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From the Salina Kansas Journal.
A Clay County farmer who previously had complained to
officials about poachers was stabbed late Sunday by deer poachers he
confronted on a rural road. The farmer, Marvin Macy, 67, rural Longford, was
in serious condition Monday at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. No arrests
had been made by late Monday, Clay County Sheriff Chuck Dunn said. Officials
were looking for three men in a red, 1980s or early '90s Ford pickup truck
with a white dog box in the back. The pickup had a Kansas license tag. The
alleged poachers left behind a deer - illegally killed with a shotgun and
its head severed. Rob Ladner, regional supervisor for the Kansas Department
of Wildlife and Parks, said Macy's wife called the natural resource officer
assigned to Clay County at about 6 p.m. Sunday, after her husband heard
shots fired near their home. Macy went to investigate, planning to meet the
state officer. Dunn said Macy confronted two men on a rural road in the
Longford area and saw a third man in the pickup truck. During that
confrontation, Macy was stabbed in the abdomen and side and cut on the face.
One of the alleged poachers jumped in Macy's car and the other got into the
pickup truck. Both vehicles sped away. Macy, bleeding from his wounds,
walked about a quarter mile to an old farmstead where he had equipment
stored. He drove a farm truck to his nearby home, then was flown from his
house to the Wichita hospital. Lost 'em in the dust Ladner said the natural
resource officer was headed to meet Macy at 6:18 p.m. when he saw Macy's car
headed away from his house, following a red pickup truck. The officer turned
around and followed the car and truck, but he lost sight of them in the
dust. He stopped about two miles from the stabbing site when he saw Macy's
car, abandoned in the road. "Don't ask me why they drove the car two miles
away and then abandoned it," Dunn said. Dunn said officers talked to another
farmer who saw the poachers within a couple of miles of the stabbing site
earlier Sunday afternoon. "He stopped to see what they were doing, and they
said they were just riding around," Dunn said. Ladner said the poachers left
behind a male deer with antlers that had an inside span of more than 17
inches - large enough to make the poaching a felony crime. Ladner didn't
know whether the buck had a large enough rack to be considered a trophy.
Late October through early December is the prime season for deer poaching
because it's rutting season, and deer are more vulnerable and because the
deer haven't yet shed their antlers, Ladner said. "It used to be, 25 years
ago, that the poachers were after the meat," Ladner said. "Now, the antler
market is a very lucrative business." He said a top-end rack could sell for
as much as $20,000. But, "that's not your typical rack," Ladner said.
"That's very top end." Do not approach them Ladner said the department often
gets calls from landowners about poachers. Department officials ask that
witnesses get as much information as they can - a description of the people
involved, a description of their vehicle and a tag number, if possible, and
a description of what they're doing. "We have to know what the violation is
- whether they're shooting at night with a spotlight, or shooting out of
season," Ladner said. It's helpful to call 911 as quickly as possible,
Ladner said, so a natural resource officer or sheriff's deputy can catch the
poachers. But Ladner said citizens should never confront poachers. As
demonstrated by Macy's injuries, confronting poachers can be dangerous.
"These people already are committing illegal acts," Ladner said. "If they're
willing to do those kinds of things openly, then they are probably the kind
of people that I would consider dangerous."
Good News!!!
Arrest in Clay County stabbing case: An arrest has been made in the Clay
County stabbing that occurred earlier this week. 49-year-old Gene Bitler of
Council Grove was taken into custody Wednesday evening. Bitler is charged
with one count of attempted first degree murder, as well as charges of
criminal deprivation of property, fleeing and eluding a police officer,
contributing to a child's misconduct, criminal hunting, and several other
fish and game violations. Bitler's bond has been set at 750-thousand
dollars. The charges stem from the Sunday evening stabbing of Clay County
farmer Marvin Macy, who attempted to speak with deer poachers on his
property. Macy is listed in fair condition at Wesley Medical Center in
Wichita. However authorities say it took several hours of surgery to rebuild
his face and abdomen following the stabbing. Clay County Sheriff Chuck Dunn
and County Attorney Rick James say two other individuals are being
questioned concerning the crime and more arrests are expected. Dunn says
Bitler's arrest was the result of several days of intensive police work,
aided by Clay County residents who came forward with important details about
the crime. Natural Resources Officers and KBI agents also assisted in the
investigation.
