MORE POACHING*HELP*

T

timemachine

Guest
This is a bit long , but we gotta get this crap stopped!!

Here's a copy of correspondence between myself and Brian the founder.:(me first)

Wanted to run a question by you. First, I have to bring you up to speed. I
live in Gunnison / Manti , Utah area. Locally there is quite a serious
poaching case being investigated by the DWR. Story goes like this: (It's
a small enough community with enough people in the right places that I'm
very confident in the information.)

A high shool boy took his friend out and showed him six large deer carcasses
in the bottom of a wash. Was quite enthralled by the size of these deer's
bodies, and made mention that "he ought to see the horns". This young man
and his family was quite upset by the whole turn of events and turned the
other boy in for poaching. That's how it started. The case has ballooned
into 13 deer and, two bull elk. One taxidermist. And a handful of suspects.
One person arrested and bailed out of jail for 6 counts of wanton
destruction of wildlife. ( This was reported in "The Manti Messanger
newspaper in the booking reports ).

That's the quick down and dirty.

We hear that they were planning on selling these heads on E-bay. That one
of the Bull elk is a 380 plus bull. (That would be a Central Mountains South Unit bull that is no longer out there)

My question is this, would you be willing to put the contact information for
both the County Attorny and the Court on your web site,past track record of anything much happening to these types is pretty poor in my,and many others opinion. We are putting together a grass roots effort to write to the judge and county attorney to try and get stiffer penalties as a deterrent, Would you be willing to post their contact information on the forums web site, to try and make this effort more widespread?

From Brian-

Ron,

Definitely post this stuff in our forums with contact info. for the judge and attorney.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com

Here's a copy of what I'm sending to His Honor David L. Mower at :

Sixth district Court- Manti
160 N. Main
P.O. Box 100
Manti, Utah 84642

Honorable David L. Mower,





I make no mention of any particular event, or against any particular party. I just want to make my feelings known.

I am a Sanpete County resident. I own my own business. I work 6 days a week. I don't own any fancy vehicles. I live in a modest house. I am a pretty average and ordinary father, I'd say. I've never been on vacation to Hawaii or Alaska. Never been on any cruise, etc. The free time I do have and the opportunities for recreation I do take, are heavily centered on hunting and fishing. The outdoors and the big game we are so lucky to have so close around us. Hunting is a longtime family tradition. One that I'm trying to pass along to my kids. I and my family are law abiding , we expect others to play by the same rules.

It's difficult to approach the subject I'd like to address with this letter, and not seems a bit trivial, what with much more serious crimes no doubt taking place. That said, still I wish to address here something that is of considerable importance to me, and encourage your best effort and attention when called upon to address the crime of poaching, as it will most surely come around to you having to deal with it, eventually.

A poacher is a thief and we are his victim. I often wonder, why do they think they have any greater claim or right to the animals they illegally kill than the rest of us? What if every one started hunting after the legal hunts were closed for the animals most vulnerable, pushed into accessibility by winter snows, and made stupid by their breeding habits? I enjoy going to see the game that ?comes down in the winter?. As a hunter I'd love to harvest some of the mule deer bucks and bull elk I've seen- but legally! It's a source of inspiration, and a driving influence that makes me want to continue hunting to see that these trophy quality animals are indeed here. I've invested over ten years trying to draw a limited entry elk tag to LEGALLY be able to harvest one of these trophy animals. I'm angry that poachers take the best of what's left, and ?steal? my opportunity to legally try for these animals during the next hunting seasons. Further, I don't believe it's an act of opportunity any longer. I do believe that it is a business to those involved. That they are selling the game that belongs to us all for their own selfish wants. Enough said.

I respectfully encourage you to use your position to apply the only deterrent that there is ,and punish this crime as the law allows , for not only my sake, but for all of us out here with similar interests.


Here's what I'm going to send to Ross Blackham the county attorney at:
Ross Blackham
160 North Main
Manti, Utah 84642

I'm also going to send a copy to the State Attorney General at

Office of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 14320
S.L.C., Utah 84114

Mr. Blackham,

I've never written to an attorney before. It's not something that I'm particularly good at. But when something bothers a person enough, it makes one want to act. I'm writing in hopes that you will be encouraged or rededicated to do what I understand your position to be and represent the people of Sanpete County against those who abuse or disregard the law. I have no doubt you will be called upon to prosecute (possibly several) individuals for the crime of poaching or big game destruction. Now before you wad this up an throw it in the garbage, would you take the time to consider this:?

