NY DEC officers ticket dozens of poachers over the past few weeks

[burmjohn]

1. The game warden used to tell us for trespassers call the state troopers because the $250 fine dec gives out automatically goes to a $1000 fine if the troopers respond.

2. They left a big one out of this article.

"CLARE — The chairman of the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority’s board of directors was charged Oct. 19 with discharging a firearm across a public highway, a violation, by New York State Department of Conservation officers.

Frederick J, Carter, 66, Clark Street, Ogdensburg, is accused of shooting at a deer on the side of a road at 4:55 p.m., according to DEC.

To avoid the criminal charge, Mr. Carter agreed to a civil penalty, which came with a $200 fine, Mr. Carter said.

Also with Mr. Carter was Edward Carter, 77, and Charles J. Schaver, 78, who also were charged with discharging a firearm across a public highway

Edward Carter was also charged with possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. All charges were settled with civil fines, Mr. Carter said.

He said he was driving on Tooley Pond Road when he saw a large buck on the side of the road. What Mr. Carter said he didn’t know was that it was not a real deer.

“It was a wonderful decoy,” he said.

He said his brother, Edward, got out of the truck and began firing at the fake animal. He and Mr. Schaver were charged even though he said they did not fire.

“It’s one of those things that happens,” Mr. Carter said. “It’s like getting a speeding ticket.”

As a public official he should have stiffer files then just 200 bux, what a freaking joke. Like getting a speeding ticket?

[meatmuzzy]

I made a trip up to my farm after thanksgiving and found signs of road hunting. big pile of hair & blood in the road, drag marks leading to a tree with a slug hole through it and hair & blood all over. The deer was shot from the road. I filed a report with DEC but they told me theres nothing they can do now. Sad.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

As a public official he should have stiffer files then just 200 bux, what a freaking joke. Like getting a speeding ticket?

It is sad but the way the laws are now what he did is no different than a speeding ticket. It is a violation not even a misdemeanor

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I was suprised that one I know of wasn't on the sheet. Reliable source....Down near Scoharie. man fired multiple shots at a deer running between him and the road. multiple rounds hit multiple houses on the other side of the road. Arrest was made and from what I understand somehow they ended up at his house and he had illegal handguns as well.

[noahmstone]

Noahmstone Besides DEC enforcing environmental laws and Troopers enforce state laws, what are the differences in jurisdiction between DEC and State/Local police?? Do DEC have more or less authority and if so how?

I have no idea. My father used to work on a large parcel of land as a "care taker" he also sold hunting and fishing liscences and knew the game warden very well. the "park" he worked for hired on extra people during hunting season just to walk the property lines that bordered state land to watch for and keep tresspasser off of the property. the game warden would come anytime he was called with a tresspassing report and he would just laugh and give the person a ticket. After the ticketed person left he would pull the employee aside and tell them that he would respond to every call and it didn't bother him it was job security but if they really wanted to make an impact on these people who were clearly ignoring the posted signs to call the state troopers and the fine would go from $250 to $1000. I don't know why but that was what we were always told. although this was 15 years ago things may have changed.

[Steve7]

I have no symapthy for any of these people. After almost getting shot by a tresspasser this year they should all hang (see "tresspassers...thoughts on a situation" in deer hunting). The penalties are too lax and they know it. Pisses me off to read some of the their comments.. speeding ticket? These people have no respect for others property... and themselves. DEC should implement a manadatory suspension of hunting priveleges if your busted for a year or two.

[erussell]

I think we need to go to a PA style fine system for poaching deer. There was a article in the paper recently about a guy in PA who poached a 172 inch buck and was fined 8 grand and 5 yrs without a licence. NY fines are a joke. And everyone knows it.

[Doc]

I think these scuzz-balls are starting to realize just what an impotent position DEC law enforcement has gotten into with all the lay-offs and budget cuts. And I believe that lawlessness in the area of game law violations will increase. That's why it is important for hunters to become more vigilant in reporting law-breaking. We need to get less concerned about making excuses for these violations and more concerned with doing our part in keeping these people from breaking the laws without any fear of being caught. Whenever I see the results of some of these "crack-downs", and how many people they catch, it makes me wonder just how huge the problem really is and how many people are getting away with such acts that we never hear about.

Yes, there may be cases of some reports not being responded to, but I have to believe that those are rare. At any rate, if the DEC is having difficulties responding to reports, just imagine how ineffective they are at discovering these violations on their own without the public's help.