Two hunters cited for elk poaching near Rainier

[dawei]

SOURCE: http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/s ... _Container

Two hunters cited for elk poaching near Rainier
crime: Tip leads officials to slain immature animals
JEREMY PAWLOSKI; The Olympian | • Published November 10, 2009

Officers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife cited two hunters in the Rainier area Saturday on suspicion of poaching immature elk.

According to Fish and Wildlife Officer Carl Klein:

Fish and Wildlife officers responded to a game management unit off Rainier Road on Saturday after getting a tip about possible elk poaching in the area. When they arrived, they found two immature “spike” elk that had been shot by hunters.

The area where the Fish and Wildlife officers found the hunters is open only to the taking of bulls with three or more antler points on one beam.

The Fish and Wildlife officers seized the hunters’ equipment as well as the vehicle they were using to transport the elk. The seized items may be forfeited, Klein said.

During the investigation, officers learned that one of the hunters had poached a third immature elk in September, Klein said.

Klein said he is forwarding charges to the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Possible misdemeanor charges against the two hunters may include unlawful hunting of big game and unlawful transportation of wildlife.

Civil penalties for poaching immature elk could reach as high as $2,000 per animal, Klein said.

Klein said it is a hunter’s responsibility to determine an elk’s maturity by looking at antler size, and to know the rules for hunting in game management units across Washington state.

Fish and Wildlife officers rely on the public to give them tips about illegal poaching, Klein said. Concerned residents can report information to 1-877-933-9847, or by calling 911 about serious violations in progress.

Jeremy Pawloski: 360-754-5465

jpawloski@theolympian.com.

[saylean]

Burn em if guilty.

[backwoods_boy]

tar and feather them!

[SkookumHntr]

I think the same, through the book at them if guilty but isnt all of rainer rd in the Deshutes Unit? And if so its open for spikes. Again I may be wrong on  rainer rd being in 666 but I think it is.

[jackelope]

Fish and Wildlife officers rely on the public to give them tips about illegal poaching, Klein said. Concerned residents can report information to 1-877-933-9847

program the # into your cell phones...

[Cylvertip]

Rainier Road is in the "Devil" unit   - which = any elk for all weapons.  The problem could be that the only open areas on Rainier road are pretty much part of Fort Lewis.

You ought to see the bleeding heart crap coming out of wood work on the comments section to the article on the Olympian.  I blasted away, returning fire

[Buckmark]

This is the stuff that hurts all of us. 
The write up helps in now way also, the word "immature" was used 5 times..
What a way to help the anti's..
I am suprised the headline does not say "Poached baby elk slaughtered from the tit"..

[vfilbert]

i cannot believe the fine for poaching is only $2000. thats cheap for a trophy bull, compared to what others spend. when is the department goiong start taking this seriously and having heavy heavy fines like $50,000 and serious jail time like 10 years, thats what they deserve if convicted esspecually for the second and third time they do it.

[PolarBear]

Something is missing here.  I live in Rainier and yes the entire length of Rainier road is in the 666 unit, which is any elk during any season.  Also, a huge chunk of Rainier road is military land.  I wonder if they actually got popped for shooting them on the mil rez?  I am missing 2 spikes out of our pet herd, I wonder if it is them?  Those would have had to been shot just inside the 667 unit though.

[fishcrazy]

 I bet it was a type o. It was probably near Rainier in the Skookum area.
Also if it was off Rainier Rd. It could be area 666 in Thurston County. If I remember right it also has a firearm restriction and shooting them elk with a modern firearm would be illegal.
Kris

[dawei]

I bet it was a type o. It was probably near Rainier in the Skookum area.
Also if it was off Rainier Rd. It could be area 666 in Thurston County. If I remember right it also has a firearm restriction and shooting them elk with a modern firearm would be illegal.
Kris

I bet it was a type o. It was probably near Rainier in the Skookum area.
Also if it was off Rainier Rd. It could be area 666 in Thurston County. If I remember right it also has a firearm restriction and shooting them elk with a modern firearm would be illegal.
Kris

The GMU 666 firearm restriction is west of I5 and north of 101. That part of GMU 666 off Rainer Rd has no firearm restriction (except Ft. Lewis).

