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God Blessed Poachers

4K views 62 replies 17 participants last post by  Dallas53 
#1 ·
10:56 Central time sharp bark of .30-06 or similar either across the road and tracks or on the road down the road just behind our home.
Friday, put a new salt block out 50 ft from home, crack then crack of a small limb maybe 20 to 30 ft overhead and close by. Shots from above our home. I called out who is shooting behind our home. I said I'll be up in a few minutes to bust your asses. Not very Christian of me. Of course no way with knee and leg and ankle I'm going anywhere but the quit.
Ten minutes later 2 UTVs come roaring down the road ,from I believe, a road a quarter mile behind us. They went off the property that way, I think.
Last week 2:08 in the morning, I hear karaaaack a high powered rifle fired along side of the hill. the unique echo of a shot and boom along side of hill.
I got the flashlight from beside the bed and looked over the side yard the hill and creek and field, nothing just darkness. A car did fly down the road, from behind us on the road.
I didn't call the Sheriff because a 2:00am anyone on duty is the other side of the Country.
I may have a bullet hole in side of our home or all, I know.
They have figured out I'm not much of a threat, I guess.
Dispatch said said Sheriff was going to talk to TWRA to see about setting something up.
It is darned cold at 14 degrees or I would have ventured out with flash light and AR15.
We don't feel especially safe now.
Four deer behind the house yesterday and a few in the cove but no bucks. Before Hunting season, actually they started shooting before it there were several nice Bucks.
I'm not sure I'm up to it but I may have to sleep days and bundle up and pick me a sight that might be most advantageous and try catching them. Don't think I can do it but I ddon't know what else to do.
 
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#2 ·
what are you going to do with them Tinbucket if you did happen to catch them?

i'd be very careful, because if you're not, it may be you spending some time in the grey bar hotel!

they had better be on your property, breaking the law, and you had better have some way to prove they broke the law. if not it may end up you breaking the law and violating someone's rights.

kind of reminds me of when one of my dogs use to chase a car. i'd just shake my head, and wonder what would the dog do with the car once he caught it!

but you go get em Tinbucket!
 
#5 · (Edited)
what are you going to do with them Tinbucket if you did happen to catch them?

i'd be very careful, because if you're not, it may be you spending some time in the grey bar hotel!

they had better be on your property, breaking the law, and you had better have some way to prove they broke the law. if not it may end up you breaking the law and violating someone's rights.

kind of reminds me of when one of my dogs use to chase a car. i'd just shake my head, and wonder what would the dog do with the car once he caught it!

.
As to dogs catching cars, a Retire Policeman a childhood friend from school had a bulldog that liked to chase cars and bite the tires. He flattened a few.
He caught a 56 Mercury and latched onto its rear bumper.
They had to get a Vet to give him a muscle relaxer to get him of the bumper.
We ha a great dog that like nothing better than playing ball all day long with anyone who would come around.
When he hear a car coming he would spin backwards round and round winding up and take out after them once they got even with him. They would sop sometimes and he would jump in the car with him. I miss him something awful, even though I could scare get anything done in the yard because he would not take no when it came to playing ball.
 
#3 ·
Trail cameras might be a viable option. They have guns, and apparently don't obey laws. I would not hunt for a confrontation. I understand your frustration, but think of what all could go wrong...
 
#4 ·
exactly. my point as well.

unless a person knows what they are doing, and knows what they can or can't do legally, it's quite possible for an encounter to end badly in many ways.

and Tinbucket, are these people on your property? because if they aren't, the best option is to call the Sheriff's department, or the game warden and let them handle it. if you know who owns the property, then maybe inform the owner and let them deal with it.
 
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#6 ·
hmmmm...a dog flattening car tires? caught a car by the back bumper? seriously? :rolleyes:

well handle it then Tinbucket. why are you telling us about it then? o_O
 
#7 ·
.
Mid sixties at one of his Birthday Parties was when he grabbed the Mercury. The stop sign was maybe 50 yards up the road and cars slowed.
As anyone who has fixed several flats of the old bias ply tires, that lasted maybe two years, knows they are not that durable.
Anyway I don't take your slight kindly. Evidently you have lived a very sedentary, life and not experienced much.
 
#8 ·
My 2 cents.
Having at one time been tasked with riding shotgun with a Fish and Wildlife officer due to his receiving death threats for several months I can tell you a couple of things.

1 Wildlife officers have a much more dangerous job than any cop.
They deal with people who are supposed to be armed, and cannot use that as an excuse to do squat. Much less shoot someone because they might have a gun and get by with it.

