Illegal Deer Kills

[blacktailslayer]

Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources News Release

Game Trails LLC, McTavish fined $50,000 for illegal deer kills

April 3, 2009 Contact: Mark Marraccini

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1-800-858-1549, ext. 4425

Frankfort, Ky. – A Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources deer biologist who noticed discrepancies while analyzing 2006 hunter deer harvest data triggered an 18-month long state and federal law enforcement investigation that produced one of the largest wildlife penalties in state history last month in United States District Court, Owensboro.

Game Trails, a more than 12,000-acre Limited Liability Corporation commercial hunting preserve in Union and Crittenden counties, controlled by sole proprietor owner and then Thompson/Center Arms President and CEO Gregg Ritz, and its site manager, William Dirk McTavish, Jr., 43, of Paducah, paid $50,000 in fines after pleading guilty to numerous misdemeanor violations of the Lacey Act of taking wildlife unlawfully, and for making false statements to Kentucky officers about the takings and interstate transporting of wildlife.

United States Magistrate Judge E. Robert Goebel ordered that Game Trails LLC, pay a $35,000 fine and McTavish pay a $15,000 fine.

Robert Christopher Helms, 40, of Boonville , Indiana , and a former Game Trails guide, faces up to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a felony count of threatening a federal witness. His sentencing is scheduled for June 11.

Department wildlife and deer biologist David Yancy, in August 2007, noticed numerous inconsistencies while comparing and analyzing 2006 Telecheck deer harvest data with data that Game Trails LLC supplied to Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) in Georgia .

Yancy and department Private Lands Wildlife Biologist Phillip Sharp raised these irregularities with Union County conservation officer Lt. Greg Noel. Noel, already familiar with Game Trails and the property, enlisted the help of Crittenden County officer Randy Conway. They began the lengthy process of reconciling the Telechecked deer harvest reports of Game Trails clients with information from QDMA.

Their investigation turned up numerous instances of Game Trails employees, their friends and family chronically taking over-limits of deer, outside hunting season parameters, supplying false information to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and using social security numbers of Game Trails clients without their permission to Telecheck their deer harvests.

Noel and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Special Agent John Barham then discovered hundreds of deer jawbones and documentation tying them to Game Trails when they traveled to Atlanta, and served a federal search warrant at QDMA’s headquarters. By sending the jawbones to another state, Game Trails was guilty of transporting illegally taken deer out of state and triggered the Lacey Act violations.

Noel said that the property, bordered by about 4½ miles of Ohio River, was owned by Kimball International and leased to Ritz and sharecroppers. He said that the previous owner had used local draw hunting to manage the deer herd, but that Game Trails eliminated that practice because it interfered with its filming and big buck hunting routines. As a result, the herd grew quickly and Game Trails contacted QDMA to evaluate and make recommendations about improving the deer herd.

Game Trails then supplied QDMA with completed data sheets and jawbones of harvested deer. It was this data, discovered during Noel’s and Barham’s investigation, which conflicted with Telecheck data.

Noel says Game Trails has recently vacated the property and is moving its operations to Ohio.

[jesse8953]

I hope they get jail time like they deserve:p but probably wont. {The corporate hand will pay to stay out of jail}there will probably be a lot of politics involved:mad: We don't want people like this in Ohio or anywhere else if they can't follow the law!

Edited April 6, 2009 by jesse8953

[JimT]

Isn't this place a pretty well known place? I think I have seen it on tv.

[jesse8953]

I seen Dave Watson on the outdoor channel at that place.

[wtnhunt]

Isn't this place a pretty well known place? I think I have seen it on tv.

Yes it is Jim. There is a game trails television show as well.

I seen Dave Watson on the outdoor channel at that place.

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that the guides and other employees and their family members were the responsible parties for the violations and the guides are awaiting their sentencing. Would probably be best to give benefit of the doubt to any of the several hunters we have seen on tv who have hunted the game trails property until more of this story comes out.

[dbHunterNY]

Yes it is Jim. There is a game trails television show as well.

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that the guides and other employees and their family members were the responsible parties for the violations and the guides are awaiting their sentencing. Would probably be best to give benefit of the doubt to any of the several hunters we have seen on tv who have hunted the game trails property until more of this story comes out.

I could agree with this. I can think of many famous pro-staff hunters that have hunted there. Hope details get straightened out before people start the the witch hunts.

- Dan

[Flintlock1776]

Still, there could be reputational collateral damage. The story is out and pretty well detailed by KY DNR.

He should post something on his web site to pro-actively condemn what his employees did.

Any Silence could be worse.

[Tink]

Property was leased froam timber co and lease has been terminated and the operation closed down

Apparently they had the wool over the eyes of Ritz & T/C Arms.

