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Juveniles Caught Poaching Deer

blake

Life Member
NEWS!

From the Iowa DNR:

Five Juveniles at Center of Deer Poaching Case
Posted: January 8, 2010

MARION COUNTY, Iowa - A nearly two month investigation into deer poaching in southern Iowa has resulted in five juveniles from three counties facing multiple wildlife and criminal charges.

The case began in early October when state conservation officers received information that several individuals were rampaging through sections of Monroe, Marion and Mahaska counties at night shooting deer. Reportedly, the individuals would leave most of the deer to rot, but took the heads and antlers from some of the bucks. There were also reports of cattle being shot in the same area, on the same nights.

After weeks of investigation and surveillance, conservation officers filed 13 counts of hunting by artificial light, 12 counts of illegally taking deer, 9 counts of wanton waste of wildlife, 5 counts of carrying a loaded rifle in a vehicle on roadway, 5 counts of no valid hunting license, 4 counts of shooting a rifle from or over a roadway, 2 counts of illegal attempting to take deer and 1 count of unlawful transportation of deer.

"When dealing with juveniles, we try to use a lot of discretion. We do not want to push them to the point where they quit hunting, trapping and fishing completely. This was an extreme case," said Dallas Davis, state conversation office for Monroe and Appanoose counties.

Four of the juveniles pleaded guilty on Dec. 28, to 12 wildlife charges carrying fines of $2,110.50, plus $10,000 in civil penalties for shooting two deer with antlers that scored over 150 inches each. The juveniles were also ordered to perform 80 hours of community service each and the suspension of their hunting privileges is pending.

In addition to the wildlife violations, further investigation led to two of the teens being charged with two counts of injury to livestock, a class D felony, and two counts of 2nd degree criminal mischief, an aggravated misdemeanor for killing four head of cattle in Mahaska County, along with additional wildlife charges.

In addition to Officer Davis, other state conservation officers involved in the investigation include Ken Kenyon, for Marion County, Mike Ryan, for Mahaska and Poweshiek counties, and John Mertz, in Marion County [ret.], and the Mahaska County Sheriff's Deputy Scott Miller.


TURN IN POACHERS!

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WOW!! And their suspension of hunting privileges are PENDING!! What is up with that? Will the class D felony mean that they can't own or possess firearms in the future? :thrwrck:
 
Throw the freakin whole book at em, lock em up, and get them out of the gene pool! Take thier fine money and educate some decent kids about the joys of hunting, trapping, and fishing.
 
ya the last thing we would want is these outstanding young citizens to maybe never share the great outdoors with us what a trajic event that would be
 
In addition to Officer Davis, other state conservation officers involved in the investigation include Ken Kenyon, for Marion County, Mike Ryan, for Mahaska and Poweshiek counties, and John Mertz, in Marion County [ret.], and the Mahaska County Sheriff's Deputy Scott Miller.
I'm curious about John Mertz...He is retired,right? Does he do these sting type operations part time or does he do it because he feels so strongly about the cause that he donates his time? That's dedication either way!
 
A couple of these kids live not too far from me, I heard about this when they got busted in november. I was mad when I heard about this then and madder now that they have been charged. The fines seem pathetic for the crime, it was rumered they had around 30 racks. Kudos to the game wardens for making the case, but I think this really shows how the state views deer as a resource.
 
Mertz didn't retire until december 26th. He was actively working the case while he was still employed. Great job to all of those involved in bringing these poachers to justice.
 
I am on the Tip board and we had meeting this weekend. We approved a reward of $900 for the informant or informants. There are still charges pending in Mahaska County for the cattle and other wildlife violations. TIP is planning on mounting the biggest deer for our display and we hope to have it for the Pheasant Fest and the Deer Classic. I would not be too hard on the DNR as in a lot of cases they have to balance what charges to make to get confessions vrs throwing the book at someone and having to go to court and having a judge reduce everything down for various reasons.
Lets be thankful that someone turned them in and the officers did a good job investigating and making the case. Hopefully word will get around that you can't get away with this stuff.
 
Hunting is a right, and if you abuse that right, lock em up and fine the crap out of them. I don't care if they are kids. kids that should know right from wrong. They did this stuff knowing that if they got caught.......big trouble. They did it anyway. and shooting cattle is a different story. These kids should be drug behind a pickup for a while. lol.
 
On Iowasportmans it was said that they shot between 30 and 50 bucks. As for the felonies once they turn 18 they will no longer be on their record. I can't believe they shot between 30 and 50 bucks and this is all they get for punishment. As for shooting cattle they deserve some big time justice, thats peoples source of income.
 
Maybe that's why some of us are seeing less deer? The Officials in the State I came from,,used to say that as many deer that were taken legally, were taken illegally. I wonder if this is true for Iowa?
 
I would have to recommend a big dose of community service where they have to help the state with habitat projects....maybe it will turn one of them around. Afterall, they are youth and I am pretty sure we have all done some stupid stuff as kids.
 
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