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Column: To catch a poacher

In the dark of night, the four-point mule buck’s head swung up, as a pick-up truck approached.
10965775_web1_Hank-Shelley
Hank Shelley

In the dark of night, the four-point mule buck’s head swung up, as a pick-up truck approached.

The deer was positioned below the road on a curve. What caught the driver’s attention was a amber glass eye, atop a thin white metal rod 400-feet ahead of the supposed deer. As the vehicle came to a stop and backed up, Dave, a conservation officer (CO) from Merritt, at the controls, advised to be ready for the take down. My partner John and I were in a concealed spot, as were two CO’s up the road.

Turned out, the wife screamed at the driver, “If you shoot that deer, we are getting a divorce.”

The decoy was set up on the Falkland-Chase road, because of complaints from the Paxton Valley ranch, of poachers pit-lamping deer, using lights, as the animals fed in alfalfa fields at night. At 12:10 a.m., another truck approached the decoy deer.

Again, the vehicle stopped, backed up, as we were being advised, then the driver excited the truck, walked to the shoulder of the road, and hollered, “Shoo deer, shoo!

It was time to call it a night. A typical Saturday night, with the bars closing, and folks heading home. Perched in a corn field along the banks of the Salmon River, come late August, vehicles could be heard around 12 a.m. heading home, and a hour later, the flicker of a flashlight, and the crunch of boots with a poacher, spear in hand, could be spotted, as the swish, swish of a chinook salmon made its way over a riffle heading up stream.

Many a night was spent chasing poachers through corn fields or laying in wait at the counting fence and fish trap below Silver Creek, to apprehend bad guys, breaking in, beating fish, grabbing some, beer cans floating about.

Years back, working with a senior CO from Nelson, on a moose hunter compliance check near Mica Creek. While Peter was checking a hunting license, I chatted with the lady hunter.

I spotted a tiny spot of blood on her nose. We let them go, then followed back to where the son was dressing out an illegal cow in heavy bush near Goldstream, then ticketing a hunter with two others coming across the lake near Downie Loop, in a boat with a bull moose.

We caught him in his camper, cutting out his tag as we swung the door open on him. I guess you could say, years of apprehending those who steal our fish and game for profit and greed, was a very rewarding experience for myself and the many other fishery officers and CO’s who are dedicated to preserving and enhancing our wildlife resources.

With climate change, shrinking budgets, more work load, it’s becoming difficult to a miracle worker, when you come into the office in the morning, listen to your voice mail, and have to pick the one or two issues out of seven calls that you deal with that day!

Anatomy of a poacher. A: Takes one or two animal over limit to sell or give to friends. B: Exceeds bag limits for the thrill of the kill, or hunts only trophy animals. C: Criminal poacher who kills and sell wild game meat to commercial trade rings, using high tech equipment. Also involved in the drug trafficking and contraband smuggling.

All types have superior hunting skills. Most poachers are in their 20s to 30s, and have little regard for the law, let alone fish and game regulations.

For those who subscribe to Western Canadian Game Warden magazine, their “Take down Tales”, and “Cuffs to Courts” describing actual infractions, one has to realize the volume of poaching of fish and game happening across the country.

It is a $18 million industry. Eagle feathers or parts, bear gall, paws and trophy game heads are popular targets.

On the upside, a Montana man, has mailed Washington wildlife officials, $6,000 in compensation, for deer he said he illegally killed 40 years ago.

He contacted officials, saying he killed three whitetail does between 1967 and 1970. At the time, the fines would have been about $250. He was advised it was beyond statue of limitations, however he insisted the money go to the enforcement branch.

The man advised, “My conscience has not allowed me to put this sin to rest. I know God has forgiven me, and I only hope that WDFW will as well.”