A Clay County farmer who previously had complained to
officials about poachers was stabbed late Sunday by deer poachers he
confronted on a rural road. The farmer, Marvin Macy, 67, rural Longford, was
in serious condition Monday at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. No arrests
had been made by late Monday, Clay County Sheriff Chuck Dunn said. Officials
were looking for three men in a red, 1980s or early '90s Ford pickup truck
with a white dog box in the back. The pickup had a Kansas license tag. The
alleged poachers left behind a deer - illegally killed with a shotgun and
its head severed. Rob Ladner, regional supervisor for the Kansas Department
of Wildlife and Parks, said Macy's wife called the natural resource officer
assigned to Clay County at about 6 p.m. Sunday, after her husband heard
shots fired near their home. Macy went to investigate, planning to meet the
state officer. Dunn said Macy confronted two men on a rural road in the
Longford area and saw a third man in the pickup truck. During that
confrontation, Macy was stabbed in the abdomen and side and cut on the face.
One of the alleged poachers jumped in Macy's car and the other got into the
pickup truck. Both vehicles sped away. Macy, bleeding from his wounds,
walked about a quarter mile to an old farmstead where he had equipment
stored. He drove a farm truck to his nearby home, then was flown from his
house to the Wichita hospital. Lost 'em in the dust Ladner said the natural
resource officer was headed to meet Macy at 6:18 p.m. when he saw Macy's car
headed away from his house, following a red pickup truck. The officer turned
around and followed the car and truck, but he lost sight of them in the
dust. He stopped about two miles from the stabbing site when he saw Macy's
car, abandoned in the road. "Don't ask me why they drove the car two miles
away and then abandoned it," Dunn said. Dunn said officers talked to another
farmer who saw the poachers within a couple of miles of the stabbing site
earlier Sunday afternoon. "He stopped to see what they were doing, and they
said they were just riding around," Dunn said. Ladner said the poachers left
behind a male deer with antlers that had an inside span of more than 17
inches - large enough to make the poaching a felony crime. Ladner didn't
know whether the buck had a large enough rack to be considered a trophy.
Late October through early December is the prime season for deer poaching
because it's rutting season, and deer are more vulnerable and because the
deer haven't yet shed their antlers, Ladner said. "It used to be, 25 years
ago, that the poachers were after the meat," Ladner said. "Now, the antler
market is a very lucrative business." He said a top-end rack could sell for
as much as $20,000. But, "that's not your typical rack," Ladner said.
"That's very top end." Do not approach them Ladner said the department often
gets calls from landowners about poachers. Department officials ask that
witnesses get as much information as they can - a description of the people
involved, a description of their vehicle and a tag number, if possible, and
a description of what they're doing. "We have to know what the violation is
- whether they're shooting at night with a spotlight, or shooting out of
season," Ladner said. It's helpful to call 911 as quickly as possible,
Ladner said, so a natural resource officer or sheriff's deputy can catch the
poachers. But Ladner said citizens should never confront poachers. As
demonstrated by Macy's injuries, confronting poachers can be dangerous.
"These people already are committing illegal acts," Ladner said. "If they're
willing to do those kinds of things openly, then they are probably the kind
of people that I would consider dangerous."
Good News!!!
Arrest in Clay County stabbing case: An arrest has been made in the Clay
County stabbing that occurred earlier this week. 49-year-old Gene Bitler of
Council Grove was taken into custody Wednesday evening. Bitler is charged
with one count of attempted first degree murder, as well as charges of
criminal deprivation of property, fleeing and eluding a police officer,
contributing to a child's misconduct, criminal hunting, and several other
fish and game violations. Bitler's bond has been set at 750-thousand
dollars. The charges stem from the Sunday evening stabbing of Clay County
farmer Marvin Macy, who attempted to speak with deer poachers on his
property. Macy is listed in fair condition at Wesley Medical Center in
Wichita. However authorities say it took several hours of surgery to rebuild
his face and abdomen following the stabbing. Clay County Sheriff Chuck Dunn
and County Attorney Rick James say two other individuals are being
questioned concerning the crime and more arrests are expected. Dunn says
Bitler's arrest was the result of several days of intensive police work,
aided by Clay County residents who came forward with important details about
the crime. Natural Resources Officers and KBI agents also assisted in the
investigation.