More poaching idiots.

Nabbed in some awesome mule deer country and one of my favorite places. Some of you on this board have to know these guys also. :>/ :>/

Panguitch men charged in poaching case
By Erin Alberty
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 05/26/2009 07:49:50 PM MDT

Two men, accused of illegally killing 13 animals in the state's second major poaching case this month, were charged Tuesday.
A tipster on the state poaching hot line led authorities in Garfield County to a home and shed in Panguitch, where they found the heads of eight mule deer bucks, one mule deer doe and two pronghorn bucks, the state Department of Wildlife Resources officials reported Tuesday in a press release.
The suspects in the case also admitted to taking an additional mule deer buck and mule deer doe, the department wrote.
The two men, 35 and 19, are both of Panguitch. The 35-year-old faces two third-degree felony counts of wanton destruction of protected wildlife and a third-degree felony count of aiding or assisting in wanton destruction of protected wildlife. He also faces one misdemeanor count of wanton destruction of wildlife, two misdemeanor counts of aiding or assisting in the violation of wildlife code, six misdemeanor counts of aiding or assisting in wanton destruction of protected wildlife and misdemeanor counts of tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice, criminal solicitation and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The 19-year-old was charged with one third-degree felony count each of wanton destruction of protected wildlife and aiding or assisting the violation of wildlife code. He also was charged with six misdemean
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MuleyMadness
Another link with names...

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6614836
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sneekeepete
This year is turning out terrible with the poaching! ](*,) At least they are catching some of them. I hope these two get the worst they can get as well. :>/
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Frustrating! I don't really understand the poaching mentality. IF there is a mentality there at all.

Some of the bucks look like they have the same genes on the KSL pic. Looks like they kept poaching in the same place.
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ABert
I would actually say this is turning out to be a great year for poaching as more than a few have been caught and charged. No telling how many animals are poached every year, only the poachers that get caught are the ones we hear about for the most part.

I'll say it again, hang 'em and hang 'em high.
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TheGreatwhitehunter
Lets hope the DA actually keeps the Felony charges against these poachers.

So many cases are pleaded down to minium charges because the DA or the Judge does not feel poaching is that big of a crime.
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"TheGreatwhitehunter" wrote:Lets hope the DA actually keeps the Felony charges against these poachers.

So many cases are pleaded down to minium charges because the DA or the Judge does not feel poaching is that big of a crime.
I couldn't agree more.. Maybe if more of us actually pressured our representatives to do so they would be more productive in "sticking it to em". When you really think about it, poarchers are literally stealing from everyone else that hunts legally.....

Kudos to those who reported them on the poaching hotline =D>
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MuleyMadness
Update to the story...

http://wildlife.utah.gov/news/09-05/garfield_poach_guilty.php
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The sentences they received seem kind of light, don't they?
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sneekeepete
They seem a little lite but hopefully their sentences plus their fines spread a good message. Especially since they are the second group that has been caught this year. Maybe people will figure out that true sportsman won't stand for their behavior and it will persuade other idiots like them to think twice before taking animals unlawfully.
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southwind
Poaching sentences always seem light to me. What I really like however is the cooperation between states to forfeit their hunting rights.

It makes you wonder though in the case especially of the 19 year old if it just created a poacher for life. He would be 53 before he can legally hunt again.

I am kind of thinking out loud here and encourage everyone's thoughts on this.

This 19 year old may just be a rotten apple period and he is an adult making his own adult decisions. But.........is there room for any redemption or reformation in cases involving what I consider a baby? Can someone earn their way back? Or, should it always be black and white? Do your time, pay for your crime and that is it? How much influence did the 34 year old have on the 19 year old? Does it matter? Who knows, maybe it was the 19 year old influencing the 34 year old.

It just popped in my mind....What if this kid worked 10 years or so in the hunter safety program or something along that line? Would that earn any redemption?

I guess I just really hate seeing young people make such poor decisions so early in life that effect the rest of their lives.

I am a pretty black and white guy and I truly despise poaching and poachers. I have always taken it personal feeling poachers just stole an animal that you and I work so hard for doing it the right and legal way.

Anyway, I am not saying this should be considered it just makes me wonder.

I am not getting soft, I think the state got it pretty right. I have seen sentences for poaching far less than this. A lot of judges don't see these crimes at the same level as you and I do.
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I think it's a valid thought southwind. I made some mistakes when I was 19 that I will never make again for sure, and I'm glad I'm not stuck behind a judgment of it. Did any of you?
I do think 34 is a different story.

It's unfortunate, but it does send a strong message IF other poachers or potential poachers are listening. I'm not saying it should be softer either though as it's a horrible thing to do poaching.
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sneekeepete
Southwind I have had the same thoughts playing in my head. I could definatley see how those punishments could create a lifelong poacher.
Now what I was thinking about is what if rather than on their firt offense locking them up why not give them a form of community service for a year in the wildlife realm. That would help educate them and maybe help them understand their impact upon the delicate balance of our wildlife. Now if it was a second offense I could definatley see them be locked away and loosing their privelages for so long.
I don't know I am just thinking out loud right now. It is a difficult sittuation.
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