I'm a real horse's butt.......

Hidalgo

Hidalgo

Well-known member
Of course....most of you already knew that, huh? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Anyway, I was sitting in my office that is located on the back of our home this morning, and I heard a shotgun fire that was WAY too close for comfort. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

The really BAD part is that I am bordering a TWRA Wildlife Management Area that is closed for hunting except for 4 days a year, and then it is archery only. So, being the good citizen that I am, I called the local game officer and reported this to him. I told him where I was, and what I heard, and then told him that the only access (except for a long walk) was via a powerline cut just below my house. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

He called me about an hour later, and thanked me for the report......and said that they had arrested 3 grown men, confiscated 6 turkeys, and also 3 shotguns. And (here's the best part) they CONFISCATED THEIR LATE-MODEL FORD EXPEDITION that they were driving! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Not that I haven't goofed up and made mistakes before, but these outlaws HAD to know they were hunting in a closed area. There are signs every 25-30 feet on the perimeter fencing!

So what do you think guys? Did I do the right thing...or am I a horse's butt? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
You did the right thing. Without help from concerned citizens law enforcement officers cannot do their job effectively. LE simply cannot be everywhere and reports like yours makes the difference between criminals getting away with their crime and moving on to victimize others - or going to the pokey. And make no mistake, these goofs were criminals and we'd best seperate ourselves as responsible firearms owners and conservation minded sportsmen from the likes of them. Kudo's to you! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I think it's our obligation as responsible hunters to turn in poachers whenever we can. They give real sportsmen a black eye.

I have, and will continue to do so.
 
Gary, thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I guess you either have to turn your back, or get involved. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

Since I have a 13-yr-old that I am trying my best to raise properly, I saw that reporting them was the ONLY option that I had. When I told him that they lost their weapons & their vehicle, he asked me "How long until they get their stuff back?" I told him that they probably would NOT get them back, and he looked at me like this ----> /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

So, maybe I at least made an impression on my son. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
Great job as far as I'm concerned, especially in front of your teenager. Being a good example is one of the best teaching tools we possess.

Someone recently asked me "How do we get better kids in society today?" I replied, "Simple, we have to be better adults!"

BTW, it wouldn't surprise me that they get their weapons and especially the vehicle back. They'll hire an attorney and pay a decently large amount of money to the liar, errr... I mean lawyer, and he'll get the vehicle back for sure. Their hunting priveledges and firearms maybe not so easily. Don't fret over that, rest content that you did the right thing and were an example of responsibility to your teen.
 
Nope, you are the other end of the horse where the brains are at /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif. Yeah, you did the right thing for sure /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif. It's idiots like that that give the rest of us a bad name /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif. Turned out to be a bit expensive for the those guys and that is a good thing, maybe they will think twice about pulling a stunt like that again. Come to think about, maybe they won't. If they were stupid enough to do it once........ /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
You did the right thing, and at the same time taught your son an important lesson in life, now that he has seen what poaching/hunting where its not allowed can do to you, the less likely he will do it himself.
 
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So, maybe I at least made an impression on my son.




And hopefully on three poachers, too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
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Did I do the right thing...or am I a horse's butt? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif



no, you did your duty as a true sportsman.
 
Hidalgo,
Is turkey season open in your area outside the Wildlife Mgt. Area ? Doesn't sound like they were trying too hard to hide, by shooting near your place and getting arrested within the hour. Is the whole place fenced ? I would think poachers would do a little more to cover their tracks.
PC
 
You did the right thing with a bonus. You did the single most important thing a parent can do. You led by example. Kids grow up to be a reflection of what they observe. More often than not, the best lessons we can teach are children requires absolutely no words whatsoever. Kids watch everything we do even if we are not aware of it. If there is any doubt Hidalgo, just read GC's signature line. It says it all.
 
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Hidalgo,
Is turkey season open in your area outside the Wildlife Mgt. Area ? Doesn't sound like they were trying too hard to hide, by shooting near your place and getting arrested within the hour. Is the whole place fenced ? I would think poachers would do a little more to cover their tracks.
PC



The entire area is fenced, and has warning signs posted at regular intervals. But that doesn't MATTER. It is the hunter's responsibility to know where he is hunting. Just because a plot of land looks productive and there are no houses on it, that doesn't make it OK to hunt. ALSO....this is an old Army Munitions manufacturing facility. There is a REASON that they don't allow it to be hunted, and no firearms discharged in the area. It is only hunted 4 days a year, and then only 150 hunters are allowed in and it is archery only. They are allowing those hunts to try to keep the deer herd under control.
 
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I think it's our obligation as responsible hunters to turn in poachers whenever we can. They give real sportsmen a black eye.

I have, and will continue to do so.



Nasa hit the nail right on the head.

Good job /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
Unlike some I believe that certain circumstances mitigate certain actions. When I lived in the Ozarks I knew a man that poached deer throughout the year. He often had no money and was unable to work for medical reasons. Everyone who knew turned a blind eye towards his illegal deeds.
The actions of the poachers of your turkeys were inexcusable. You know this because you reported their actions. You don't need our approval.
They drove a very expensive truck. I hope the state auctions it to help pay for the prosecution of the owners and his buddies.
I suppose there's no chance of your state charging them with murder? Three turkeys killing six turkeys?
 
All I can say is... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif Right on!!!
 
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