[Antlershed]

I bet it was a type o. It was probably near Rainier in the Skookum area.
Also if it was off Rainier Rd. It could be area 666 in Thurston County. If I remember right it also has a firearm restriction and shooting them elk with a modern firearm would be illegal.
Kris

I bet it was a type o. It was probably near Rainier in the Skookum area.
Also if it was off Rainier Rd. It could be area 666 in Thurston County. If I remember right it also has a firearm restriction and shooting them elk with a modern firearm would be illegal.
Kris

The GMU 666 firearm restriction is west of I5 and north of 101. That part of GMU 666 off Rainer Rd has no firearm restriction (except Ft. Lewis).

Yep, no firearm restriction and its open to any elk. Would be nice to get the rest of the story.

[bearmanric]

it said the same guy poached  a imature elk in september also this year.Prick

[THINK_N_ELK]

i cannot believe the fine for poaching is only $2000. that's cheap for a trophy bull, compared to what others spend. when is the department gong start taking this seriously and having heavy heavy fines like $50,000 and serious jail time like 10 years, that's what they deserve if convicted especially for the second and third time they do it.

The sad part is that, the county prosecutor don't push for steeper fines or penalties.  This state does not put much value on our natural resources.   

I agree fines need to be steeper and stiffer sentences.

[dawei]

Yep, no firearm restriction and its open to any elk. Would be nice to get the rest of the story.

Do you smell fish?

[wapiti hunter2]

All of Rainier Road is in 666 isn't it?  I am unaware of it crossing 507 unless it is the short bit that dead ends into the High school.  If these guys were on the Fort then hang them.  If they didn't have licenses, hang them but it sounds to me like there is a lot here we don't know.  666 is either sex,  I had to look it up cause I didn't believe it.  My guess is that the Olympian got the road name wrong and they were in 667.

[LongTatLaw]

ohhh no...hope they arent killing charlies pets down in the skook...thats my job!  LOL

[Wenatcheejay]

Man, loosing all that over SPIKE elk, it is not worth it guys. Poaching is NOT worth it

[PolarBear]

It turns out that they were in the 667 down 148th in Rainier.  They poached them within 2 miles as the crow flies from my house.  I bet that the *censored*s got my missing bulls!  F-ing dirt bags!

[Antlershed]

It turns out that they were in the 667 down 148th in Rainier.  They poached them within 2 miles as the crow flies from my house.  I bet that the *censored*s got my missing bulls!  F-ing dirt bags!

Thanks for the clarification. Knew there had to be something wrong with the story.

[carpsniperg2]

good ticket them *censored*s

[wapiti hunter2]

I spoke to the "tipster", he is my mechanic.  This will be the third offence for one of these guys, first for the other.  When WDFW went to their house they found the carcass of one other bull elk and several deer.  Apparently the first guy is up on felony charges as he was also an ex-felon in posession of a firearm.  Does anyone here know how to track this through the court system?  I would love to follow the case.

[Shootmoore]

I wish the media would not call them "hunters".  They are not hunters, they are poachers.  But little word games like this gives hunters a bad name in general.  They were POACHERS who were Poaching. 

Shootmoore

[Woodchuck]

 

[blackhorn]

I agree with Shootmore!  They are not hunters!!!

[PolarBear]

I would like to know how this turns out as well.  I want to know if they were the ones doing the shooting at night on a patch of land locked state land behind my house.

[Deep Forks]

I wish the media would not call them "hunters".  They are not hunters, they are poachers.  But little word games like this gives hunters a bad name in general.  They were POACHERS who were Poaching. 

Shootmoore

  They aren't hunters, only half a man or woman   The laws need to be changed and sentence guidelines made much stiffer.  If you're gonna commit the crime then you need to pay with bunches of time.  These slaps on the wrists they're getting is a slap on the face to the sportsman.  Bury their ass.      

[wapiti hunter2]

This occurred on or near private land/state land under the powerline just north of where it crosses 148th by the big bend southeast of Rainier.  About 1/2 mile north of 148th.  They were actually arrested on state land.

[PolarBear]

Yep, that is the state land behind my place.  Those were my pet elk and I bet they poached a couple of bucks that were around here all summer that have disappeared as well.  Damn that just pisses me off to no end!!!!   I bet that I have pictures of every one of those poached deer and elk. 

[quadrafire]

This may have come up before. I find it interesting there are never any women poachers (or a least none get caught). Kinda like there are not many women murderers either, or bank robbers, or pedophiles, or, or, or.
Some men just have bad wiring.

[wapiti hunter2]

My mechanic said he knows of one other 5x5 poached nearby just before bow season.  Probably the same guy.  I will try to get an update soon.  Jeep needs work.