[jcdeer54]

game trails

That fine is nothing

[Flintlock1776]

Property was leased froam timber co and lease has been terminated and the operation closed down

Apparently they had the wool over the eyes of Ritz & T/C Arms.

Maybe they need eye tests. Or tighter management oversight on their next place.

[Team Realtree]

For the record, I have posted our official response below. I'll add (personally) that it is obvious that the folks charged were directly involved in managing the property and they were guilty of things that didn't directly involve the paid customers or guests (unless they were using SSN's or identities for tags or dial ins). I do know that none of our folks who have hunted there were ever contacted by authorities about the use of their info to register game. S

Realtree's official release:

Please be aware that as a matter of both personal conviction and corporate policy everyone at Realtree follows game regulations to the letter of the law. We are acutely aware that our high profile in the hunting industry – as well as with the hunting and non-hunting public – makes it extremely important for us to set the right example.

We would like to make note of the fact that no Realtree employees have been named in this issue. It is also important to state that we are not aware of any game law violations that have occurred on any hunt in which Realtree or our employees have been directly involved.

We are watching this situation closely, and will base our actions on the facts. We will make every effort to gather these facts as quickly as possible, but hope you understand that we must respect everyone's rights and will not simply react without sufficient cause.

[bdboy53]

Glad they got busted...enough people look at hunting as bad!!! We dont need to make it worse.

[GWSmith]

Thank You Scott...A well written statement that shows a common sense reaction from "The Company":cool:

[buckee]

Thank You Scott...A well written statement that shows a common sense reaction from "The Company":cool:

Yeah...what he said

I hate witch hunts anyway.

[Guest TennesseeTurkey]

wow......I thought higher of Greg Ritz

[Flintlock1776]

It has been silent on the Net, he has not come out with his side of the story yet.

Sad indeed.

[The_Kat]

Is he on any of the MB hunts this year?

[Team Realtree]

Game Trails’ Responds to Inaccuracies Regarding Charges

For Immediate Release

Sturgis, Kentucky. April 8, 2009 Misstatements of fact and misleading information related to a misdemeanor case involving Game Trails, a company with operations in Kentucky, has prompted this release to clarify the record.

On March 19, 2009, Game Trails, LLC, and its general manager Dirk MacTavish plead guilty to misdemeanor violations of the Lacy Act. More specifically, the violations were technical in nature and involved the mistagging and telechecking of deer. Both Game Trails and Dirk MacTavish paid fines. No other sanctions were imposed: no probation; no loss of hunting rights; and no loss of outfitter’s licenses. Gregg Ritz was neither charged nor plead guilty to any violation, misdemeanor or otherwise.

At all times throughout the process, Game Trails and Dirk MacTavish were forthright and cooperated fully. The mistakes in tagging deer were admitted and the matter was resolved. As noted, only fines were paid on technical misdemeanor violations. The case has been officially closed.

The relevant facts with regards to this case can be accessed through the United States District Court, Western District of Kentucky, Owensboro. However, the same cannot be said for subsequent reports, which have been littered with half-truths and false accusations. The facts have been misconstrued and inaccurately characterized. This statement will present the truth.

In addition to the aforementioned, the relevant facts are as follows. In 2006, Games Trails was instructed by an agent of the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife and mandated by the land owner Kimball International to reduce the number of deer on the property to help reduce crop damage. Game Trails had been informed by Kimball’s on-site manager that the crop damage caused by deer population had resulted in Kimball International offsetting the tenant farmer’s annual lease in the amount of $35,000. Authorities at Kimball advised Game Trails that its lease would be terminated if the deer population was not reduced.

In an effort to comply, Game Trails conducted the largest ever camera survey for whitetail deer in association with the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) to determine the proper number of deer to be harvested. A formal report was presented to Kimball International by the QDMA with a recommendation to harvest 200 deer. However the Commonwealth of Kentucky conducted an independent deer damage assessment and concluded that the harvest number was far greater than 200.

Game Trails sought the advice and cooperation of local Kentucky authorities to request and receive special consideration with the harvest process. The request for special consideration concerning the deer management program was rejected. Instead, Game Trails was informed that if it needed assistance in reducing the population, then it should consider allowing local authorities, their friends and family access to hunt. This idea was not satisfactory to Kimball.

QDMA, on behalf of Game Trails, then appealed directly to officials in Frankfort, Kentucky, the state’s capitol, to request special consideration for the doe harvest. Again, Game Trails was denied special consideration and was informed no consideration would be given as long as Game Trails was in possession of the hunting lease.

Later, in 2006, Kentucky issued Game Trails several hundred Animal Control tags to accommodate the additional deer harvest requirements. The harvesting of the deer and use of the Animal Control tags were improperly managed by a former Game Trails’ site manager, who applied the tags to any hunter; essentially “community tagging” the animals. The former site manager performed all operational aspects of the business and personally tagged every animal. He was later terminated for performance issues unrelated to this incident. It must be noted that no deer went unchecked and all deer were harvested by licensed hunters.

