Freep-Poaching shows need for officers

[Pinefarm]

We gotta get this MDNR budget mess fixed ASAP! Not only does it effect CO's and biologists, no regulations will ever see major change until the budget is solved either.

ERIC SHARP

Poaching shows need for officers
December 9, 2007


excerpt from story...

It's another example of the great work done by many of our conservation officers, and another reason the state is making a huge mistake if it allows 14 of them to be laid off because of budget cuts.

The real problem is that politicians and bureaucrats don't really hunt or fish any more, at least not seriously. To them, killing a deer illegally is like jaywalking or littering.

But a recent survey estimated that the Michigan firearms season alone is worth $700 million to the state economy. Add in the archery and black powder seasons, and it has to come to a billion dollars.

With the DNR estimating that hunters in this state will kill 450,000 deer this year, it makes each animal worth about $2,200. If someone went into the homes of those politicians and bureaucrats and stole $2,200 worth of stuff, do you thing they'd be upset?

So why won't they fund salaries for conservation officers who catch people who rip off the state for many millions of dollars each year in poached deer, ducks, upland game birds, rabbits and fish?

For whole story...
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071209/SPORTS10/712090645/1058

[One Eye]

While I agree 100%, poaching will never be eliminated or even reduced. They will never staff the COs enough to make even a dent in the illegal activity going on in our forests and waterways. Even when these dedicated COs make good arrests, the courts do not take the stealing and/or destruction of our natural resources as "serious crimes".

I have a ton of respect for those COs out there and will report every violation I see, but it is like the "finger in the dyke" situation.

Thanks for sharing the article.

Dan

[mal]

It's all about political priorities. Ohio has a much smaller outdoors related economy and when I hunt down in SE Ohio I see officers frequently. When I fish in Ohio waters of Lake Erie, I frequently see Ohio DNR boats and have had them pull up and give us the inspection.

I've hunted in Hillsdale County for 15 years and never once seen a DNR vehicle. I've been fishing on Lake Erie in Michigan waters for 25 years and other than at the dock never encountered a DNR marine patrol.

I think the fact that Michigan cannot even organize a system of mandatory deer check-in shows how much energy they want to dedicate to deer management. But they'd probably sell fewer licenses if people actually had to match their ID with the tag on the deer.

I liken it to having a 100 man police force to respond to all the crime in Detroit. Just makes one wonder how really serious the state is about managing and preserving its outdoor heritage. I remember when a trip up north was exciting...now if you go to most of the NLP it's desolate...a beautiful landscape that's been ruined by poor management. Heck even alot of the good northern fishing lakes of yesteryear are sad excuses fo what they used to be.

The best fishing and hunting in Michigan is in the south and it's because of things done by private entities and not the state. They've left the UP and NLP to the meth makers, pot plantations, dirt bikers, and poachers...a sort of outdoor no-man's land.

There was a time where towns like Alpena, Mio, Atlanta, Cadillac, Oscoda, Kalkaska, Manistee, Houghton Lake, etc. would stir visions of deer camps, 20 pound pike, stringers of walleye, smelt by the buckets, and steelie runs so thick even a beginner couldn't help but hook into one. Now...not so much.

One man's opinion.

[farmlegend]

I've hunted in Hillsdale County for 15 years and never once seen a DNR vehicle.

Roger that(though only 13 years for me w/o seeing any CO presence). Makes me wonder what the difference would be if we just eliminated the DNR's law division entirely. I don't see much difference between that awful scenario compared to what we have now.

[Pinefarm]

Maybe privatize it? ;)

[FullQuiver]

Maybe privatize it? ;)

Now that kind of thinking outside the box is just what we need. Gov't=waste in my book. Your on the right track as far as I'm concerned PF.

[oldrank]

been checked twice.......ever.....and i hunt right next to DNR post......but they do a great job keeping off road vehicles and horseback riders off the foot trails......they do patrol the local lakes pretty good......I live out in the middle of big farm country and what amazes me are the number of shots i hear at night around here when the snow is on the ground.......

[upnut]

Roger that(though only 13 years for me w/o seeing any CO presence). Makes me wonder what the difference would be if we just eliminated the DNR's law division entirely. I don't see much difference between that awful scenario compared to what we have now.

I say you guys should round up the people of Hillsdale County and ship 'em out, it's not without precedent...see Chief Baw Beese...http://www.co.hillsdale.mi.us/hc-history.htm

Scott B.

[brdhntr]

Roger that(though only 13 years for me w/o seeing any CO presence). Makes me wonder what the difference would be if we just eliminated the DNR's law division entirely. I don't see much difference between that awful scenario compared to what we have now.

The CO's were out and about in Jerome on the firearm opener. Had members checked on 3 different properties. Might be because we have been proactive in talking with the CO, and working to cut down on the tresspassing in the area.

[north_of_mackinaw]

If you did eliminate the DNR's law division entirely like someone suggested then you change the chances of an encounter with an officer in the woods from low to zero. You think the poachers are bold now and not enough is done about it? Wait until they know there is no chance of getting caught and see what happens.
The way I see it some people are going to follow the hunting laws regardless, that's just the way they are. I'd like to consider myself in this group as I really try to do things the right way.
Then some people follow the law because they don't want to get caught and pay a fine or whatever the consequences may be. The only thing keeping this group legal or more legal than not is the risk of getting caught.
Lastly there are the plain old SOB's. These folks figure the wildlife really belong to then anyway and to hell with anyone who tells them how to hunt and fish. They couldn't care less and do things the way they want until someone stops them.
Without any law enforcement at all there obviously is no reason for the second group to not join the third group and act like anything goes because at that point anything does.
The last thing I think we should do is eliminate any of our conservation officers in the field. Now, some of the paper pushers in Lansing? You bet!

[weatherby]

Maybe privatize it? ;) If you think we have problems now. Tenfold the situation if it gets privatized:yikes:

[double lung]

Roger that(though only 13 years for me w/o seeing any CO presence). Makes me wonder what the difference would be if we just eliminated the DNR's law division entirely. I don't see much difference between that awful scenario compared to what we have now.

Probably because you're not a poacher.

Trust me, there are a few that can't fart without a CO telling you what he ate for dinner;)