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?