Guest Turtle Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 JACKSON -- Chris James of Horton pleaded guilty Monday to illegally killing a trophy buck in the archery season last fall. James admitted he shot the 24-point whitetail before he purchased a hunting license. District Judge Michael Klaeren sentenced him to a mandatory five days in jail, plus a $1,000 fine to the state wildlife fund and a $300 fine to the county. "Just as important, he loses his hunting privileges for the rest of 2008 and the next three years after that," Assistant Prosecutor Nick Mehalco said after the plea. Klaeren said he will allow James to serve his jail time on weekends. Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers saw the pictures and story about the giant buck in the Citizen Patriot on Oct. 26. James told a reporter he shot the buck with an arrow at dusk on Oct. 24 and tracked its blood trail several hours in the dark, returning the next morning to find it. An investigation revealed James did not purchase the archery license until the morning after he shot the deer. While agents built their case, James entered the rack in big-buck contests. It is one of the largest ever taken by a Michigan bow hunter. A Commemorative Bucks of Michigan scorer awarded it 218 points, making it the second- or third-largest ever recorded in archery season. Conservation officers seized the antlers in January, when James was charged with the misdemeanor. The deer rack is the property of the DNR and will likely be on display at either a state park museum, wildlife office or other DNR facility. A friend of James said he would make no comment. why seek recognition and credit? Please don't put yourselves in this situation , always hunt legal. Here's link with pic http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/03/trophy_buck_hunter_chris_james.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelund79 Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 That is a hog! What a shame that he had to poach it. Doesn't seem like a harsh enough sentence either...Glad he was dumb enough to get caught! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 This is something that could have been prevented for the cost of a resident MI archery license. What's that cost about 10-20 bucks? I shot my 07 buck on the last day of the season (Jan. 17th) at last light. I didn't recover it until the next day (Jan.18th) which was the day after the legal take season. Therefore I checked it in via telephone on the 18th. I was so worried I'd get the mount confiscated I called the IL Department of Natural Resources and was willing to drive the deer to their headquarters so the could see the deer had been dead for a while. They said not to worry, but I still wonder if some day???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodshed Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 his hunting license is suspended in MI but he probobaly will just hunt in other states during that time frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 Many states have reciprocity on those bans, not entirely sure how that is enforced, though? HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the one Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 That a shame how long has he been hunting without a license. The only reason he got one this time was to show off the buck. That good for him I hope he is not a member of this form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 Kind of stupid on the part of the hunter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Turtle Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 It didn't bother him before to hunt without a license, hero to zero. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 It didn't bother him before to hunt without a license, hero to zero. Not trying to defend the guy or what he did, but did not see that information anywhere, is there another story on the same guy that tells this history of hunting without a license? Without more, I would not be so quick to cast judgement on another hunter not knowing more details. Do not know the regs in Michigan either, but here you can hunt without a license if you hunt on your own land. Been many years that I have not purchased a license, and have hunted on our property, perfectly legal here. Also been a few times I have considered hunting other properties and looked them over during season while not having my license, determining whether or not I was going to hunt them before buying the license. While this guy not telling his side of the story to the public makes it look like he is probably guilty of intentionally hunting knowing he did not have his license, I do not know enough about the story other than what the article says to say he is anything more than someone who got caught violating a game law by not having a current license, which is far from being the worst of the worst in my eyes in regards to game laws, but was pretty stupid. Guessing none of us here have ever driven on expired tags or on a drivers license that was expired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubie Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 I got busted this year for not attaching my notched tag to my deer. Mostly a misunderstanding of the guide, as I was under the impression I didn't have to tie it on until I reached difinitive transport (my car, parked on the gravel road just off the trails), while the CO figured the truck I was using to pull it out of the deep woods was transport (which it wasn't, my brother just did me a quick favor on his way to an appointment). Now, if they made a news story about it, it would sound like I was trying to sneak out of the woods, so I could use my tag the next day. Without getting the whole story from me, it makes me sound like a poacher looking for extra deer, which was far from my intention. All I was doing was keeping the tag safe from getting torn off and lost while lifting and draging the deer around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinguide Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 what a shame hes an honest guy at least Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Turtle Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 Not trying to defend the guy or what he did, but did not see that information anywhere, is there another story on the same guy that tells this history of hunting without a license? Without more, I would not be so quick to cast judgement on another hunter not knowing more details. Do not know the regs in Michigan either, but here you can hunt without a license if you hunt on your own land. Been many years that I have not purchased a license, and have hunted on our property, perfectly legal here. Also been a few times I have considered hunting other properties and looked them over during season while not having my license, determining whether or not I was going to hunt them before buying the license. While this guy not telling his side of the story to the public makes it look like he is probably guilty of intentionally hunting knowing he did not have his license, I do not know enough about the story other than what the article says to say he is anything more than someone who got caught violating a game law by not having a current license, which is far from being the worst of the worst in my eyes in regards to game laws, but was pretty stupid. Guessing none of us here have ever driven on expired tags or on a drivers license that was expired. First two line JACKSON -- Chris James of Horton pleaded guilty Monday to illegally killing a trophy buck