Entiat Poaching Case UPDATED!

[WSU]

The reason people don't get jail time is because we don't have the resources to keep everyone in jail.  And, like it or not, law enforcement agencies are not going to use up bed space to keep a guy that shot a deer in his orchard in jail while letting some violent felon go free.  There is a serious choice that has to be made: which offender gets the bed?  Anyone who wants more jail time for criminals damn well better not oppose tax increases.  Someone has to pay for it, and those that are all for more time in jail ought to pay for it.

I think the idea of going with heavy fines and forfeitures makes more sense than raising taxes to put people like this in jail.  $6,000 sounds steep enough to me to make him think twice about shooting a deer in an adjacent unit.

[bobcat]

The father also paid $6000, for a total of $12,000, PLUS the loss of a Remington m700 rifle, I assume with a scope, that's about another $1000.

So basically $13,000 and the loss of hunting privileges for two years. Seems like plenty to me.

And I definitely don't agree it should be a felony. If he were a repeat offender, then yes, I could see a felony being appropriate. But in this case no way.

There are people who go out and kill several deer in one night, both does and bucks, and leave them lay. No hunting license, it's not hunting season, they just kill for the fun of it. They shoot every living thing they see. This type of crime gets less of a fine than this guy who killed a 4 point mule deer on the wrong side of a GMU boundary.

For the people who kill multiple deer in one night, and leave all the meat to rot, they're the ones that need to be charged with a felony and put in prison. That's the type of person that could end up being a serial killer or a mass murderer, IMO.

[buckfvr]

I think these guys are paying plenty for their crimes........felons ?   hell no.   Some of you guys act like if it weren't for them, you could have killed that buck.  Its only a deer.......the more value you want placed on that deer, the more value WDFW is going to place on that deer.....and pass on to us.   Is it a 6k$  buck ??  Really ??   Not in my way of thinking.  I think alot of big game violations are merely impulsive.....from what I read, they weren't found guilty of premeditated poaching in the first degree.......

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I guess I value my hunting and the future of my family's Hinton more than most wow this is why people with good tags in there pockets poach Len alone the thrill killer cause of people like you guys the thrill killer gets a plea bargain for a class c felony.  Theses guys don't even have to get an offer from the prosecuter to get these charges ruduced to a misdemeanor that's what they are.  Your pay scale is wron as well bobcat they each payed 6500 at that rate and they each committed a crime so there penalties are separate.  Just cause one deer died that doesn't fly w me.  I would hope to god they would charge all present and involved for the thrill killing.  Please don't go vote against that guys.  The value in American dollars of a "trophy buck" doesn't exist.  My sons hunting means a lot more than 13000.  I don't think this particular incident was that extrem at all that's not my point.  My points to hammer ALL who knowingly break the game laws. 

[biggdogg]

I have one question about the true spike rule I heard a few stories on here about people making mistakes and shooting not true spikes, and not getting in trouble??? Poaching is poaching to me should be stiffer penalties whether it be accidental or not. Just like I think the Yakamas need to put the smack down on a hand full of tribal members

[biggdogg]

Could someone give me directions on how to get to the Entiat?  After seeing some of the pictures on the site the last couple of years I have been hearing quite a few more Yakamas talking about the entiat, watch out here they come, better higher a helicopter and scare them away from the roads.

[bobcat]

I have one question about the true spike rule I heard a few stories on here about people making mistakes and shooting not true spikes, and not getting in trouble??? Poaching is poaching to me should be stiffer penalties whether it be accidental or not. Just like I think the Yakamas need to put the smack down on a hand full of tribal members

What I heard is that they are still "getting in trouble" but the fine is only $80.

[biggdogg]

80 $ that is it, I wounder how many people take the risk and get away with it, or shoot and get scared and not haul it out. So poaching a trophy buck is a fine of 6500 $, and poaching an illegal elk is 80$. I have heard lots of times that any animal is a trophy so fine should straight across the board 6500 $ for any animal poached. I don't care if the hunter did the right thing, need to start making an example out of these people!!!!!!!!

[huntergreg]

80 $ that is it, I wounder how many people take the risk and get away with it, or shoot and get scared and not haul it out. So poaching a trophy buck is a fine of 6500 $, and poaching an illegal elk is 80$. I have heard lots of times that any animal is a trophy so fine should straight across the board 6500 $ for any animal poached. I don't care if the hunter did the right thing, need to start making an example out of these people!!!!!!!!

I have one question about the true spike rule I heard a few stories on here about people making mistakes and shooting not true spikes, and not getting in trouble??? Poaching is poaching to me should be stiffer penalties whether it be accidental or not. Just like I think the Yakamas need to put the smack down on a hand full of tribal members

What I heard is that they are still "getting in trouble" but the fine is only $80.

I hunted up in the colockum last rifle season with my father and talked to 3 different people that shot 1x2's. They turned them self in to the gami. If you do that you only get a ticket for $80.00 a notched tag for that year and loose the elk. They take it to needy people.  If you don't turn yourself in you get charged with poaching if caught.

[fishingnut71]

Thats still not right. no sense publicicing that to maybe enable the other people thats its only 80$. Bad is bad!You should know for certain like I did this year in the clockum and taged out!

[bobcat]

I agree. I don't understand why a person who shoots an illegal elk only gets an $80 fine but if you shoot a 2 point mule deer, it's the same as if you poached it out of season.

[huntergreg]

Doesn't make any sense to me at all how they got away with it. Should be the same as poaching!!  If are not 100% sure it is  legal don't shoot it!!

[PlateauNDN]

Couldn't agree more biggdogg in regards to our elected officials doing something rather than not doing anything and turning a blind eye.  and if you fish icicle your just about there and I've heard from some as well about going to the colockum and entiat are.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

People that don't have proper hunting ethics shouldn't be hunting.  It's not safe.  When poaching come to one of these degenerates minds so should the very steep fines and penalties.  That will reduce the problem.  But the don't. Cause that's about the same price of a guide out of state.  Why leave the state when theyll probably, due to lack of game enforcement afield get away with it.  Learn about the laws they are a joke.

[biggdogg]

I was just kidding plat, I will probably never travel to Entiat to shoot deer when we have trophy's in our back yard.