Fawn Poached In D11

[Stonepointer]

I was driving home with my brother from an archery quail/rabbit hunt in the Ventura/Kern area.

We did not really see too much huntable game earlier in the day unless we were driving.

We decided to take the ridge route home at the North end of D11 instead of taking the freeways.

As luck would have it, in non-hunting zones of Northern D11, this is pretty much the only time we saw and almost hit with the car about 4 or 5 coveys of quail, almost hit a jackrabbit, and later that early evening, off to the side of the road we slowed down to take a look at a dead fawn.

We thought it may have been hit by a car and we backed up to take another look at it, and I noticed a wound which might possibly be a large caliber pistol in it's hind quarter.

We figured it may have only been dead maybe an hour or so, but there was no way to tell for sure.

It did not smell yet, and we saw a doe which we thought might have been the mother not too far away still lurking about.

I got the idea someone may have moved it, because we did not see alot of blood around it.

It was across the road in front of someone's gate, so I have an exact location and time for where this fawn was seen by us.

Should I report this to the authorities (if so which ones?), or does anyone think the people at the residence of where the gate is would report it?

Afterall, they are sure to see it soon as they leave their gate.

 

[WoodGrain]

Call your local DFG Warden immediately. If you need help with locating a number let me know, I'll do my best to get you one.

WoodGrain

 

[Stonepointer]

Thanks Woodgrain, I'll try to look up the number for that area and if I can't find it, I will PM you.

 

[Stonepointer]

I just called Cal-Tip, and they took the information they needed.

I probably reported this too late, but I am not sure I really could provide that much information in the first place, because I arrived sometime after this was done and I did not actually see any violation myself.

 

[GVOllie]

You can just call Cal-TIP (1-888-334-2258). I did this with a buck that was poached last year, but I was hunting the weekend and didn't get cell service until Monday, and they chewed me out about why I didn't call sooner. They also said the warden responsible for that area would contact me. He never did.

Do your part and report it, but don't hold your breath waiting for anything to happen.

 

[WoodGrain]

Thank you for doing your part! Hopefully you'll see the results!

WoodGrain

 

[BC1]

Stonepointer-
Any chance the Ridge Route (road) was open all the way through?
BC

 

[Stonepointer]

Stonepointer-
Any chance the Ridge Route (road) was open all the way through?
BC

I was only on part of it, but as far as I know it was open.

This was the path heading Southeast from Quail lake towards Leona Valley.

I only used the Pine Canyon path in that direction, so I really don't know for sure if the entire Ridge Route is open, but I think it might be.

The area affected by fire awhile back is starting to grow nicely now.

 

[DirtyDave]

Stonepointer-
Any chance the Ridge Route (road) was open all the way through?
BC

You cannot drive "all the way through" on the RR
There is a section of the Ridge Route has been closed since 2005 and I dont see it reopening any time soon. When they closed it, they said it would take a year to repair. Here we are 6 years later. I think they would like to keep it closed. Seems like they dont want the public to have access to public land.

 

[Stonepointer]

That section of the Ridge Route has been closed since 2005

Heading South from Gorman we drove in from the 138 and turned South on Old Ridge Route Road (N2) and took Pine Canyon Road to the East to 3 points and then on Elizabeth Lake Road through the Leona Valley.

I have driven through this section several times in the past few years.

If you know where the North gate is to the High Desert Hunting Club, not the one on the 138, but the other one on Pine Canyon Road, I think we drive by it on the way through.

As far as it being closed over the path to Castaic, I really don't know.

 

[Stonepointer]

I meant SE, I thought I knew my compass bearings better than this.

 

[tony270]

If you did nothing wrong don’t explain yourself, just say you were legal and leave it at that. You don’t know if that fawn was shot. When I see an animal like that I would look for an exit wound and run a metal detector over it, I always have a metal detector in my trunk.

And now look, your trying to do right and now you could get accused of unknowing trespass with the intent to hunt, folks here call that poaching. It's best report this stuff to LE and if you post on line leave the details out of it.

 

[DirtyDave]

From 138 you can only go south as far as the Tumble Inn. Gate is locked there and you cant go through to Castaic

 

[Stonepointer]

We never actually got out of the car, but a hole was clearly visible in the fawn's hind leg.

Maybe no good deed goes unpunished.

However, I will keep that in mind Tony270.

DD, I do not really know where the Tumble Inn is, but I can tell you the road from the 138 leading into the Leona Valley is open to through traffic.

 

[tony270]

You see, when you report a crime the responding LEO’s will more than likely investigate you first, that’s just the SOP that most LE agencies follow, so don’t’ take it personally. If you were trespassing you have a bigger chance of becoming the gleam of their focus. Who knows, they might think you’re trying to set up that hunting club to make it look like one of their members are responsible.

IMO the fawn may have died from a natural cause, or it could have been hit by an automobile, and that hole could have been made by an animal. If you drop a dime, I would suggest that you do it anonymously.

 

[Stonepointer]

I initially posted this because I was not quite sure what to do and asked advice from forum members.

I come by road kill often enough, it is fairly common where I live.

I would not have listed any extra if I did not feel I was having my cards called. I may have been wrong to have thought this.

I apologize DirtyDave if that was not your intent in your posted statement, but it did have the effect of being like the question like "Have you stopped beating your wife?" at least in my mind after reading your post and perhaps Tony270 as well.

 

[SoJo]

You did the right thing by reporting it. I have personally turned in a couple of paochers in my past and did so as I also had knowledge of the local DFG warden.

 

[cjack]

It's our duty to report so DFG can do their job. We all benefit! Thanks Stonepointer for doing your duty.

 

[tony270]

That's right, if he wants to be a good summation he should report what he saw, but when you post it on the net you should except to have someone try to scrutinize what is posted. Like I said, don't give details. Just like the dude who posted the deer. The auto save popup isn’t there for nothing, which appeared after the first buck with a bow post investigation was in motion. When you post details be reeady for anything.

Stonepointer, you did nothing wrong except posting details and see what that got you. DD starting digging into your every word and move, and then he called you on it. If that was me I would have sent you a PM, good luck on bagging a deer.

You did the right thing by reporting it. I have personally turned in a couple of paochers in my past and did so as I also had knowledge of the local DFG warden.

 

[DirtyDave]

Whoa, I was never accusing you of being on the closed section of the ridge route or trespassing. I was responding to BC1's question. He was asking if you can drive all the way through. I said you cant drive all the way through from 138 to Castaic due to the closed section.