Here's Your Sign

[Steve D]

Too Many Turkeys - Washington County

On May 2, ECOs Steve Gonyeau and Tom Wensley responded to a complaint of illegal wild turkey hunting in the town of Kingsbury. A father and son had been hunting turkeys when they witnessed another individual shoot at a group of turkeys in the same field. The hunter hit three turkeys and was seen taking the birds into the woods, and later leaving the field without turkeys in hand. The ECOs later found four male turkey carcasses partially field dressed and hidden under some dead wood. They also located empty shells and shotgun wads. The ECOs followed a trail to a farmhouse where they obtained a list of hunters allowed on the property. During an interview with a Lake George-based hunter, the subject stated that he didn't shoot anything that day but did hear shots. Upon further investigation, the officers found two small turkey feathers and a bloody pocket knife in with the man's hunting gear, which also matched the description given by the complainant. When confronted with the evidence, the man admitted to shooting three times, claiming that the birds were walking in a line and that it was an accident that he shot so many at once. He turned over the turkey meat to the ECOs and was issued tickets for taking over the daily limit, taking over the season limit, and failing to tag the turkeys. He agreed to settling the case and paid $500 in penalties on May 10.

ECO Gonyeau with the illegally killed wild turkeys

 

 

 

Too Much Mud, Even for a Jeep - Broome County

On May 6, ECO Andy McCormick received a complaint of a Jeep stuck on a DEC Flood Control easement in the town of Union. He requested a New York State Trooper to respond, as well, and upon arrival found the Jeep stuck in a large pond area. ECO McCormick contacted a towing company to remove the Jeep. With heavy rain still falling, the recovery required two hours and two tow trucks, as the first tow truck became mired in mud. The driver of the Jeep stated he had observed the signs that motor vehicles were not allowed on the flood wall and drove around a locked gate to access the ponding area. ECO McCormick issued him a ticket for operating a motor vehicle on a flood control easement.

 

This Turkey was Hunting Coyotes? - Franklin County

On May 1, the opening day of spring turkey season, ECO Jim Cranker was on foot patrol in the town of Brighton when he heard a single gunshot ring out. ECO Cranker observed a hunter with a shotgun at the edge of a field, approached the man, and asked to see his hunting license. The subject did not possess a current turkey permit, denied hunting turkeys, and said he had taken a shot at a coyote that was stalking a flock of wild turkeys in the field. Despite being afield with a shotgun at 8 a.m., prime turkey hunting time, the hunter staunchly maintained he was hunting coyotes. However, coyote hunting season closed the end of March, which means shooting at coyotes is now prohibited. The hunter was issued a ticket for hunting coyotes out of season.