2. Poachers.
I never saw one yet that didn't try to run if in a vehicle.

They have been known to burn out folks they knew reported them.

They can and on occasion do turn deadly in a second if faced with only one officer, or one person . They stand to lose a vehicle, guns ,lights, money and jail time if convicted . Or lose nothing if they get away and leave nobody who can id them.

Tin , I'm not saying don't try to catch them. That's your call to make.

But if you do, bring your A game. And don't expect any fear or cooperation. DO expect trouble.
 
#10 ·
Tin, others have provided some good advice. If you encounter a poacher on your property, make sure you have first plastered your property line with "No Hunting, No Trespassing" signs. Consider those as "Exhibit A" should a trial result.

Should you get good sighting on poachers on your property, a "near miss" may wind up discouraging them from further trespassing. "Near" being enough for them to get the message but not so near as to potentially cause harm. Be prepared for escalation. Given your present infirms, calling the game wardens and - perhaps - neighbors may be most prudent.

I personally don't like "patrolling" my property line since it most likely will cause the deer to run into harm's way. It is a tough call. But when I do, I'm well armed. Catching someone on your clearly marked property with a gun while poaching may just bring out the worst of people, since if caught, they'll likely loose their gun(s), hunting privileges, and perhaps legal ownership of any gun. That is a strong incentive for a BG to not get caught, and an escalation for which you should be prepared (or avoid).
 
#11 ·
There was a sign at the gun show last weekend. Trespassers will be shot. Survivors will be shot again.
There was dog that used to chase my car. One day I slowed down and ran him until he quit. Next time he just looked at my car and laid down.
 
#16 ·
A store just up the road had two pet dogs that everyone loved. One died at about 15yeaars over ten years ago.
Th other one hated hwy patrol cars. I thought maybe it was because o the dyna motors used to power the old radio units. Anyway he passed early this year maybe 16 years old.If outside and he heard or sensed a cruiser coming up the road he would attack it. He had broken bones and injuries repaired many times. Last time he was out of commission or maybe a year after getting broken up pretty bad, nearly died.
They don't have a dog now but a Neighbors dog is filling in. A Wire Hair Terrier I think. great disposition. Owners don't take much care of it, so Paul and the others do. Owners won't sell or give it to them though.
Dakota liked the sport of chasing cars and bikes etc but he got a lick sometime and that settled him down. I he chased you before he died it was because he liked you.
We lived on what was a dead end road in a small community, not busy city streets.
One of my Clients had a pony that roamed the neighborhood unmolested, in another part of the county. He was everyone's pet but he didn't chase cars.
 
#18 ·
problem is, dealing with a poacher could very well be a very dangerous thing to do. the type of person who would be poaching needs to be taken into consideration. today's poachers if i had to guess are much different than those of years past. the poacher you run into today, could very well be a meth producer! and if a person is poaching, it's entirely possible they are going to be armed and could potentially be dangerous.
 
#19 ·
It's pretty much guaranteed a poacher will be armed.

I've never really ran into heavy Meth users poaching . They are usually using or cooking.

But agreed poachers can be dangerous. Even to the point of being aggressive and deadly when caught or about to be

And vindictive after to the land owner if arrested.
 
#22 ·
Everything is personal. I doubt meth-heads or pot growers are the culprits (although there is some ancient history). Nope: they are ones who pursue deer to places they obviously shouldn't be; and endanger my horses and violate my clearly-posted property rights. It is not an "accident" they cross a difficult stream to get onto my property, and (armed) are a threat to me and my horses. Not likely it is an "accident", but I won't confront without some defensive firepower more than a .380 pistol.
 
#24 ·
My poacher got 51 months in Federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm. I had reprisals - explosive device set off in front of my house, death threats relayed to me, cat calls from some driving by, and a stare-down at a service station. I have a reputation.

Our Missouri Conservation Agents are top-notch. They perfected the artificial deer and coyotes which catch poachers shooting from roadways (dangerous to everyone) and will set up when these problems arise. Our judge is a fair, but no nonsense person. Shooting from a roadway is taken seriously and jail time is handed out like Snickers at Halloween. All know now that I will press charges and testify. If citizens do not press charges and testify, law enforcement won't work. Our present Sheriff's Office Deputies are dressed like Dallas Swat yet won't do squat - even respond until the coast is clear or days later. Conservation Agent has never failed to respond quickly or get help from the next county's agent.

The "I poach to eat" BS when driving a $40,000 pickup truck don't fly well here.
 