in the archery season last fall. James admitted he shot the 24-point whitetail before he purchased a hunting license. That's what the whole deal is he admitted to hunting without a license. I didn't judge him a court of law did and convicted him on his own testimony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HUNTINGMAN Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Just another guy giveing hunters a bad name,they need to be a little more strict on him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Turtle Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 what a shame hes an honest guy at least I don't believe admitting to something 5 months later when confronted with all the evidence against you qualifies as honest. Buying a license to begin with would of been honest thing to do. Not entering in Big Buck contest would of been honest thing to do. Admitting to something once caught red handed, not honest at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 First two line JACKSON -- Chris James of Horton pleaded guilty Monday to illegally killing a trophy buck in the archery season last fall. James admitted he shot the 24-point whitetail before he purchased a hunting license. That's what the whole deal is he admitted to hunting without a license. I didn't judge him a court of law did and convicted him on his own testimony. It didn't bother him before to hunt without a license, hero to zero. Yes, he did admit not having a license at the time he killed the deer, he is guilty of that, and there is no argument about that. Part of my reply was to the comment in the second quote. You are calling the guy a poacher and from the way it appears you are saying he had done this type of thing before. From what I got out of the article the guy was a hunter who had no license, reason not known, and made the mistake of thinking he could get his license after killing the deer and make everything all better. Why he had no license the day he killed the deer, who knows other than him, and YES it was wrong. Pretty stupid or negligent on his part not having his license in the first place, but hardly think when it comes down to poachers that this guy is in the same league as those who deliberately do not check in deer, kill more than their limit, spotlight, kill animals out of season, trespass and kill animals on land they do not have permission on, and etc. Guess defining a poacher is up to opinions, and yours here is pretty clear, which is ok as that is your opinion. Sorry for not jumping on the bandwagon here, but I kind of like to give folks the benefit of the doubt, and when not knowing all the details, I try to err on the caution side of things when it comes to this type thing and not be so quick to label someone. Not excusing what the guy did, but maybe just maybe he had a logical explanation for not having his license, maybe for whatever reason he thought he did have a current license only to realize after killing the deer it was not valid, who knows, I certainly do not. I really do not think anyone would intentionally go out and kill a deer without a license with full intentions of checking it in knowing they could not, only to go and buy a license the next day. Sounds to me like a stupid mistake and he got caught and is paying for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Turtle Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Encyclopedia Earth Poaching Poaching is the illegal hunting, killing or capturing of animals. This can occur in a variety of ways. Poaching can refer to the failure to comply with regulations for legal harvest, resulting in the illegal taking of wildlife that would otherwise be allowable. Examples include: Taking without a license or permit, use of a prohibited weapon or trap, taking outside of the designated time of day or year, and taking of a prohibited sex or life stage. It's not just my definition:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zambo Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 Two excellent posts Turtle. It's easy to tell the truth when you have no other choice. And although I do beleave it is possible to make an honest mistake with your tag, he admittingly had no tag. Poacher! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kid Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 if you ask me he should have lost his hunting priviledges longer than that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasDeerHunter Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 What he did is wrong, but I think there are different degrees of poaching. I have a bigger problem with him trying to earn prizes or fame by entering an illegal deer in a contest. I would come down harder on him for the false document charges opposed to the hunting with no license. Here in Texas we have alot of contest and they will flat throw you under the jail for falsifying documents in a contest as well as a big fat fine and maybe jail for hunting illegally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 Here in Texas we have alot of contest and they will flat throw you under the jail for falsifying documents in a contest as well as a big fat fine and maybe jail for hunting illegally. God I LOVE Texas!! The liberals have NY so screwed up I doubt it could ever be corrected. I have some friends that are involved with law enforcement in Texas, along with some Border Patrol agents who are/were stationed there and they say that in Texas law enforcement is still respected because they still have the power and the backing of the public. In NY (home of the liberal lawyer and frenzied anti-law enforcement media), we have a tough time enforcing the laws. Due mainly to lack of support of the criminal justice system (i.e. courts), over-populated jails and prisons, and sue happy lawyers. Makes LEO's afraid to do their job as effectively as when I got hired 19 years ago. Its sad to say its getting so LEO's up here would rather not run the risk of getting sued. So what you say?? Well, usually it is some private citizen that becomes the victim of crimes time and time again, burglars, hit and run DWI accidents from offenders with multiple arrests and minimal convictions, trespass complaints, larcenies (i.e. treestands )... and the like. Its the decent public that ends up the victim time and time again. Sorry folks, for 19 years I've tried....1 more year and I am done trying. Its only going to get worse.. atleast in NY. God Bless Texas!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sskybnd Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 i feel the way wnthunt feels i dont know his side of the story but reading what was said he plead guilty to killing the deer with out a license. he did get fined lost his hunting rights for the year. but theres part missing to this thing. if he was tried as a poacher he would have got a stiffer fine maybe jail time he would have lost the weapon used and the vehical used and yes he lost his right to hunt 2008 so knowing this i feel some things missing. by the way swamphunter im sure texas could always use another good police officer should you want to go a few years more.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 by the way swamphunter im sure texas could always use another good police officer should you want to go a few years more.. Nope...got other plans. 20 years is enough of listening to other people problems, majority of which could be cured/avoided with a little common sense, or thinking. Or maybe even acting like a decent human being or atleast like an adult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.