Busted a Crimnal Got a preference Point.... Sweet Sweet Justice...

elks96

Long Time Member
Messages
3,778
So last year I was out coyote hunting at a time in between public seasons in an area I have hunted for years. It is a mix of public and private. Long story short I ended witnessing an outfitter illegally guiding and taking elk on public lands when it was in fact a private land only season. Luckily I had my camera, GPS, big spotting scope etc. I was able to document it all and call a local warden. Was able to show him where they were where the elk were at, etc. Of course the warden checked them out on the way in to meet me at the scene and they lied about where they were etc.

End result was they had taken 2 elk well onto public lands, lied to the officer. The outfitter had shot an elk himself and also had his 12 year old client from out of state shoot a cow elk. They actually transported both elk whole from the kill sight onto private land to process and more importantly away from my eyes.

Long story short. The first court date came and went. Then the guy was going to try and fight it. Eventually realizing he had no chance he worked a plea deal with the DA for some lesser charges.

I was happy as I was able to qualify for TIPS. I had my choice between a Cow elk tag for the unit or a Preference Point. That extra point catapulted from having a slight shot at a top elk unit into being able to draw for archery at least...

I was even more happy when I realized that this same outfitter had 3 times harassed me while hunting on public land stating that I was trespassing... All 3 times he was pissed because I out hunted him and his clients to elk on the public.

Needless to say I like the TIPS program for sure...
 
Good job, glad it worked out for you and hope it pays off. I too have had an outfitter try to tell me I was on private property when I was actually on public land. Once I showed them my GPS, both times they just said, " I guess you know where the lines are " and walked away. While I don't believe most outfitters would do this sort of thing, it's nice to correct those that do.

Jody
 
Glad you were in position to prove the case. If you hunt that area in the future, you might want to set up a hidden trail camera near your truck when you leave it parked in the area!

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
Good Job! Congrats. I had an outfitter try and move me off of my campsite in the West Elk Wilderness a few years ago. He claimed it was his 'official' campsite. I explained to his clients that an outfitter has to post an official sign X days in advance ( I forget now how long it is) and that their outfitter was a liar. They moved on. Bob Littlejohn, Lakota Outfitters.
 
Thank you for your efforts. Guys in the field see much more than Wildlife/LEOs ever can, and every poacher busted saves some future game animals. Enjoy your PP, you earned it! I'm always on the lookout for poachers whenever I'm out and about.
 
Good job, and enjoy the hard-earned point! Thanks for sticking up for the law-abiders!


BeanMan - "He claimed it was his 'official' campsite. I explained to his clients that an outfitter has to post an official sign X days in advance ( I forget now how long it is) and that their outfitter was a liar. They moved on."

I'm curious if you have a link or any more info on the outfitter camp posting rule. I've never heard of that before and have run into a few 'shady' situations with guys holding camps for weeks and weeks.
 
>Last year I busted a guy
>shooting buck with a
>rifle during the muzzy season.
> Co gave me $500!.
>

Yeah I was able to choose. Colorado has 2 systems. Operation Game Thief is specifically for poaching. It allows you to remain anonymous, and if things work out you get a money reward.

The Second Program is TIPS (Turn In Poachers Now) This one goes a step further. If you are willing to sign a witness statement and testify in court, you can get the tag and or point.

I keep hoping to find someone poaching elk in unit 2. But luckily I have not seen one yet.
 
>Good job, and enjoy the hard-earned
>point! Thanks for sticking up
>for the law-abiders!
>
>
>BeanMan - "He claimed it was
>his 'official' campsite. I explained
>to his clients that an
>outfitter has to post an
>official sign X days in
>advance ( I forget now
>how long it is) and
>that their outfitter was a
>liar. They moved on."
>
>I'm curious if you have a
>link or any more info
>on the outfitter camp
>posting rule. I've never heard
>of that before and have
>run into a few 'shady'
>situations with guys holding camps
>for weeks and weeks.

This would be a forest service rule and not a state rule. For outfitters I would check with the Forrest service, but they do have to mark their camps X number of days early, etc. As a kid I remember us placing our camp signs up usually the last week of July, so 30 days prior to archery????

As for people claiming camps for long times. BLM and Forrest service have similar rules but different. BLM a camp has to move every 14 days to a new spot. Forrest Service you have to leave that Forrest entirely.
 
Nice job Rob. I'm glad it worked out that you could prove what you saw. Too many times you hear a story like this and the game warden can't do anything due to lack of evidence.

Good work!!

Mark
muledeer.jpg


My hunting spot is so secret, not even the elk have found it yet.
 
>Can I ask what unit?
>I can only hope it
>was one outfitter that I
>am praying got busted.
>I can tell by the
>unit.

Unit 11....
 
That's not the unit I wasn't thinking but I am really happy about that one. I hunt unit 11 4th season and I'm glad to see that being "watched". Even if it isn't by you. ?
 
>That's not the unit I wasn't
>thinking but I am really
>happy about that one. I
>hunt unit 11 4th season
>and I'm glad to see
>that being "watched". Even if
>it isn't by you. ?
>


I meant "even if it IS by you!" Sorry about that.
 
First, good job!

Second, in the case of the client, who is determined to be at fault? The client or the outfitter? In this case with a juvenile, likely the outfitter. But what about with an adult hunter?
 

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