#25 ·
The "I poach to eat" BS when driving a $40,000 pickup truck don't fly well here.
I'm about to reveal something that'll likely make everyone lose any respect for me that knows me much or is familiar with me. Back when I was off work, between jobs, or off medically after becoming disabled when crushed between a truck & building wall, we lived way out in the country. The town later had it's post office closed due to not being big enough to support itself according to federal postal wisdom, and there were only 3 houses the full length of the road we lived on, 2 being occupied. When I was not working, my family lived on deer & other wild game & fish-regardless of the time of year. I had a wife & 2 kids that I HAD to make SURE they had food. Now NONE were ever left to rot, head cut off for antlers, escaped to die later, sold, or wasted. I'm not proud of it, but not ashamed either. I haven't had to do that since, and doubt very much if I will in the future! The vast majority of poachers are not doing it for that reason however.

In your position, I'm the type that would MOST definitely dress warm in layers, find or rig up a perfectly concealed position fairly close to the area being poached, have a few 30 round mags loaded (just in case LOL!), have a charged up super bright spotlight and give them HELL as soon as they flip the spotlight on! I'm talking about placing a LOT of shots very close, but not so close to them you may accidentally hit them, say within 10 feet. I'm sure that'll run them off, but if it don't, or they fire back, then it can be escalated to shooting tires out, or radiator. I'm not to comment on the worst case scenario in case they do actually shoot at you, we all would defend ourselves.
 
#27 ·
You're absolutely right! Most poachers ain't doing it because they REALLY need food, and personally, it's a bit bittersweet when I take a life of anything other than ticks, mosquitos, coyotes, or the like. I'm an old country boy, and while I was raised butchering our own beef, hogs, chickens, rabbits, and hunting, I know I can do it, and will do it, but take NO pleasure in doing so. That's why I simply cannot comprehend thrill killers. Sure in battle/firefights bloodlust kicks in, but that's a combo of self preservation, orders, the heat of battle with adrenaline flowing off the charts, and knowing if you don't they'll be all too happy to take you or your buddies out in a heartbeat!
 
#28 ·
You can talk about "poaching to eat" all you want, but IME, there isn't generally
enough game to be had easier than working for food. Poachers around here are
scofflaws and trophy takers. Which makes you wonder, where's the status in
removing the sporting aspect, by taking a trophy animal out of season? It's
sort of like beating a retarded 5 year old at Checkers, ennit? But those jackholes
seem to be in plentiful supply, regardless.
 
#29 ·
Poachers around this part of the world have things happen to their cars if the cars/4wds are left in a paddock they're not supposed to be in. Most are from some of the bigger country cities but there's also a fair bunch that come out of Sydney of Middle Eastern appearance who have no qualms about cutting fences and shooting holes in anything that moves and or water tanks and troughs. These arseholes have also been known to knock a cow or sheep off and take just the back legs or other parts and leave the rest to rot.
My son and a couple of his mates were camping out on a river on a farmer's place with permission just fishing and a bit of hunting when they came across a Suzuki Sierra(a small 4wd) that had a front wheel and hub assembly broken off and the car was just sitting in this paddock. Obviously poachers because they asked the farmer about the car later and he didn't know the car(which was later checked out and found to be unregistered in any case) so my son and his mates went back and raided the car.
Stealing you might say but this car wasn't supposed to be there and it was obvious that there must have been a few of these mongrels as the spare tyre was under the front bullbar so it would've taken more than 2 people to lift this car or at least use a jack. the car must have been trailered up and used as a hunting vehicle because there was ammo and spotlighting gear in the car as well PLUS corn so they must have been baiting for either deer or pigs or both.
The area they were in gets a lot of road runners and poachers so it's not looked upon kindly and things happen to poachers cars like staked tyres, smashed windows and in some cases the cars catch fire. The Police are up to an hour away if not more so by the time they get to wherever the mongrels have long gone and given that our judges are as weak as piss and hand down slaps on the wrist bush justice gets a fair run.
 
#30 ·
I abhor poachers of any kind regarding my property and the critters that inhabit it, and will defend them and our property.

Period.

I fully understand those that are starving and need to feed their family. Our next door neighbors welcomed a "poor starving friend" to "harvest" deer that were so welcome to our properties and pretty much tame. There was no starvation here and the deer were not only welcome, but anticipated.

Their friend wasn't stariving, but he at least had the sense to not shoot at deer where - would he have missed - might have shot into or near a structure. He had a very nice P/U.

In the end, we were all happy he didn't "cull" any of "our" deer as they were welcome critters and nearly pets.

But if a poacher entered our property, I would not hesitate to confront with superior firepower....The safety of our two horses being paramount...
 
