Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    Did anybody read about Rick Mears, the 3-time Indy 500 winner? Earlier
    this week Mears and a companion were fined $20,000 each for illegally
    killing 2 Grizzly Bears out of season in Alaska. Plus both Bear
    hides were confiscated. This was taken from the Manchester Union
    Leader earlier this week.
    								Bret

    re: .1
    Interesting.... I read a article last year about some stock car
    driver (forget who) that was arrested and convicted of illegally
    taking a deer in Minn. or Wisc.   So much for life in the fast lane!
    
    I'm glad to see the stiff fine for the grizzly poaching; wish we
    could get stiff penalties in the lower 48 for similar crimes against
    "lesser" animals.  Unfortunately, most judges place poaching next
    to leash-law violators when it comes time to passing sentence
    
    Dave. 

    >"lesser" animals.  Unfortunately, most judges place poaching next
    >to leash-law violators when it comes time to passing sentence
    
	Not out here in the wild, wild west.  Poaching convictions get
	stiffer sentences and fines than most felony convictions.

	This thing that happened out here in San Luis was a setup from
	the get go.  The whole thing burns my a$$.  The Feds set up shop
	in a depressed area creating a market.  The agent advertized his
	business and offered money for animals.  The people in this area
	have been poaching for years to feed their families.  I do not
	approve of poaching for horns, hides, or wanton waste, but these
	people have been poaching game for food for years.  It was a way 
	of life down there.  Now someone comes to town and waves money 
	around making it known he would buy animals, thus a market.  I saw
	the pile of hides and horns they had, made me sick.  What really
	pi$$ed me off was the 25 eagles this guy bought.  These people 
	down there don't eat eagles and wouldn't shot them unless there
	was money involved.  Deer and elk reproduce fine and the number 
	that they killed probably wasn't much of a dent.  But buying eagles 
	is another story.  I would rather harm the SOB that offered to
	buy an eagle, than the eagle.

	The people involved are faceing very stiff fines and jail time.
	They have already had their guns and vehicles seized and face having
	their homes, property, or businesses seized too.  As Mark pointed out
	the unemployment and welfare rate in San Luis is the highest in the
	state.  Lets squeeze blood from a turnip while we're at it.  

	Poaching is wrong, but this sting operation $ucks.  

	Two months ago a DOW big shot and three of his hunting buddies
	were caught hunting geese in a closed area, that was pointed out
	to them by a game warden as a closed area.  What did these guys
	get you ask, a slap on the hand.	

	RE: -1

	Well I've now seen the whole story and cooled off a bit.  The 
	news reporting by our single newspaper tends to be a bit single 
	viewed and one sided at times.

	It seems as though there have been a few commercial poachers
	working in San Luis for a long time.  Some of whom have long records.
	These people have been taking approx 40 deer and elk apiece during a
	year.  There are a fair number of folks who have been taking an
	animal out of season to provide for their family.  All were caught
	up by the sting, but the later will probably be cut light fines.

	I'm still burned up by the fact that the Feds let so many, 96 deer
	and elk, and 25 eagles, get killed before dropping the net.  I would
	think that one or two at most would be enough for a conviction.  The
	over kill sounds like the Fed goose hunt in Texas.

	I'm glad that the commercial poaching ring has been broken.

    	I share your concern about the number of animals that were killed,
    but, knowing the reluctance of the courts to prosecute any crime,
    their inclination to turn felons loose at the smallest excuse, and
    when convicted, their inclination to impose the smallest sentence
    possible, I feel that this might have been one of the requirements
    for a reasonable punishment of the guilty.
    
    	George
    

    I just attended the Hunter Safety Course in March and the instructor
    was from the DOW.  She read a letter which stated that the sting
    operation was not limited to the San Luis valley only.  They arrested
    people in Pueblo, New Mexico, Colorado Springs and Denver.  Apparently,
    the reason they went in early in the morning was to prevent the
    people from calling everybody else and warning them before the
    authorities came.  I guess it was coordinated so that everybody
    would get picked up at roughly the same time.
    
    What was the final outcome of the study Romer initiated which was
    to examine if racism was involved?
    
    scott

RE: -.1
	The Romer study showed that no racism was involved.
RE: .0
	The first person to be convicted of poaching in San Luis
	has been sentenced to 16 months in federal prison.  He was
	a former sheriff's officer, related some how to the Sheriff.
	He pleaded guilty to two felony counts involving the illegal
	sale of eagles and eagle parts.  Also must pay $410 in 
	restitution and $100 to the federal crime victim fund.  He 
	was the first of seven out of the 57 arrested to be sentenced.
	Five of the other six have pleaded guilty and one is going to 
	trial.  

	If I read another article correct, the wildlife service was
	targeting 4 or 5 people there when the operation started.  The
	ones that were targeted were believed to have been responsible
	for between 400 and 500 illegal deer and elk kills per year.
	Those targeted by the operation had prior records for poaching.
	They had out of state buyers for the animals.  Those people
	were arrested too.  The other 50 people arrested for poaching
	in the roundup were first time offenders and will probably be
	given fines and probation.