Found This Today

[northwesthunter84]

Elk Decoy Poachers - OSP - Game Warden - Oregon State Police

Sorry couldn't get this to link.  I found this today (I know its Oregon) and it just blew my mind.  If you listen to the game warden 30% of the people pulling the trigger don't have a tag.  And people wonder why hunters get a bad rap.  Also I would be interested to see if there would be similar results in Washington.  It makes me sad for those of us that try to do it right. 

[notellumcreek]

They have used deer decoys in washington, I have seen them along hwy 410 on the east side of chinook pass about 10 miles. 2 big buck decoys about 25-30 ft off the hwy. Got me for a second, but as we were driving by it was a little bit more obvious. I never heard if anyone was busted. I like the idea though, definitely gets some of the bad eggs out of the bunch.

[buglebuster]

Disclamer: I'm not saying any poaching/illegal activity is ok! But....  how can they use this to catch poachers? It is a FAKE deer! How can that stand in court if the guy charged with poaching says he knew it was fake and shot it for the hell of it or something along those lines? If he did nothing else illegal I dont see how the charge could stick.. I may sound stupid but thats how II've always thought about these fake stakeouts

[notellumcreek]

Disclamer: I'm not saying any poaching/illegal activity is ok! But....  how can they use this to catch poachers? It is a FAKE deer! How can that stand in court if the guy charged with poaching says he knew it was fake and shot it for the hell of it or something along those lines? If he did nothing else illegal I dont see how the charge could stick.. I may sound stupid but thats how II've always thought about these fake stakeouts

You have a point. I am sure they are thinking at least they can get people with discharging a firearm too close to a maintained road. 
Doesn't look like the video above is on a maintained road but it was showing up too blurry for me to really notice.

[jeffro]

Disclamer: I'm not saying any poaching/illegal activity is ok! But....  how can they use this to catch poachers? It is a FAKE deer! How can that stand in court if the guy charged with poaching says he knew it was fake and shot it for the hell of it or something along those lines? If he did nothing else illegal I don't see how the charge could stick.. I may sound stupid but that's how I've always thought about these fake stakeouts

If you watched the vid,
they were ticketing them for discharging their firearm from the vehicle or from the maintained roadway,
failing to wear hunters orange,
and hunting without proper license's and/ or tags.
All very provable with the captured video.
I'm surprised that there where no DUI's/ warrant arrests to boot. Then again, this vid was only one day of surveillance.

[ICEMAN]

Disclamer: I'm not saying any poaching/illegal activity is ok! But....  how can they use this to catch poachers? It is a FAKE deer! How can that stand in court if the guy charged with poaching says he knew it was fake and shot it for the hell of it or something along those lines? If he did nothing else illegal I dont see how the charge could stick.. I may sound stupid but thats how II've always thought about these fake stakeouts

You have a point. I am sure they are thinking at least they can get people with discharging a firearm too close to a maintained road. 
Doesn't look like the video above is on a maintained road but it was showing up too blurry for me to really notice.

It all goes to the intent of the shooter. Since there are not known fake deer all over the landscape, I am sure that it is easier to prove that the intent was to shoot a live deer or elk.

How could anyone argue that they thought they were shooting a fake deer?  Your suggestion that they can use this as a defense, is a bit of a reach in my opinion. With this mentality, you could basically justify anyone doing anything. I feel that your actions express your intent. You purposely shot a deer.

[trophyhunt]

I've seen fake elk before off the 70rd in green water.  They had 4 bulls together in a place where your headlights would hit perfectly to light up their eyes.  It was a few years ago on the last weekend of the east modern elk season. 

[TheHunt]

Seen a bull on the high side of Hwy 7 off of Alder Lake. 

[Fullabull]

I don't think it's a bad idea. Good way to catch poachers. Otherwise they never would.

[hunterrcc]

The first guys in our state that fought it won on the grounds that it was a target and they knew it was not real and so they shot it.  But since then they have changed the law so you won't get off on that defense.  They put up a lot of fake decoys including cougar up on 410 greenwater area.  I am glad they need to do more of them around everywhere help get some of these dumb *** caught.

[KFhunter]

The 30% number might be a bit skewed in that they know where to put those decoys so it'll get shot the most.

I figure most honest guys will be out of their rigs and hunting or in a camp,  not driving around down low just out of town a ways or in the middle of the night.


Also a "poacher" is not a "hunter" you can't be both you're either one or the other,  so a guy shooting a decoy without a tag is NOT a hunter,  so I take objection to the language that 30% of hunters will shoot that the decoy.  I see you stated 30% of people, that's a lot better.


Yes it's a black eye on hunters, even though it's not hunters shooting at the thing.

[hunterrcc]

I agree I hate that fact that they lump all the shooters as hunters in most stories.  Its like saying the 49ers and Seahawks are the same team because they play football.

The 30% number might be a bit skewed in that they know where to put those decoys so it'll get shot the most.

I figure most honest guys will be out of their rigs and hunting or in a camp,  not driving around down low just out of town a ways or in the middle of the night.


Also a "poacher" is not a "hunter" you can't be both you're either one or the other,  so a guy shooting a decoy without a tag is NOT a hunter,  so I take objection to the language that 30% of hunters will shoot that the decoy.  I see you stated 30% of people, that's a lot better.


Yes it's a black eye on hunters, even though it's not hunters shooting at the thing.

[boneaddict]

I have seen deer and grouse, but never an elk.

[Dhoey07]

The 30% number might be a bit skewed in that they know where to put those decoys so it'll get shot the most.

I figure most honest guys will be out of their rigs and hunting or in a camp,  not driving around down low just out of town a ways or in the middle of the night.


Also a "poacher" is not a "hunter" you can't be both you're either one or the other,  so a guy shooting a decoy without a tag is NOT a hunter,  so I take objection to the language that 30% of hunters will shoot that the decoy.  I see you stated 30% of people, that's a lot better.


Yes it's a black eye on hunters, even though it's not hunters shooting at the thing.

They said that 30% of people that pulled the trigger got citations.  That number would go wayyy down when you couint the people that stopped and looked or saw the decoys and kept driving.  That also means that 70% of shooters didn't get a ticket.

[MIKEXRAY]

I ran into a deer sting 15 years ago in the 501 GMU , entering from Pe ell side.   Fake buck in the clear cut @ night, we were on our way out to dinner.  I did stop the truck and looked with head lights not knowing it was fake,  wardens came out from three sides.  Never got out of the truck and no shoes on either, pretty obvious not out poaching. Checked our licenses, lectured us on lighting wildlife with head lights and on our way. Never seen any other animal, or maybe just missed it.  Was an eye opener,  Not sure they catch the "real" poachers. Just the knuckle heads out hunting and do something stupid. I'm sure the people doing the real poaching are far more cautious then to be out during the night and in regular season to be doing their deeds.