#31 ·
If I need to kill a deer etc on MY property to eat it, I'll do so without a 2nd thought.

I've not been quite that bad off but me and my sons could always put a years supply of venison in the freezer during season legally.



I'll not condemn a man killing a game animal for needed food. That's what they are here for. Truly poor people don't just get hungry during hunting season.

That said I will not hunt on anyone else without their permission period.
 
#32 ·
i fully suspect most poachers are not poaching to get meat to live on, because times are hard. they are poaching because they think they can get away with it. i also suspect those poaching to survive are few and far between.

too many churches give away food for those in need. there are social programs such as food stamps for those in need. are there those who poach for meat to survive on and feed their families? it's entirely possible, but if the real numbers were known, i suspect those are very, very small percentage of all poachers if they were known. what we only know for a fact, are those who are caught poaching. many are never caught.
 
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#34 ·
i fully suspect most poachers are not poaching to get meat to live on, because times are hard. they are poaching because they think they can get away with it. i also suspect those poaching to survive are few and far between.

too many churches give away food for those in need. there are social programs such as food stamps for those in need. are there those who poach for meat to survive on and feed their families? it's entirely possible, but if the real numbers were known, i suspect those are very, very small percentage of all poachers if they were known. what we only know for a fact, are those who are caught poaching. many are never caught.
No, most poachers are looking for horns not meat. The few who are meat poachers will normally kill on their property, not mine.
 
#33 ·
My poacher got 51 months in Federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm. I had reprisals - explosive device set off in front of my house, death threats relayed to me, cat calls from some driving by, and a stare-down at a service station. I have a reputation.

Our Missouri Conservation Agents are top-notch. They perfected the artificial deer and coyotes which catch poachers shooting from roadways (dangerous to everyone) and will set up when these problems arise. Our judge is a fair, but no nonsense person. Shooting from a roadway is taken seriously and jail time is handed out like Snickers at Halloween. All know now that I will press charges and testify. If citizens do not press charges and testify, law enforcement won't work. Our present Sheriff's Office Deputies are dressed like Dallas Swat yet won't do squat - even respond until the coast is clear or days later. Conservation Agent has never failed to respond quickly or get help from the next county's agent.

The "I poach to eat" BS when driving a $40,000 pickup truck don't fly well here.
Roger that, but some people are just plain AFRAID to do anything about anything! :( That is getting to be the prevailing attitude among the 'urban crowd', but both CC, OC, and stand your ground laws are staring to reverse that some what.:) And then some just plain over complicate it. It is your property so I guess the question you have to ask is it worth defending against criminals, or is it not????? :(
 
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#35 ·
Recent headlines about "zombie deer". Apparently, some deer herds have developed something similar to Mad Cow Disease, and it can potentially spread to humans if the meat isn't properly cooked....

I'll pass...

Very likely un-Christian of me, but if a poacher kills a deer on my property who then gets the disease, I'm not mourning...
 
#36 ·
It's Chronic Wasting Disease. Deer in KY and most other states don't have it in their herds, but several states do.

It effects cervids IE deer, elk, antelope etc.

It's similar to mad cow disease but bovines don't get CWD.


To date no human has contracted CWD from eating deer, elk etc.

Some scientists fear that it may adapt to humans in the future others don't.

It's been around for decades though I saw the same article that sort of makes it sound like its a recent disease emerging.

Trust if a human would contract it they would die a relatively agonizing death.
 
#37 ·
I'm not asking for anything, I just want to clear the air about what I had to do in the past (about 18-20 years ago. Any time you have a major suit against a monster global company, they're going to pull every trick in the book to starve you out to get a quicker, lower settlement, then rewrite the book to pull even more stuff. I was listed as having an income (both short term & long term-depending on the length of time off), and even though I sometimes had NO money coming in at all for up to 2-3 months at a time, that income they was supposed to send put me solidly over any assistance programs. During the 2+ years I was off until being awarded 100% disability, I lost the 146.5 acres (mostly wooded, hunting land, and had high hopes of building my retirement home on it), house on 12.5 acres, the nicest shovelhead Dyna I'd ever built/owned, the new escort I'd been driving for the 1.5 hour commute 1 way, most of my gun collection at the time, my cattle, all the other livestock, my Intl 826 (5 ton tractor with all the attachments/implements), extensive tools, etc. I DID have to come up with meat/food to feed my family at the time. I never went on anybody else's land, and not a single 1 was wasted, sold, gave away, or harvested for the trophy. I'd NOT even think about it now, and haven't the instant I had regular, consistent income. I wholeheartedly agree that most poach for either the thrill, bloodlust, trophy, monetary benefits (selling them), or the danger factor for excitement.
 
