Our Own Worst Enemy

[Ptaylor]

#6918

Two weeks ago I went for a hike with my gal to see if we could watch some bears. Unfortunately we found a dead bear. He had been shot in the head and left without the meat or hide harvested. Yesterday afternoon I found another bear, a yearling sow, shot and left in the woods, unused. Its disgusting. This kind of behavior makes me want to distance myself from other hunters.

If these were people I knew it would be easier to deal with. But I don’t associate with folks that have that low of morals to start with. So what do I do? It would have been really easy for the general public to see this, as both dead bears were left laying close to a mountain biking trail. And both were easily close enough for the people who shot them to get them to their truck.

I know, this is just part of the problem, but these were legal hunters, a section of the population I (we) represent. Lots of animals get poached, especially around the big pot grows up here, and that’s another fight. But hunters doing this makes us all look bad.

I don’t know what to do. But tomorrow I’m going to talk to BLM and requesting that next year they have some Rangers out there showing their presence. Or just lock the gate during rifle season so lazy a****oles can’t drive in.

I know I’m preaching to the choir here. What would you do?

[1shot]

#56319

I can feel your pain PTaylor, poachers are in every state and all you can do is report it to your game wardens and hope for the best.

Where I hunt in NY there’s A LOT of “road hunters”, and I report them every year, local PD runs them off, but they just return.

Here in AZ it’s more of the guys hunting in the closed areas of where I hunt, 1/4mile from the road is closed to hunting, but I find blinds/stands set-up not far from the road, one call with GPS numbers to G&F and they take care of it. Although I have had them stop me, I like having them around…

[Stephen Graf]

#56443

In the short term, you most definitely need to tell your wildlife law enforcement officers. Even in lowly NC, ours will try to catch poachers if there seems to be a pattern.

2 dead bears seems like good odds to catch the guy…

[Col Mike]

#56601

😈 Makes me want to get out the long range long gun and set up in a nice hide. Any more and web mom will delete.

[David Petersen]

#56632

In addition to all the above good advice, I would write a letter to the editor, to your local biggest newspaper, making it clear that you are a real hunter and that people who commit these horrible acts are not hunters at all, but lowlife losers and scum with guns (and tragically often, bows). Thing is, anti-hunters fail to make distinctions and anyone who kills wildlife under any circumstance, including poaching and canned shooting “preserves,” all get classified as “hunters” and in this way even the best among us share the blame for the worst among us. Be sure to let the public know that true hunters detest these scum more than anyone else and do all we can to stop them. If the bear killers happen to read such letters, it might make them think twice next time, and at the very least lets them know what we think of them. To remain silent is to invite outsiders to set public opinion, and we always lose. Sorry you’re having to deal with this.

[Ptaylor]

#56792

Thanks for the support fellas. I went and talked to the BLM Ranger today, and he was very empathetic and supportive as well. Also contacted the CADFW warden. That’s a good idea writing to the paper, I’m going to look into that.

[David Fudala]

#58336

Situations like this really stir up a wide variety of emotions. We are quick to anger because it is inevitable that there will always be people who are polar opposites of us. It is, in my opinion, our responsibility to always maintain ourselves as stewards of the wild. In word and deed. We have to remain vigilant and respectful or the scales tip out of balance. Dave, great idea going public with a situation like this. If an anti writes about a situation such as this, people get a sour taste. But if a sportsman writes abouts this, it forces people to at least be aware that there is a distinct difference between a hunter and a killer. There are opportunities to represent everyday. It is truly a shame that in this particular case, 2 beautiful animals had to give their lives.

[Doc Nock]

#58584

Not to veer off track, but I have to wonder when such atrocities are done so near public viewing, if the “other side” hasn’t a ‘hand’ in it somehow?

Sportsman don’t kill for sport, but those who accuse of us everything but being a child of God, surely think so!

Too few wardens in any state for too many miles… hard to do much, other than step up surveillance in that area, so they need to know. GPS coordinates are helpful they tell me…

[skinner biscuit]

#58910

I had someone drop off a deer carcass wraped in a bedsheet at the end of my driveway.On examination I noticed they took the head,backstraps,and a couple cuts out of the rump.The rest was left to rot.Needless to say I was disgusted.Drug it to the side of the county road in plain sight,was gone the next day.Some people have no business hunting.

[Doc Nock]

#59624

Biscuit,

I’d still opt for the fact that such antics are not done by “hunters” but merely “killers”. Lots of possibles on your gig… someone was “given” a deer and knew nothing of how to process it; someone saw a deer hit and scooped it up and took what they could; or it’s some yahoo that is just another of the opportunists in today’s world that has found if the country is led by those without remorse or accountability, then those antics should be good for the populace!

Sorry you had to deal with it… that would gag me w/ a spoon to see such carnage!:x

[Bender]

#61880

Actually whoever is doing that is technically NOT a “legal” hunter here in California (I’m in Northern California also) Wanton waste is illegal and a form of poaching. Realistically odds are against DFG catching whoever is doing this, but you should still take the first step and report it. Heck even if all that happens is some increased patrols in your area for a while, it will help serve to drive the poachers out.

[mhay]

#61976

I’ve never had any need for a GPS but after reading these post it now seems to be a very useful tool that I must have . The public land where I hunt also has its unfair share of unethical hunters .

[Ptaylor]

#62306

Hey Bender, you’re right, by violating Wanton Waste laws they traversed into poaching territory. But they most likely had deer tags and were walking around with a firearm, hence “other hunters”.

Nice to know another bowhunter in the area.

preston

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