Oregon's getting serious

[Orygun]

From the state police newsletter

Tpr. Boyd (Springfield) appeared for a sentencing hearing in Lebanon Justice Court. The defendant plead no contest to Unlawful Take of Bull Elk Closed Season. The suspect reported himself during the High Cascade buck season for taking the elk by mistake. This was the suspect’s first time hunting. Boyd arranged a program with ODFW for the case and presented a resolution to Judge Lemhouse who sentenced the defendant to $299 in fines and 60 hours of community service to be completed at a ODFW field office. Six people involved in the unlawful taking of four bull elk on private property south of Cottage Grove in the Melrose Unit in October 2009 plead guilty in Lane County Circuit Court. Immediately following the crime, Sr. Tpr. Martin Maher (Springfield) and Sr. Tpr. Marshall Maher (Oakridge) contacted area landowners who reported subjects trespassing on private lands to retrieve the poached elk. The main suspect’s son and four others assisted the main suspect/shooter retrieve the elk from private property. The troopers salvaged and donated the elk to the Eugene Mission. In late December/
early January, the six men pled guilty and were sentenced to the following:


• Suspect 1: Unlawful Take of Bull Elk (x 4), Hunting on the Enclosed Lands of Another (x 2), and Borrowing a Big Game Tag (x 2). He was sentenced to 40 days in jail, 24 months probation, $6,000 restitution to ODFW, $6,674 fine, forfeit rifle, and lifetime suspension of hunting privileges.


• Suspect 2: Aiding in Game Violation and Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree. He was sentenced to 15 days in jail, 18 months probation, $1,500 restitution to ODFW, $892 fine, and a 48-month hunting license suspension.


• Suspect 3: Aiding in Game Violation, Loaning Big Game Tag, and Hunting while in violation of Criminal Trespass. He was sentenced to 24 months probation, $1,500 restitution to ODFW, $2,304 fine, 100 hours of community service, and a 36-month hunting license suspension.


• Suspect 4: Aiding in Game Violation (x 2) and Loaning Big Game Tag. He was sentenced to 24 months probation, $1,500 restitution to ODFW, and 60 hours of community service.

• Suspect 5: Aiding in Game Violation. He was sentenced to 24 months probation, $1,500 restitution to ODFW, $1,202 fine, 160 hours of community service, and a 36-month hunting license suspension.


• Suspect 6: Aiding in Game Violation. He was sentenced to 24 months probation, 100 hours of community service, and a 24-month hunting license suspension.


Suspect 1 has earned himself a lifetime ban in most of the US.

 

[weekender21]

Good

 

[hawaiian style]

I second that! If your going to hunt, know what your hunting for. That is why you are required to take "HUNTER SAFETY"!!!

 

[Litch]

Good for them! I wish other Western States would start seeing the severity of these crimes and administer this kind of justice. It would sure make the Game Wardens jobs easier if the courts would back them like they did in this case.

 

[blacklab]

Great. Now if they would get serious about attracting more out of staters rather than try and price us out. That state is going the wrong way if you ask me. Quality is nothing compared to other states and their prices are in some cases higher! As for the charges, glad they enforce the laws. Maybe Ca can follow suit.

 

[fishnhunt]

Great. Now if they would get serious about attracting more out of staters rather than try and price us out. That state is going the wrong way if you ask me. Quality is nothing compared to other states and their prices are in some cases higher! As for the charges, glad they enforce the laws. Maybe Ca can follow suit.

Here it goes....I disagree the state of Oregon should not recruit out of state hunters! I believe their first priority should be to their residents and out of staters should be an afterthought. I believe this is how all states should be! It irritates me for example, that with the limited number of bighorn tags available that Oregon even offers them to nonresidents. Oregon has a 10% tag quota for nonresidents (on most hunts available to nonresidents) and I believe that quota will continue to fill or atleast come close. I have hunted out of state several times and even then I feel grateful that that state gave me the opportunity to shoot an animal in THEIR state! Yes Oregon raised their prices...But their prices are much closer to what other western states are charging.
Additionally, it is good that Oregon is so proactive on punishing poachers!! Hope the punishments continue to go up here and abroad to curb the poaching problems that plague our sport!

 

[Tmhunter]

X2 Fishnhunt thanks

 

[Litch]

Here it goes....I disagree the state of Oregon should not recruit out of state hunters! I believe their first priority should be to their residents and out of staters should be an afterthought. I believe this is how all states should be! It irritates me for example, that with the limited number of bighorn tags available that Oregon even offers them to nonresidents. Oregon has a 10% tag quota for nonresidents (on most hunts available to nonresidents) and I believe that quota will continue to fill or atleast come close. I have hunted out of state several times and even then I feel grateful that that state gave me the opportunity to shoot an animal in THEIR state! Yes Oregon raised their prices...But their prices are much closer to what other western states are charging.

<o></o>
Additionally, it is good that Oregon is so proactive on punishing poachers!! Hope the punishments continue to go up here and abroad to curb the poaching problems that plague our sport!

So are we to assume all these game animals are on State land? Because if they are on Federal land, don't all of us have rights to hunt them as U.S. citizens?

I think prohibiting hunting for people from out of state opens up a huge can of worms. Why stop at hunting, why not stop us from using your great State parks, keep us from fishing for Salmon and Steelhead in your pristine rivers and other tourist related stuff. See how the economy does with all the restrictions for visitors to

 

[Muggs]

Fines like that get the message out to the people that the FW are serious about game laws.