Question's for Blind Sow

[moosehunter]

Last week it was well reported about the 5 Decaturmen county men that got arrested and charged with poaching 52 deer and a bunch of other charges. My question's are:

Why did the DNR conduct a 2 year investigation on these guys?

Was it possible to charge or arrest them after it was known they had few illegal deer instead of 52.

Please don't misunderstand my question's. They are not meant to be critical. I just think it's a shame all those deer got shot from the time the DNR started the investigation until the time they made the arrest's. I had the same thought's last year when George Waters was arrested.

 

[180bc]

Excellent, excellent question moosehunter....kind of like cutting your leg half off and waiting two years to go to the doctor. Even if you get it fixed, you lost a lot of blood because you didnt move quickly.

 

[Fishbonker]

I'd have to think they had a case, but one that the perps might have beaten. They waited an extra year to make the case absolutely unbeatable.

It cost the hunters in that area several more deer in that year, but if they had beaten the case they would still be out there poaching even more deer.

The 'Bonker

 

[TC]

I would have to agree with you bonker that they wanted to build a stronger case. DNA samples of deer carcasses without heads to match with what might be in the offenders possession. Possible video tape of shooting at dummy deer?

I would imagine the one individual that pled guilty outright was caught in the act...

Let'm hang...

 

[Blind Sow]

I can't speak directly on either case since I wasn't involved with them but I can give some generalities.

In the George Waters case it involved much more than just Iowa. It was a multi-state/federal investigation. Yes, it took many years, but in the beginning though the DNR had information on him, my understanding is that there wasn't enough to do anything with it. I've had cases where we get information from the public that they believe is good and credible, but is insufficient to either get a search warrant or to issue a citation. So that information is filed away as another piece of the puzzle until something more comes along. In cases of this magnitude the investigation leads to more people who have to be interviewed, information processed, and with this case having federal involvement, you are looking at other states conducting their interviews/investigations and having to wait for them to get back with you. Yes, sometimes some earlier violations may not be prosecuted because of time involvement (more a state problem than federal), and a few more animals illegally killed before charges are finally brought. That is decision that is made by the people involved.

Again with the Decatur case, sometimes an investigation reveals illegal activity from previous years. Unfortunately, all Iowa fish and game violations are simple misdemeanors, and after one year of taking place, we (DNR officers) can't charge them with any violation. An example is if you illegally shot a deer on Sept 1, 2003 and we found proof about it on September 2, 2004 we coulnd't do a thing about it.

I can't stress enough having the public contact us when they think they see some illegal activity. Even if you're not sure, contact your local conservation officer and let them make the determination if the activity was illegal or not. So often CO's receive a call, days, weeks or even months later about some possible illegal activity. Most of the time by then it is too late to do anthing. Contact us immediately.

As I said in the beginning these are just some generalizations on these two cases. Sometimes there seems to be the public perception that as soon as CO's (or any other law enforcement officer/agency) gets some tip that they can rush out and issue a citation. It's not like TV where we can wrap up the case in one hour (minus the commercials).

Hopefully this answers your question.

Doug Clayton

State Conservation Officer

 

[moosehunter]

First, thanks for your response. Secondly, let me thank you and the other CO's for the work you men and women do. I think the conditions you work under at times are not the best but you seem to always make the best of it.

With that said:

I'm sure there are legitiment reason's why some cases take much longer than others as your example with the Waters case points out. But it still ashame that so many animals die at the hands of these low lifes before they are brought to justice.