To further clarify and correct the misinformation circulating we would like the public to know the following:

Neither Dirk MacTavish, General Manager of Game Trails, nor Gregg Ritz, owner of Games Trails, tagged or tele-checked any of the deer harvested;

There were no charges or fines levied against Gregg Ritz;

Neither Dirk MacTavish or Gregg Ritz made false statements to

Investigators, or any other authorities;

Neither Dirk MacTavish nor Game Trails lost their outfitting

license, hunting rights or were placed on probation;

Every deer killed was processed and given to families in need;

With the exception of this 2006 incident, no other violations were found to have occurred during the period in which Game Trails occupied the property;

Felony prosecution of former Game Trails’ employee Chris Helms is only incidental, and is unrelated to this matter; neither Gregg Ritz nor Dirk MacTavish have any involvement with that case; and Kimball International sold the Sturgis, Kentucky land last November (four months prior to this event) and the new landowner chose not to sublease the hunting rights, resulting in Game Trails closing its Kentucky operation at present.

Due to the mistagging and telechekcing at Game Trails, the personal and business reputations of Game Trails, Gregg Ritz and Dirk MacTavish have all been unfairly tarnished. Mistakes were made, and a fine was paid. But Game Trails and Gregg Ritz have built a name of excellence and integrity in the industry, and these technical violations should not diminish that reputation. It is unfortunate that multiple inaccuracies have worked to do just that. Basic fairness dictates that those involved should be judged on the facts of record in this case, and those facts alone.

[jesse8953]

Thanks for the hole story:)

[wtnhunt]

Game Trails’ Responds to Inaccuracies Regarding Charges

For Immediate Release

Sturgis, Kentucky. April 8, 2009 Misstatements of fact and misleading information related to a misdemeanor case involving Game Trails, a company with operations in Kentucky, has prompted this release to clarify the record.

On March 19, 2009, Game Trails, LLC, and its general manager Dirk MacTavish plead guilty to misdemeanor violations of the Lacy Act. More specifically, the violations were technical in nature and involved the mistagging and telechecking of deer. Both Game Trails and Dirk MacTavish paid fines. No other sanctions were imposed: no probation; no loss of hunting rights; and no loss of outfitter’s licenses. Gregg Ritz was neither charged nor plead guilty to any violation, misdemeanor or otherwise.

At all times throughout the process, Game Trails and Dirk MacTavish were forthright and cooperated fully. The mistakes in tagging deer were admitted and the matter was resolved. As noted, only fines were paid on technical misdemeanor violations. The case has been officially closed...................................

...................................Neither Dirk MacTavish, General Manager of Game Trails, nor Gregg Ritz, owner of Games Trails, tagged or tele-checked any of the deer harvested;

There were no charges or fines levied against Gregg Ritz;

Neither Dirk MacTavish or Gregg Ritz made false statements to

Investigators, or any other authorities;

Neither Dirk MacTavish nor Game Trails lost their outfitting

license, hunting rights or were placed on probation;

Every deer killed was processed and given to families in need;

With the exception of this 2006 incident, no other violations were found to have occurred during the period in which Game Trails occupied the property;

Felony prosecution of former Game Trails’ employee Chris Helms is only incidental, and is unrelated to this matter; neither Gregg Ritz nor Dirk MacTavish have any involvement with that case; and Kimball International sold the Sturgis, Kentucky land last November (four months prior to this event) and the new landowner chose not to sublease the hunting rights, resulting in Game Trails closing its Kentucky operation at present.

Thanks for keeping us posted and for the prompt update on this Scott. That should clarify any questions anyone had about this.

[The_Kat]

Then game trails should go after those reporters for slander!

[rj3494]

Game Trails Lodge and Michael Waddell

After reading about the Game Trails Lodge I remeber a Road Trips episode last year where Michael Waddell shot no less than 3 does on camera and one buck at the Game Trails Lodge. I live in Kentucky and the Telecheck information is public record. You will all be happy to know that all of the deer shot by Michael were tagged legally by him. Not that I expected anything less but I saw some comments on other forums that suggested anyone who hunted at the Game Trails Lodge was somehow involved in this scandal. Keep up the good work Michael!

[Dakota]

Glad this misunderstanding has been cleared up! Thanks, Scott!

Dakota

[Flintlock1776]

Some one pleaded guilty? Seems black and white on that point. Mistake? Someone did enough to have pleaded guilty. Very embarrassing to those who got tarnished by the other ones that broke a law I think.

Edited April 10, 2009 by Flintlock1776

[hoosierhunter]

Honestly to me, not really that big of a deal right now...