 "Photo: N/A")
As stories are inflated and the tales of big bucks are told, there are some new topics that have hunters talking. With most of the firearms deer season behind us, it's a good time to tell those tales of success, and maybe some new ones of failure.
The story of Troy Alan Reinke started out pretty good as he showed off the record-book rack from a buck he had shot. The buck was the third deer he had bagged this year--by most standards a fine tale to tell.
What Reinke hadn't been disclosing was the fact that all of his deer were shot out of season, quite some time before legal shooting dates. This he had to explain as Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officers confiscated the leftover meat, hides and antlers from the poached animals.
Along with losing the animals, Reinke lost a bow that officers had found and was fined $2,000 in restitution, plus court costs. If convicted, he will also lose his hunting privileges for the next three years.
Game violations are on the rise in Minnesota, and it’s not just poaching that officers are investigating.
Baiting is the number one issue conservation officers are fighting today. Outlawed two decades ago, baiting involves placing food or similar items to attract deer to a hunting location. An area is considered "baited" until 10 days after the bait has been removed.
Officers were out in full force trying to catch baiters red-handed these past two weeks. While it is true that each officer has a lot of area to cover, they also possess many aids to make this possible.
Aerial photography is one of the easiest ways to find bait stations. Once the leaves are down, there is very little that can be hidden from the view of someone in the sky. GPS coordinates of suspected baiting stations are recorded and sent to officers for action.
Tips from other hunters and concerned citizens are just as valuable, and ATV's make accessing even remote hunting spots easy work.
If caught, a hunter will lose his weapon with no chance of later recovery, and receive a hefty fine in its place. If the taking of animals over a baited area can be proved, hunters should expect to pay restitution, more fines and court costs as well.
Of course, there are many other ways people are trying to get around the laws these days. What these law breakers don't often think about is the image that they are creating for others, especially the law-abiding hunters.
Hunting is a safe and ethical pastime that is enjoyed by a great number of people in this state. There are enough hardships faced by those who wish to keep hunting rights and privileges, and a great majority of hunters follow the laws set before them.
Anyone who witnesses a hunting or fishing related incident should report it immediately. Simply call the toll-free Turn-In-Poachers (TIP) hotline at 800-652-9093, or #TIP on your cell phone. The call is anonymous, and will help to ensure the continuation of our hunting traditions for the coming generations.
Be the first to comment on this article!