What is the penalty for shooting deer on private property?

[HHPro]

Your post is very confusing at best.  Sounds like you know and possibly hunt with the two that are considering shooting bucks on private land......and you want us to tell you to turn them in.  Man up and tell the guys if they break the law you will turn them in, then follow through wiith it if they do.  Kind of sounds like you thought about shooting them also?   If I am wrong in what I read and how I interpreted it....please feel free to elaborate with the entire story.

The whole story is I don't know these guys they stopped me coming out tonight and told me they seen two legal bucks that they are going after in the morning, I had two legal bucks cross this morning I checked them out and continued on.Simple story I wasn't sure if trespassing was an issue wdfw dealt with or more a property owner issue, I obey signs which is why I drove on after seeing the buck's.

[jrebel]

Your post is very confusing at best.  Sounds like you know and possibly hunt with the two that are considering shooting bucks on private land......and you want us to tell you to turn them in.  Man up and tell the guys if they break the law you will turn them in, then follow through wiith it if they do.  Kind of sounds like you thought about shooting them also?   If I am wrong in what I read and how I interpreted it....please feel free to elaborate with the entire story.

The whole story is I don't know these guys they stopped me coming out tonight and told me they seen two legal bucks that they are going after in the morning, I had two legal bucks cross this morning I checked them out and continued on.Simple story I wasn't sure if trespassing was an issue wdfw dealt with or more a property owner issue, I obey signs which is why I drove on after seeing the buck's.

Ok....and yes WDFW will pursue trespassers in the act of hunting  / Poaching.  You will not get a reward for turning in trespassers......only if the are caught and convicted of Poaching.....usually up to the discretion of the officer.  Don't wait for them to poach the deer to turn them in if you can prevent it from happening g in the first place.  If you witness them trespassing call the wardens. 

You statement about you being "just as guilty" made it sound S if you were partaking in the same activity. 

[CAMPMEAT]

You could solve the problem by telling them to mind their own business. You, never, ever have to explain yourself to anyone, EVER. I don't...

[HHPro]

Well they have intentions but right now they are as guilty as I would be since they were driving an open road, they will pursue those bucks but I don't have anything other then we will be back in the morning. I unfortunately have to wait till they shoot and retrieve the deer and get pics, as far as the reward I wasn't after money but some points wouldn't hurt my feelings. The confusing part is the big chunk of land with the signs saying use at own risk, that leaves a loophole in my opinion.

[CAMPMEAT]

Maybe, they know the owner, unlikely I would think. What general area are you talking about, if you want to say. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it, they sound like guys who don't know squat..

[HHPro]

Near the taneum area, they are local and hang out with a shady *censored*bag that makes his own rules.I guess they will do what they said but honestly I have my own tag to fill so I can't waste my time trying to catch them 

[CAMPMEAT]

Near the taneum area, they are local and hang out with a shady *censored*bag that makes his own rules.I guess they will do what they said but honestly I have my own tag to fill so I can't waste my time trying to catch them 

Exactly, plus, you were outnumbered. Good luck and don't waste your time on the  " bags "..

[HHPro]

Thank you campmeat 

[CAMPMEAT]

Thank you campmeat 

Your welcome....be safe.

[bigtex]

Penalties got worse a couple years ago, couldn't remember the exact details. Did a quick google and found this: "A penalty of up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. In addition, upon conviction, the Department will revoke your hunting licenses and suspend your hunting privileges for two years. Any animal harvested or retrieved in violation of the section will be forfeited to WDFW."

Don't think it's a reward so much unless they're poaching too? Heard you can sometimes get "points" for help catching poachers.

The jail time and fine did not change a couple years ago. The only thing that changed was that the legislature created a new hunting while trespassing law which carries the same fine/jail time possibility of criminal trespass in the 2nd degree. But with the new offense came a possible license suspension and allows officers to seize game and gear.

[Little Dave]

You can take a tattle-tale approach and try to get a reward.  That route won't help convert the signs from "no hunting" to "feel free to hunt."

I nominate you to talk to the landowner about the situation.  Let the owner decide if law enforcement should be contacted.  You may not get access to the land this season.  Even so, bring a business card with contact information, and call back next year to see how things went.

If there is an active poaching underway, call 9-1-1 immediately.  Just because it is the right thing to do, not because you want a lollypop.

[HHPro]

Well they don't have a contact number and they live in Seattle, the reward would be a bonus but it's not my property to police and why would I put my personal property at risk of vandalism since they are locals as well? I have nothing to gain here and I'm certainly not going to play citizens patrol clearly they can afford to buy a huge chunk of land they can hire someone to watch it.The party in question were glassing it this morning when I drove into the dnr land but that's not against the law.

[UrbanTrapper]

Hunting while trespassing is a misdeanorcrime RCW 77.15.435

RCW 77.15.435 Unlawful hunting on or retrieving hunted wildlife from the property of another—Defense—Penalty—Forfeiture and disposition of wildlife.
*** CHANGE IN 2015 *** (SEE 1627.SL) ***
(1) A person is guilty of unlawfully hunting on, or retrieving hunted wildlife from, the property of another if the person knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in or on the premises of another for the purpose of hunting for wildlife or retrieving hunted wildlife.
(2) In any prosecution under this section, it is a defense that:
(a) The premises were at the time open to members of the public for the purpose of hunting, and the actor complied with all lawful conditions imposed on access to or remaining on the premises;
(b) The actor reasonably believed that the owner of the premises, or other person empowered to license access thereto, would have licensed him or her to enter or remain on the premises for the purpose of hunting or retrieving hunted wildlife;
(c) The actor reasonably believed that the premises were not privately owned; or
(d) The actor, after making all reasonable attempts to contact the owner of the premises, retrieved the hunted wildlife for the sole purpose of avoiding a violation of the prohibition on the waste of fish and wildlife as provided in RCW 77.15.170. The defense in this subsection only applies to the retrieval of hunted wildlife and not to the actual act of hunting itself.
(3) Unlawfully hunting on or retrieving hunted wildlife from the property of another is a misdemeanor.
(4) If a person unlawfully hunts and kills wildlife, or retrieves hunted wildlife that he or she has killed, on the property of another, then, upon conviction of unlawfully hunting on, or retrieving hunted wildlife from, the property of another, the department shall revoke all hunting licenses and tags and order a suspension of the person's hunting privileges for two years.
(5) Any wildlife that is unlawfully hunted on or retrieved from the property of another must be seized by fish and wildlife officers. Forfeiture and disposition of the wildlife is pursuant to RCW 77.15.100. [2012 c 176 § 11.]

[bigbullshedhunter]

I turned two guys in during archery. They shot a deer on private land from the road and only got a trespassing ticket. They didn't lose there license or any of that. Fish and game just cited them a ticket and took the meat.

[elkfins]

If it were me...

I would find out who the land owner is, make contact and strike up a conversation.  Let them know what I saw and leave it at that for the time being.  I would then make future contact and try to build a relationship.