RE: Poachers are NOT HUnters!!!
 

If people can justify hanging a head on the wall as being more important then some one hunting for food then this country is really going to the birds.

RE: Poachers are NOT HUnters!!!
 

Ugh.

Number One. The premise of this thread is absolutely correct. I'm SO tired of reading 'such and such a hunter, shooting from his truck with a spotlight, got caught poaching.' When they crossed the line into poaching, they stopped hunting.

Alright, model722 and gk, have you ever known somebody who hunted at night, out of season, because they had to feed their family? Seriously? The only time I've read about something like that is the hermits that live in the backcountry of Idaho, and they get a special permit that allows them to hunt 365 days a year. Do you honestly believe that somebody who 'has to feed his family' is going to be driving around in his truck with a spotlight?

Also, this is exactly the same argument that anarchists use - the people who make the laws are stupid, so obviously they don't apply to us. Are you an anarchist?

It's also the exact same rationale that some people who rob banks use - the bank has an unlimited amount of money, I need money to eat, I must be allowed to rob this bank. It's not the same thing as stealing, but it is the same rationale. And it's just a matter of the extent to which you follow this idea.

I think it's ridiculous to say that people in this thread are saying hunting for heads is more important than hunting food. Don't bring up stupid arguments, please.

RE: Poachers are NOT HUnters!!!
 

Ok, I'm not saying that shooting a deer out of season or from a spotlight from a truck isn't illegal or that the game warden who catches someone doing that for ANY reason isn't obliged to arrest them and see that they get whatever punishment the law says. I'm saying that there is a difference between the guy we hired to do some carpentry work for us who poaches because his children need protein and the guy I met from a drug rehab group that came to our church who used to use his buddy's ak-47 to mow down 10 deer at a time on the state gamelands for kicks when he was high. And yes, I do know people that legitimately need food badly enough to be pushed into poaching.

no, I'm not an anarchist.
no, I don't endorse stealing.
but while we're on the stealing issue, even the courts aknowledge a difference between someone shoplifting formula for their baby and someone shoplifting a six pack of beer. Sentencing does take into account whether a guy was holding up a convienient store to pay for his wife's surgery or to pay for his cocaine addiction. I'm saying that before we make a judgement about a persons character regardless of what side of the law they are on you have to look at their motive. If I kill a man because he raped my girlfriend is it the same as if I had killed him because I didn't like the way he looked at me? no, but it's still first degree murder by the law.

RE: Poachers are NOT HUnters!!!
 

FL/GA Hunter, did you read my post or are you just trying to twist what I am saying into a flame? I did not say someone out in there pickup driving around shooting deer, nice try.

I have known folks that have shot illegal just for the he!! of it, and watched them get burned, and laughed at them. I also have known folks that were a little hard up at a certain time and needed some meat to get by on, and never said a thing. Hunting whether you want to admit it or not started because folks needed food. Hypothetical question; Lets say someone wants to get out of the rat race they choose not to live in the city or town and they choose not to live around others. They want to live the way our fore fathers did, off the land. Should we arrest them for no lic., not hunting what they are suppose to, etc...

Well I am not trying to turn this into a flame, I'm just sick of the I follow the law to a tee garbage, and if the law say's this then the law is perfect. Just because a law is there does not mean it is for the better.

Oh FL/GA Hunter I hunt legally never have NEEDED to hunt illegal(NICE TRY calling me anarchist). BUT you can bet your butt if my familly needed food the last thing I would worry about is Hillary Clintons laws.

RE: Poachers are NOT HUnters!!!
 

Back to the original post.
I go above and beyond out of my way to do anything humanly possible to stop poaching in my area. I've chased them away in their trucks. I've had the DEC set up decoys where I knew they were poaching. I've sat in a treestand myself where I suspected poachers sneaking on my land at night and actually ran them off. I've gone to "known" poachers houses during the day and threatened them to rethink what they're doing. I've notified the game warden of who they are and where they go.
It's worked in my little area, but that doesn't change who they are. They'll just be in someone elses neck of the woods doing the same crap (unfortunately). That's why I agree and think everyone should stand up and do what you have to do to rid these scums.
I have 0 tolerance for any form of poaching for whatever reason. No excuses.

RE: Poachers are NOT HUnters!!!
 

[quote]Hypothetical question; Lets say someone wants to get out of the rat race they choose not to live in the city or town and they choose not to live around others. They want to live the way our fore fathers did, off the land. Should we arrest them for no lic., not hunting what they are suppose to, etc... [/quote

Well yeah, take a look around things have changed a tad bit since our fore fathers. Society needs laws now and law abiding citizens.

RE: Poachers are NOT HUnters!!!
 

LOL.. way to accuse me of not reading your post, and then not read mine.

If you're going to live off the land, you can live off the land. If you're a poacher, you're a poacher.

My statement about anarchists is simply - just because you don't like a law doesn't mean you shouldn't follow it. You work to change the law.

RE: Poachers are NOT HUnters!!!
 

NY Bowhunter I am not saying things haven't changed that's why I used hypothetical.

Here is another question for you folks; Are firearms are comming under threat every day. Now lets say tomorrow we wake up to find out we are suppose to turn our guns in. I know I've heard many of you tough guys say they'll take them over my dead body. Now what is different about you not turning your guns in and the guy that hunts because he is hungry and needs food.

Gkferris very well said. :)

RE: Poachers are NOT HUnters!!!
 

I agree, but the majority rules, read my last post, what are you going to do when the Hillary's and Oprah's win there war against us(gun owners)? Don't those Hermits still have to BUY a permit. All I'm trying to say is certain circumstances call for different reactions, I will report drinking Joe in a NY minute for poaching. I will not report poor farmer Bob(feeding his family), he is allready taking a big chance, with out me sticking my nose in. When I speak of these poor folks, the ones I've known always stayed on there own land and took only what they needed.

Oh I did read your post I don't understand about the permit (cost etc...)

RE: Poachers are NOT HUnters!!!
 

This is what I am talking about when I say stupid laws. Lets say you have a gun that has been past down through the family. Now lets say the anti-gun law comes into effect, and we have to do what england did, take are guns to the recycle center where they are turned into SCRAP. Now you followed the law does it mean it is right? Now the law changes, guns are allowed again, doesn't do you any good you allready through out the only gun you ever had or wanted. Just because some politician has wrote some crap on paper does not make it right, this is all I am trying to say.