Hunters take note: poaching is illegal.
The traditional definition of "poaching" is "taking a game animal out of season." However, any unlawful possession of an animal is considered poaching. So far this year, there have not been any illegal possessions in the Pagosa Springs area, according to Mike Reid, Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) officer — but he says the weather can determine how much poaching might occur.
Doug Purcell, another officer with DOW, says, “about 10% of the hunters make mistakes and self-report them”, resulting in fines, but only “about 2% of the hunters are actually out to do illegal hunting.”
The Samson Law, enacted April of 1998, increased the penalties for poaching certain big game animals. It was named after a big bull Elk that wandered freely through the town of Estes Park, Colorado. Samson was not only a tourist attraction, but a favorite of the locals, and their outrage when the bull was illegally shot became the impetus that instituted the law; residents felt the fines for poaching Samson were paltry compared to the crime of illegally killing a publicly owned Elk. The man used a crossbow which is quiet and lethal, and considered the “weapon of choice” for poachers.
 The fines for poaching trophy-sized game animals have now been increased. The current fine for shooting a bull Elk with at least six points on one antler beam, is $10,000, the same fine as for trophy-sized Mule deer, Whitetail deer, bull Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat and Pronghorn Antelope, generally depending on the horn spread. For a long time wild or game animals were not considered important enough, apparently, to make the poaching fines fit the crime, but now according to the law, the government can not only fine poachers thousands of dollars, but they can confiscate their weapons and revoke their hunting licenses for a lengthy time.
The DOW encourages people to contact them, in the event of finding a headless Deer or Elk carcass; anyone with information on poaching can receive rewards up to $1000. Illegal game meat is routinely supplied to low-income families or individuals with specific dietary needs due to medical conditions.
You can call 1-877-Colo OGT ("Operation Game Thief"). |