Yes, it makes me angry that there are people selling drugs down my street ( hypothetical), yes it makes me angry that people continue to drive drunk, abuse their (or someone else?s) kids, wives, parents. That people steal, and think they can get away with it. All should be made to stand for justice and be punished as the law allows. I think it might be easy for poaching to seem trivial in comparison to the crimes you see. All that in consideration, still I want to ask you to take poaching more serious and to do your best to get stiffer penalties and more convictions. Here?s why:- when you consider the time invested to draw a license to hunt what is described by the Utah DWR as an ?Any Bull Elk? you have to know it is a sought after and coveted opportunity. No one person has the right to supersede the process and they definitely do not have the right to do what ever the heck they want! I've invested over 10 years trying of one of those tags. Then to hear that a poacher has killed one of the best trophy Elk to ever come from the hills that surround us , well , frankly it makes me just as mad , just as SICK, as what I mentioned above. When you consider that I have legally hunted mule deer since 1976, but that I've never harvested a buck the has antlers over the 30? mark, a true trophy. Then, to hear that a poacher has killed not one by possibly a dozen of deer like this, it makes me damn mad! I have kids I'm trying to teach to be sportsmen. I'm trying to pass along tradition to! My whole family, and my friends, would love the opportunity to harvest the best representations of the species, too. BUT by legal means. It's not right that poachers take the opportunity away from the rest of us , by blatant disregard of the law. They need to suffer serious consequences for those actions. A slap on the wrist and a minor penalty isn't going to be a deterrent -not when trophy heads sell for the 10?s of thousands. The price to buy premium hunts - hunts that give a person the opportunity to hunt larger than average (trophy) animals are in the 5- to 10 thousand dollar range. It's around 490 dollars to draw a limited entry tag and buy a license for Colorado. Many times penalties for poachers killing equal or better animals than these opportunities would possibly allow are much less than this! It's cheaper to be a poacher! IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS WAY. That is why I ask again, take this crime more serious, prosecute it to the fullest, please!

The simple fact that I feel like I should even have to send a letter like this is telling.--

this is what I'm sending- please keep it cordial -please keep it encouraging, we want these guys on our side. MOST of all please do write in! One more thing, I purposly left out names -I don't know how that might taint the process and I sure didn't want to give the poachers any way out!

I don't remember who said it, but it goes something like this: All that it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing. It's also said the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If you are as sick of hearing about this kind of stuff as I am, tired of nothing much happening to these types, and it just keeps on going on. Well, here's a chance to make a stink about it. I don't claim to be any good at writing letters, I don't claim to be smart or wise -I can't spell worth a crap, BUT think on this. My 17 yr old daughter killed her 2nd buck this year. NO monster a nice 18" four pointer. Her goal is to better her previous buck, which she did by about double. She was so excited to see the first real nice rutting bucks that came to winter range this year. These were real nice bucks by any standard. Now they are all gone. The look on her face when I told about what's written above, well to put it mildly PISSED me off. That's why I'm doing this. For your opportunity, for your kid's, take a minute and write these guys!
 
Very well done and do please, keep us informed as to the responses from these people you have sent the letters.

Brian
 
I'm a director for a news station here in Salt Lake City. I talked to a co-worker about this 3 weeks ago and I brought it up to him again today. He told that they want to do the story but the fish & game department is slow in response to this case, and that the kid(s) charged might be a minor(s). Lets just hope we can get more media attention to this matter soon.
 
I DON'T GIVE A FLYIN ###K HOW OLD OR YOUNG THEY ARE!!!

THEY'RE DAMN SURE OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER!!!

HANG EM HIGH!!!

THE ONLY bobcat THINKING MAYBE THE OPPORTUNISTS OUGHT TO COMMENT ON THIS,THERE GOES SOME MORE OPPOTUNITY DOWN THE DRAIN THANKS TO SOME LOWLIFE POACHERS!!!
 
Only some of those involved are minors. I wish you would do a news story. I think the reluctance of the DWR is because of past track record. Two years ago, an officer caught a poacher in the act. Long story but he even had coned two Morman missionary elders to go help him retrieve the deer! Talk about iron clad wittnesses! The judge threw it out on the basis of the DWR officer didn't read the guy his miranda rights. (not like he didn't already know them) The County attorney plead another case down to 480 dollar fines, (that I know of , because it is a relative that turned in the poachers). These cases have to be on public record if you want to go looking.

You know, we are ALL busy. Not many of us really like the lime light. WHAT CAN WE DO? This maybe a stupid, and juvinile attempt to get anything done, but it IS something. I've heard it said that as few as 6 or 7 letters from constituants have influenced the decision making of Senators, and Congressmen. A few letters to these guys might only be amusing to them. A dozen or so letters, they'll start to say "Hmmm.." Get 50 to them and they'll be thinking people are watching this. THAT'S MY HOPE, THAT'S MY GOAL. Because then maybe they'll do something.

I notice that in the general hunting forum there is a post about a couple in Arizona getting nailed for $16,000.00 dollars plus loss of hunting rights, in all coalition states- Now that 's what I'm talking about!

A quick look on ebay and there were three heads bid to around 1500.00 already -These weren't even B & C deer. just nice ones. (if I recall correctly)NIce bull elk bid up to that , too. That's easy money to some if they get away with it! I think it's disgusting to let a few poachers not only ruin our chances at better quality animals, but to proffit by it, also.

I know these guys can lose vehicles, weapons, and be made to pay fines on parr with the Arizona case. We need to encourage those who can make it too painful to be poacher TO DO JUST THAT.

I'm not asking for your newborn, just write the lettes!
 
Oh, yeah. Thanks Bobcat as only you can say it! I forgot I found anoTher way to contact the judge.

http://utahreach.org/sanpete/govt/clerk.htm

down on the left hand side just click his name - then click the link to email him.

EVEN IF YOU ONLY TYPE THREE LINES AND ALL IN CAPS. ENCOURAGE THE
GUYS TO STICK TO THESE GUYS.
 
New Mexico has just instated "trophy penalties" or something like that. The fines are more for larger animals, and they are STIFF! Maybe some other states will follow suit soon.
 

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