turned in a poacher

[croix]

maybe it's different for you, but when i feel bad and need others to make me feel better - that's usually my gut telling me i did something wrong.

[huntnnw]

exactly, not like the dude shot a 6x6 340 bull that was 7 yrs old, this elk he shot was the same age of a spike.

[spikehunter]

tough situation, ALWAYS make damn sure of what you are shooting at and what's behind it  (cause the supposed natives don't count points)

[HuntingFanatic]

The fact is there really is not excuse.  In the past few years I have missed a hand full of opportunities because I couldn't count points to be sure the deer was legal.  This year I didn't shoot a buck that turned out to be a nice 4X4.  He was looking straight at me and I couldn't verify it wasn't the biggest 2 point ever.  I didn't shoot, and it turned its head to disappear and was a big 4 point.  I did the same thing on 3 different deer last year.  It is just the way it goes, and what you have to do if you want to stay legal.

This has happened to me on more than one occasion. I just deal with it. I have seen the results of shoot first, count later and I do not want that to happen to me!

[pat riotic]

im extatic that you turned that guy in! the reasopn is because people like that give other hunters like all of us bad names and make us look horrible. i can see why you feel bad but he could have turned himself in and made it easier for himself but you shouldnt feel bad because it is his fault he needs to learn to identify his target and after getting caught he will never do that again i gurantee it 

[jrebel]

What a tough decision....I think you made the right one though.  With that being said, I am not sure I would have done the same.  I have a hard time turning people in knowing it can ruin them...Especially if it could have been an honest mistake.   I would have no problem turning someone in for blatent acts of poaching, which who knows, maybe this was. 

I am really riding the fence on this topic,  I have had two people / acquaintances tell me they comitted illegal acts this year while hunting.  One involved an act of poaching.  I have no evidence other than what they said.  I don't have a lot of faith in the fish and wildlife officers to do anything about it.  So I choose to not hunt with anyone but my one hunting partner and go on about my business.  I let both of them know not tell me anything else and don't ever ask to hunt with me.  They know my stance now, but I don't think it will stop them from doing it again.   

These people (not hunters) that get caught poaching and have their hunting privelages taken away will continue to poach.  I don't think it will stop anything. 

[BlackRidge]

That brings up a point. How many of you would turn someone in if they werent offering 10points? It comes up everytime there is anything about a poacher on this site. Seems alot of people only want to do it so they can get that permit they want. Not because they think its simple right or wrong.   

The points are meaningless IMO, the important part is trying to keep hunting as level a playingfield as possible for everyone.

Theres only so many land/game-related resources available to all of us, so its regulated (sometimes poorly), but done so in order to make sure its there for everyone in the future. People who ignore the rules work against that selfishly and make the rest of us look bad, sometimes endangering our very access to these privileges.

There are honest mistakes and blatantly ignorant acts, the latter deserve to be reported, no matter what so-called 'rewards' you may get

 

[DRDANTDC]

I might feel a little bad about turning in a guy that made an honest mistake by shooting a 2X1 but I wouldn't feel bad about turning in a guy that shot a 2X2...........not much of an excuse for that.

+1

[elkslayer069]

i guess the old man learned his lesson, next time pack a hack saw blade in your pack no but really good job it takes some stones to turn people in sometimes

[ICEMAN]

Actually, the proper way to do it is with this...

Just kidding, it's a joke...

[Special T]

It sound like you don't have the stones to be a hard ass....  Guess next time you'll keep you moth shut or learn to live in the real world where  most decisions suck and life isn't a bowl of cherries...  Not bustin you chops either way, but most of the time we choose between 2 Chitty choices, and just have to choose the one that is the least deep...

[fishermanjoe]

It sound like you don't have the stones to be a hard ass....  Guess next time you'll keep you moth shut or learn to live in the real world where  most decisions suck and life isn't a bowl of cherries...  Not bustin you chops either way, but most of the time we choose between 2 Chitty choices, and just have to choose the one that is the least deep...

You know what if that game warden was not two min away from my truck i would of not turned him in, but bad luck for that hunter. I get where you are coming from and it was a crappy situation, if i had that elk in my binos i would of taken a second look and then passed. Maybe he had it in his cross-hairs and forgot to take a second look.

maybe it's different for you, but when i feel bad and need others to make me feel better - that's usually my gut telling me i did something wrong.

there is no question of me being in the wrong. You think if i did something illegal i would go talk to the warden.... no. its just that the old man was super polite and nice about everything. Now that i look back on it I don't feel as bad as i do. never the less it was a crap situation.

[WSU]

It sound like you don't have the stones to be a hard ass....  Guess next time you'll keep you moth shut or learn to live in the real world where  most decisions suck and life isn't a bowl of cherries...  Not bustin you chops either way, but most of the time we choose between 2 Chitty choices, and just have to choose the one that is the least deep...

You know what if that game warden was not two min away from my truck i would of not turned him in, but bad luck for that hunter. I get where you are coming from and it was a crappy situation, if i had that elk in my binos i would of taken a second look and then passed. Maybe he had it in his cross-hairs and forgot to take a second look.

maybe it's different for you, but when i feel bad and need others to make me feel better - that's usually my gut telling me i did something wrong.

there is no question of me being in the wrong. You think if i did something illegal i would go talk to the warden.... no. its just that the old man was super polite and nice about everything. Now that i look back on it I don't feel as bad as i do. never the less it was a crap situation.

Another thing is people doing this is not helping the colockum herd.  The true-spike rule is meant to allow more bulls to survive.  Killing the non-true-spikes is not going to get that done.  If true-spike doesn't work you will end up with draw only.  You can then thank people like the man that got turned in here for at least part of that.

[bobcat]

The whole state should be draw only anyway. Hopefully they see the light and do that soon.

[Raul Duke]

You did the rite thing. The old man thought he could pull a fast one and he got busted.
Who knows how many times he has used that line before.

Don't be down on your self. I think if you would to have looked away. It only makes you as big of a Coward as the old man.