#38 ·
Add to the discussion one bunch of young persons busted for shooting deer from the roadway about a mile from my house. When you live around deer, you learn that they are predictable. There are truly "deer crossings" used every day at the same time. Right now, they are herded up and I regularly have 15 - 20 at one time in the fields around us every evening. People around here know where to go to see the deer and most, like me, enjoy watching them. Enjoying wildlife is why we retired to our farm. We also enjoy eating them.

The heartless bastards of which I write found great entertainment in gut-shooting the fawns so they could hear them (as one told me) "Cry for their momma." We've found some of their carcasses left to rot. Our agent busted them and I transported one to court. He did not know where I live nor that I definitely call in when something's amiss. Our judge is firm and fair. When he got caught some months later with meth, the judge ...well...I'll just say the judge remembered the gut-shooting and applied appropriate social surgery to separate him from polite rural society for a while.

Contrast that group to a recently-arrived African family living in public housing to whom I delivered a doe (field-dressed only) to their second-story apartment. The father had had a leg lopped off by terrorists and had not been able to find a job nor an artificial limb. They spread a blue plastic tarp on the living room floor, skinned the deer with a rock and a restaurant steak knife, boned out every scrap of meat, and called another family over to share what he had. The also shared their food with us (of which they had very little and were eating from the same bowl with their fingers). There were four kids, two of whom were eventually "discovered" by the school track coach as "amazing runners" (duh). Possibly because powered vehicles were rare where they came from (so I was told). The father said he used to have a bicycle in his homeland but could no longer ride one with one leg.

Anyway ... I used to feel sorry for myself sometimes until I met them. His entire family was shot and hacked to death at their home. he survived by feigning death.
My friend told me they wanted the WHOLE deer, guts and all next time as they considered the internal organs the best part.
 
#39 ·
Add to the discussion one bunch of young persons busted for shooting deer from the roadway about a mile from my house. When you live around deer, you learn that they are predictable. There are truly "deer crossings" used every day at the same time. Right now, they are herded up and I regularly have 15 - 20 at one time in the fields around us every evening. People around here know where to go to see the deer and most, like me, enjoy watching them. Enjoying wildlife is why we retired to our farm. We also enjoy eating them.

The heartless bastards of which I write found great entertainment in gut-shooting the fawns so they could hear them (as one told me) "Cry for their momma." We've found some of their carcasses left to rot. Our agent busted them and I transported one to court. He did not know where I live nor that I definitely call in when something's amiss. Our judge is firm and fair. When he got caught some months later with meth, the judge ...well...I'll just say the judge remembered the gut-shooting and applied appropriate social surgery to separate him from polite rural society for a while.

Contrast that group to a recently-arrived African family living in public housing to whom I delivered a doe (field-dressed only) to their second-story apartment. The father had had a leg lopped off by terrorists and had not been able to find a job nor an artificial limb. They spread a blue plastic tarp on the living room floor, skinned the deer with a rock and a restaurant steak knife, boned out every scrap of meat, and called another family over to share what he had. The also shared their food with us (of which they had very little and were eating from the same bowl with their fingers). There were four kids, two of whom were eventually "discovered" by the school track coach as "amazing runners" (duh). Possibly because powered vehicles were rare where they came from (so I was told). The father said he used to have a bicycle in his homeland but could no longer ride one with one leg.

Anyway ... I used to feel sorry for myself sometimes until I met them. His entire family was shot and hacked to death at their home. he survived by feigning death.
My friend told me they wanted the WHOLE deer, guts and all next time as they considered the internal organs the best part.
You nailed it John. No matter how bad a person think they have it there are MANY who are much worse off!!!:( That is why I end each day and start each day by saying "Thank you Lord for another good day"!!!:)
 
#40 ·
poaching is illegal. so that means those who poach are pretty much criminals. for the most part, they should be treated as such. that is why there are game wardens.

and there may be some instances where a person poaches to feed themselves and their family. and i sympathize with their plight. but, i will also add, i doubt the vast majority are poaching for meat to survive on.
 
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#42 ·
i agree. poachers many times do trespass. that is a direct violation of the property owners rights. without a doubt.

i will say this though. if a poacher is poaching on his own property, to put meat on the table to survive, that is something between him and the game warden to work out. i don't condone it, or advocate it by any means, but i have my own property to concern myself with.

but, as i have said, i seriously doubt many poachers are poaching to survive on.
 
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