Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals
Every year we hear of the poaching nonsense that happens all over the country, and…really… all over the world. Recently this thread popped up on our Forum: https://forum.eastmans.com/threads/nice-bucks-poached-in-utah-how-can-we-stop-poachers.22129/
I’m preaching to the choir, here, but hopefully someone is reading this and maybe will think twice before shooting something they don’t have a legal license for.
North American wildlife resides in a public trust, belonging to the people of North America. No single person owns them, we all own them collectively, similar to our public lands. With this in mind, none of us has the right to poach animals whenever we see fit, no matter the species or size of the antlers/horns on the animal.
The fact of the matter is poaching is stealing, lying, and cheating. If you illegally shoot wildlife, you are stealing from your children and fellow man. If you illegally shoot wildlife, you are lying to those around you and yourself about how you harvested it. If you illegally shoot wildlife, you are cheating others just like you out of the opportunity to harvest that critter during legal hunting seasons and not allowing that animal to die with grace as a true sportsman would.
Come on, brothers in the field, we are better than this. This activity only puts a black eye on all of our reputations to the voting public. Hunting is a heritage going back as far as our earliest records of mankind. In the United States, hunting is a privilege that can be taken away.
If you know of someone inclined to poach, talk some sense into them. This is bigger than all of us. To quote Russell Crowe in the famous movie Gladiator, “What we do in life, echoes in eternity.” Be a gentleman sportsman, a hunter-conservationist. We are the first conservationists in history and need to act accordingly.
Get prepared. Stay prepared. Hunt hard.
Everything stated above rings TRUE! Until there are stiffer consequences for VIOLATERS like so many other criminals in this country and world I don’t see it changing. It seems like in many aspects of life anymore the people with INTEGRITY are few and far between.
I grew up with a guy that poached regularly. So we didn’t hunt together. Years later he asked me why and I said, “I don’t hunt with poachers!” A heated argument ensued and it was never resolved. Poaching is the worst form of greed and contempt for others…
The act of wanton poaching certainly describes the character of a person. Ego, greed, selfishness and lack of restraint come to mind. These traits are hard to change in a person. I feel that fear needs to be added to their list! Fear of being caught, fear of repercussions, fear of jail, fines and forfeitures! We, as sportsmen, should always aggressively assist in reporting those who we know are violating the laws to the proper authorities. And support judges and prosecutors that actively seek harsh sentencing of poachers.
jail time is what is needed, not just fines and loss of license. They are poachers so they obviously have no regard for laws. Jail time, they are thieves
Thank you for posting this!
I have a thought. If they totally take away hunting someday, will any of u turn into a poacher? Of will u sit back a support the liberals rules for u? How about how they are slowly taking away hound hunting because it un human. Will shooting an animal is un human also in there eyes. The liberals want no hunting period. Then what will you guys do. Obey the law??? Rules upon rules. And who is enforcing them. ….liberal conservation officers that are slightly against hunting.