Me, hanging with my new Marlin 30-30, ready for hunting.
First of all, I need to apologize because I took vacation without saying I was taking vacation. That was because I was so into my vacation.
However! I’m back and with excitement.
This Monday started the two-week buck season here. We have had a non-stop problem with poachers here since we moved in. Yesterday, it came to a head and we were able to catch one of the poachers in the act.
This is Ross (orange hunting vest) and my neighbor Jim, standing by the blue pickup, with two game wardens in the background.
On Tuesday afternoon, we spied a truck and two four-wheelers pull up on a road up the hill across from our farm. This is property that is also part of this farm and we have seen poachers pull deer down the hill and load them in the past. This time, the four-wheelers went up, then came back down, then left with the truck. Ross took his four-wheeler and went up the hill, found another pickup truck but no one there. We were sure we had a poacher. Ross parked his four-wheeler at the bottom of the hill. I called game wardens and my neighbor Jim. My neighbor Jim came to help block the road with his pickup. That was the only way out from the top of the hill. I was worried about Ross confronting them alone. Luckily, game wardens arrived before there was a confrontation.
This is the game wardens driving up the hill. Ross went up after them with his four-wheeler. My neighbor Jim went with him, and Ross’s dad also went up once he got back. (He was at the store when this was going down.)
The poacher was caught red-handed with a shot deer. He was charged with trespassing, illegal possession of wildlife, no hunting license, and a vehicle registration two years out of date.
He admitted to everything, said he’d been planning to stay all day, shoot all the deer he could, and that was his family coming to check on him–who we spotted and gave him away. He said he had 160 acres of his own, but hadn’t gotten a deer on his land so he decided to come hunt ours.
He left with over $600 in fines and I hope he enjoys his $600 deer.
And I bet this farm is off his to-poach list now!
Hlhohnholz says:
They won’t let him keep the deer. The game wardens will take it and donate it to a food pantry or needy family. Which is even better! Glad you got ’em!
On November 26, 2014 at 5:37 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
No, they really let him keep the deer. He had to pay an extra fine. They gave him a choice, they would seize the deer or he could keep it and pay an extra fine. He chose to pay the extra fine and keep the deer.
On November 26, 2014 at 6:36 pm
RosieJo says:
Proud of y’all! Sorry you only get to hunt for 2 weeks. In Georgia we have from the last of October ’til the end of January. Half the people I know begin Thanksgiving Day in the woods.
On November 26, 2014 at 5:46 pm
beforethedawn says:
It better be off his list! So awesome that you caught him red handed!!
On November 26, 2014 at 6:11 pm
yvonnem says:
Whew, glad to hear you are ok….was getting worried! Also glad to hear you had a well deserved vacation and that Ross is home and that you got the poacher…all good news!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!
On November 26, 2014 at 6:22 pm
Pat says:
Congratulations on the nab. Glad to know you are vacationing and all is well. Enjoy the vacation, hunting, and family. Happy Thanksgiving!
On November 26, 2014 at 6:22 pm
yvonnem says:
That sure was an expensive deer. I didn’t think it was an option for the poacher to keep the deer, and I’ve heard the Wardens can take their guns away also. Guess he got lucky (if he’s got the money to pay the fines)…sure hope he learned from it.
On November 26, 2014 at 8:49 pm
AnnieB says:
Wow, what an exciting day! Glad you had a nice time off, and glad you are okay! Was getting worried!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your lovely family!
On November 26, 2014 at 9:35 pm
Jersey Lady says:
Yay on catching that poacher! So happy to hear you had all that backup. Hope you get a deer. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
On November 26, 2014 at 9:57 pm
boulderneigh says:
Cheering wildly for the Sassafras Farm team!
On November 26, 2014 at 11:16 pm
The High Altitude Tea Duchess says:
I love this! Happy Thanksgiving and so glad at least one poacher was caught!
On November 27, 2014 at 6:36 am
Joell says:
Some people have no shame!
Glad to hear that the poacher was caught, if you find a poacher’s vehicle and are worried about them leaving before the warden arrives, remove the air from a couple of their tires on their vehicle and that will slow them down, how you choose to do that is your choice 😉
Happy Thanksgiving to You, your Family and all of your readers.
On November 27, 2014 at 7:57 am
DeniseS says:
When the word gets around, perhaps you will no longer have hunters coming to your farm because they know you are watching along with Game Wardens and fines. Glad you had a nice vacation. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
On November 27, 2014 at 10:41 am
oddly enough says:
:dancingmonster: Wow – your laws are very lenient! here he would have lost the deer (no chance of a buy back), his weapon, his vehicle (registered or not) would have been impounded and sold, the fines would have been through the roof and his “privilege” of hunting suspended for a good long time or forever!
On November 27, 2014 at 11:42 am
Bells says:
Be careful the next few days. He and/or his friends may come back for some revenge and do some mischief around your place.
Glad you caught them!
On November 27, 2014 at 9:17 pm
judyg says:
Way to go! Good for you! It always annoys me when criminals get away with their crimes. Glad you had the guts to deal with it. I’m continually amazed at and proud of you!
On November 28, 2014 at 11:52 am
connilu says:
Glad you caught the poacher and glad Ross is home. Hope your other kids made it by Thanksgiving and that you all had a wonderful time. I wish Happy Days for ALL of you.
On November 28, 2014 at 1:55 pm
bonita says:
I agree,poaching fines seem mighty light there in WV. But my take away from post as that you and your ex can spend holidays together with the kids, under one roof…kids don’t need to choose who to spend holidays with…kudos to two remarkable co-parents
On December 1, 2014 at 8:49 pm
chickenhead says:
The fines in WV don’t seem to bad until you find out that each charge can attach a court fee of about 180 dollars. This can even apply if you don’t go to court. my mom found this out when she went to pay a 25 dollar ticket and got 180 dollars tacked on. I don’t know if the game warden has a way around the court costs or not. The poacher may be in for a big surprise.
On December 3, 2014 at 1:51 pm