - The first person to be convicted under Nova Scotia's new Endangered Species Act has been banned for life from hunting and from possessing any type of venison, including moose meat.
The ban was handed down moments after Terry Patterson, 40, of Joggins pleaded guilty in Amherst provincial court Monday to three counts of killing an endangered species - a mature female moose and two calves - last December near Parrsboro.
Mr. Patterson was also sentenced to 12 months of house arrest, fined $6,000 and ordered to forfeit his pickup truck valued at $5,000, a .22-calibre rifle and several other items, including a buck knife, butcher knives and a meat saw.
Defence lawyer Anthony Morley told the court his client offered no excuse for killing an endangered species but he noted that Mr. Patterson accepted responsibility at the earliest possible moment.
Judge Carole Beaton said his early guilty plea was the only mitigating factor in his favour.
"There is nothing in Mr. Patterson's involvement . . s. that can be characterized as anything but a flagrant violation and disregard for what the government and people say is responsible behaviour toward the conservation of an endangered species," the judge said. "Your actions have had a direct impact on a species that has been identified by the government as endangered."
In handing down the sentence, Judge Beaton said she wanted to send a clear message not only to Mr. Patterson but to any other poachers. She warned Mr. Patterson that any further poaching of endangered species would leave the court no choice "but to send you to jail."
During the first eight months of his house arrest, Mr. Patterson will be allowed out of his home only to work, visit his lawyer or probation officer, get counselling, meet court appointments or, for two hours per week, take care of his personal needs.
For the final four months of his house arrest, Mr. Patterson will be under a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Crown attorney Bruce Baxter dropped three charges of possessing the remains of an endangered species.
Two other Joggins men, Jamie Daniel Brown, 29, and Dale George Brown, 41, pleaded not guilty to three charges each of possessing the remains of an endangered species. Their trials have been set for Nov. 16.
The court was told that Natural Resources officers and the RCMP were patrolling near Parrsboro on Dec. 9 when they came upon a pickup truck on a dead-end road that was occupied by a man dressed in hunting clothes. A .22-calibre rifle was sitting on the seat as well as 15 beer.
The occupant said he was hunting rabbits.
Officers found another pickup truck nearby that had a meat saw and two plastic fish tubs in the back. Following tracks in the snow that led from the truck, they came across two men, including Mr. Patterson, who appeared to have blood on his jeans. The other man had a backpack covered in blood from which a warm heart was taken.
Asked if they were hunting deer, the two were reluctant to talk but minutes later Mr. Patterson admitted he had shot three moose with a .22-calibre rifle. The men led them to the moose carcasses that had already been gutted and were lying in a pile.
Bullet fragments taken from the animals were linked through forensic testing to the weapon found at the scene.
Evidence showed that Mr. Patterson had previously been fined $2,500 for removing timber from Crown land in 2001 and $395 for violating hunting regulations in the Chignecto Game Sanctuary in 1999. He was also fined $2,300 for possessing deer meat and $750 for possessing moose meat in 2002 and $1,500 for possessing moose meat last September.
Natural Resources officers had warned Mr. Patterson on two previous occasions that the Endangered Species Act was coming into effect and fines of up to $500,000 per animal could be levied against poachers. Both times Mr. Patterson told the officers he had given up poaching moose.
The court was told that only about 1,000 moose live on mainland Nova Scotia and the population is continuing to decline. A ban on hunting moose anywhere on the mainland has been in effect since 1981. A regulated hunt still exists in Cape Breton, where moose still thrive."
Ron
04-14-2005 | 10:20 PM
#2
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Prince George, BC
RE: Moose Poacher .......
i think he should have gotten more, i think he should have gotten same penalty X 3 because he in fact shot three moose. also fined heavier, all fired arms removed until the penalty is over and he should have to take all the C.O.R.E. and firearms courses all over again, hell just hang the bastard. LOL.
i am seriously against poaching because it wrecks it for the honest person, but they only caught him, i wonder how many other people in N.S. poach each year. i wonder how many people paoch throughout the world? we had a lot of cutbacks in the wish and widlife guys, so there arent as many officers out there now. oh well just hope there are more honest people that report poachers. just my .02
i am seriously against poaching because it wrecks it for the honest person, but they only caught him, i wonder how many other people in N.S. poach each year. i wonder how many people paoch throughout the world? we had a lot of cutbacks in the wish and widlife guys, so there arent as many officers out there now. oh well just hope there are more honest people that report poachers. just my .02
04-14-2005 | 10:40 PM
#4
Typical Buck
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 833
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From:
RE: Moose Poacher .......
Well I can see the guy was not killing for the antlars.I would like to know what money the man has to live on each year.I would allso like to know if he was selling the meat or consuming it. These things to me would make a big deal on what should happen to him.
04-19-2005 | 06:22 PM
#6
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Moose Poacher .......
That's the kind of hunter who ruins it for the rest of us. It's bad enough that this species of Moose is so rare but for him to kill 2 calves and their cow shows a complete disregard for the species in general. His saying I'm sorry doesn't cut it anymore, he's already been caught and fined for poaching 3 times before. He will do it again if given a chance.
And for god sake, a 22cal. That's a varmint gun, not a big game rifle. He was taking head shots with a very light weapon so he could bring the game down quick and quiet so he wouldn't get caught.
If meat was an issue why wasn't he hunting rabbits and other small game. No folks I have no sympathy for him. He's a dirty rotten poacher and deserves much more. He was killing moose just to kill them, meat was secondary. He wanted the thrill of breaking the law and getting away with it.
And for god sake, a 22cal. That's a varmint gun, not a big game rifle. He was taking head shots with a very light weapon so he could bring the game down quick and quiet so he wouldn't get caught.
If meat was an issue why wasn't he hunting rabbits and other small game. No folks I have no sympathy for him. He's a dirty rotten poacher and deserves much more. He was killing moose just to kill them, meat was secondary. He wanted the thrill of breaking the law and getting away with it.
