Iowa Poachers

[rcd567]

I read the article on the Iowa Deer Poachers. While I applaud the wardens work, what the (in) justice system did was basically slap the poachers on the wrist. All those fines they talk about will never be paid. These types of guys work construction for cash and that can't be traced. Also the sale of trophy antlers is hard to track. They don't file tax returns, have normal jobs, or care about anything. The warden is really risking his life. These folks aren't just deer poachers, they're burglers, theives, and violent criminals. While I'd like to see jail time, I know of people who commit murder that don't see jail time. I've worked in the Iowa (in)justice system for 15 years and can tell you that only the most violent criminals see jail time.

The answer to crime, the war on drugs, or whatever is to build more prisons and jails. Don't hire more policemen, hire more correctional officers to work in the jails and prisons that should be built.

Sorry about the rant. But the guys in the article are out there this fall killing more deer and stealing from all of us.

[Master_Chief]

Re: Iowa Poachers

Don't be sorry. I agree with you 100%. If they are behind bars and criminals kill criminals then.... Just don't let 'em out in society.

[rockefeller66]

Re: Iowa Poachers

I am from IA and boy do I agree with you. Last year we had a 200"+ buck on our ground and the farmers who rent and work our land tell us that some out of staters were hunting the neighboring property and they believe they heard gun shots one morning and later that day sure enough here came the out of staters to show them their 2 big trophies they had "taken" one being the 200"+ buck, oh ya all this took place during the IA bow season! No way to prove it but the farmers swear they shot them with guns, nothing we can do though, just adds salt to the wound when some poachers get caught and get a little slap on the wrist, they are lucky I am not one giving them the fine! Boy poaching makes me hot!

[beagleboy]

Re: Iowa Poachers

If you don't paid the fine, the poachers should do some jail time. What kind of a lesson is a slap on the wrist. There should be strict laws and consequences on the violators which would make other offenders think twice. They are breaking the law with a gun. These are the people the anti's should go after.

[Dakota]

Re: Iowa Poachers

I'm from SD, but I know EXACTLY what you mean. In 2003 I was out with my dad for my first regular season deer hunt. We saw hunters shooting at deer from the roads and from the inside of their big expensive 4-by-4's. It's just sickening. Why not go out and hunt them in fair chace, whether it be with bow, rifle, pistol, shotgun, or smoke-poll. I shot a nice little button-buck and was proud of him, because I had shot him on his OWN turf. I hate people who don't abide by the law. I repeat, it's just sickening.

[wtnhunt]

Re: Iowa Poachers

Have to agree with you, poachers get weak fines and often do no jail time. If the fines were more serious and jail time was mandatory, maybe some of the poachers who are caught the first time around would not be so likely to be repeat offenders.

[Stinger-Hunter]

Re: Iowa Poachers

I've seen bucks on forest preserve areas on the Illinois/Indiana line with their antlers cut off, 5 feet from the road.

I think that it may be my paranoia, but I get nervous going out in any area legally where there are any houses. I get nervous parking my truck/suv because I fear it will be towed or ticketed, etc.

And I'm a LEGAL hunter. I can't imagine some of these people shooting deer out of their vehicles. Don't they know that they could lose their car of all things if caught?!!!

I'm not a perfect hunter, most people aren't - too many laws. But the obvious and agregeaous (sp) ones should be harshly punished.