Help ID Posable poachers in unit 39

ID_Elkmagnet · Nov 29, 2012

I recived this email anyone recognize them?

Hey fellas,

I just wanted to give you guys a heads up about some poachers I took some pictures of while out on the late archery hunt on Monday. These jerks came driving up in a vehicle (no roads for miles) and shot 4-5 times at a herd of 100 deer with a rifle. *** and I just happened to be several hundred yards below them when we saw them. We watched as they snuck up and started shooting. They never went and checked if they hit anything. They simple shot and drove off. We were unable to get the license number but did get some good pics. I'm working with the fish and game now and he said to get the word out and see if anyone can recognize the vehicle and maybe get a license plate. Forward it on if you know any other hunters.

The vehicle looks to be an older black Jeep Cherokee with a heavy red pinstrip by the door handle. A large black rack above the whole cab.

Justin

WAPITI39 · Nov 29, 2012

Thats just nuts..... what the Hell were they thinking?? I dont recognize, but I will pass along to my fellow hunters to see if they know them.

dreaminbouthuntin · Nov 29, 2012

Dont wanna sound racist, but can the natives hunt out there w/ rifles this time of year?

HayZeus · Nov 29, 2012

Thats what came to mind when I read the post. The natives get to hunt year round. Even if its not, the pictures just show two people getting out of their vehicle and walking off to shoot at somthing. No proof of a crime to me but im not saying they didnt attempt to poach. What part of the state/unit did this happen in?

rcrosby · Nov 29, 2012

Good work. I will keep an eye out for them.

ID_Elkmagnet · Nov 29, 2012

Well then they won't mind people telling fishing/game who they are so they can have a chat.

Justin

7thgenmt · Nov 29, 2012

I dont care if it sounds racist but they have killed everything on the res's here in MT and like to expand their res boundrys right after our general season ends and everyone is back home.We ran into the same thing on a lion hunt one year,they were 2 miles off the res and shooting deer/antelope from the road.If it was on a res nothing will be done about it.

lip_curl · Nov 29, 2012

unfortunately unless you have a carcass with a bullet hole in it or saw a deer drop...no wildlife crime may be prosecutable. It may not even be a ticket for driving off road depending on how its zoned.

i watched a guy shoot at a deer through my spotting scope once, a couple of miles into a draw only zone. when i walked past him on the trail, he hid in the rocks. i waited around a corner a ways further and when he came around, i started to talk to him and asked him if he hit the buck. he claimed he never shot at a deer. i could read his tshirt through my spotter and had watched him for 30 minutes, so between the lying and the hiding, i was pretty sure he didnt have a tag for the area. i beat him to the trailhead and there was 3 vehicles parked there. mine, his, and a couple of game wardens. i thought his goose was cooked, but the fish cops said they couldnt do anything unless i saw the deer go down or had a carcass. this was also in idaho...and of course his rig had washington plates.

supersider34 · Nov 29, 2012

In the first pic. The guy in the white has a bow. The other guy has a rifle. Second pic he hands the rifle to the guy in the white. Third pic shows him aiming threw the scope on the rifle.

If it was legal for them to hunt why carry the bow then switch to rifle?

Just some thoughts.

ldjbuff · Nov 30, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Nov-30-12 AT 07:48AM (MST)[p]If it's from 39, I believe right now its archery only until 11/30

Did you guys go down and check if they hit anything?

IdahoBugler · Nov 30, 2012

Hey guys,

I was the one that took the pictures. Growing up near a reservation in Idaho I was well aware of the Tribal laws. In this case as Jerry (Supersider) stated it was very odd to me that they would even carry a bow and arrow with them. The series of events that took place was shady from the get go. He did walk up to the ridge and dropped his bow and grabbed the rifle while is buddy stayed back. He slowly snuck up and then took 5 or so shots at the deer. I was able to see the deer and the guy and he was definitely shooting at the deer. We were less than 300 yards from these guys and you could tell it was a small caliber rifle. I would say they were 150 to 200 yards from the deer when shooting. My buddy and I did look for signs of a hit but did not come up with anything.

I was able to get a hold of F&G right after the shots but he couldn't make it up there for a few hours. He did keep a post on a likely road but they didn't end up going that way. Like stated above who knows what will come of this. I just want to try and see if any thing can or will happen to these jerks. If anything it will keep fish and game aware of a possible issue and they can look into their harvests a little more. All I know is it's got to be better then sitting back and shrugging it of as nothing happened.

thanks for keeping a lookout. Hopefully someone will be able to get a license plate number.

Thanks and happy hunting.
IdahoBugler (Bryce)

P.S. This was on the late 39 archery hunt.

ID_Elkmagnet · Nov 30, 2012

Hi Bryce.
Way to be quick with the camera. I hope you didn't mind me posting this up? Crap like this just rubs me wrong.

Anyway even if they don't get caught maybe they will see there pictures and have an ohh s*** moment

Justin

IdahoBugler · Nov 30, 2012

Im very glad you did. I started the email at work and had people send it to everyone they new. Pretty soon its everywhere on facebook and even craigslist. The hunting community is great and like you said if they see this they may think twice about doing it again.

Thanks,
IB

BPKHunter · Nov 30, 2012

I say keep the CO's busy with these kinds of reports. I believe they will act on eyewitness testimony, especially when you can add pictures or license plates. Yes many will get off, but need a good scare anyway.

Muleymemories · Nov 30, 2012

Great work Bugler, I hope they find the dirtbags!!

ridgelineoutdoors.com

nvborn · Nov 30, 2012

I was out there that day and talked with the IDFG guy who gave me an exact description of that vehicle "misbehaving". Unfortunately I didn't see anything useful to him as I was busy killing a deer legally with my bow, but it is interesting that I see this on the internet when I get back. I feel like I worked dang hard for my animal and it fires me up to see lazy jackasses like this cheating at my game. I hope they catch these guys!

ldjbuff · Nov 30, 2012

Post a pic of your deer

critterstalker · Nov 30, 2012

These guys drove by my uncle and I Monday morning on may field rd. but no license #

I heard a lot of gunfire during the 2 weeks I was chasing elk some was obviously shotguns but there where some that sounded more like a high power rifle never saw anyone though.