POACHING ISN'T JUST ABOUT BIG GAME
When people think about poaching, the first image that comes to mind
is someone killing a trophy big game animal such as an elk or deer. The reality
is that wildlife crimes come in all shapes and sizes; and are as varied as
shooting birds out of season, to taking more fish than allowed.
For
example, on a recent August weekend Colorado Division of Wildlife District
Wildlife Manager Lance Gatlin issued tickets to four people who kept 362
bluegill they caught at Brush Hollow Reservoir near Penrose. Each person is
allowed to keep 20 bluegill per day at Brush Hollow, which put them 282 fish
over their limit. Since fines are based on each fish, their penalties quickly
added up to $3,999.
In another case, an angler has been caught on four
separate occasions over the last two years with too many trout taken from
Colorado Springs area lakes. The first time he was cited for 26 fish over the
daily bag limit, then 10 over, then 11 over, finally 13 over. His last
encounter resulted in an arrest for fishing under suspension and non-payment of
his previous violations. At latest count, he is up to $1,800 in fines. One of
the reasons he kept getting caught is concerned sportsman called the DOW to
report him.
"The vast majority of anglers are law abiding people who
simply enjoy getting outside and trying to catch some fish," said Gatlin.
"Unfortunately, some people get carried away and take more than their fair
share."
While these cases are isolated examples, they demonstrate that
some people show utter disrespect for wildlife laws
"Most of the big
poaching cases people hear about are hunting stories," said Gatlin. "But
poaching isn't always about a 6x6 bull elk, or a 30-inch trophy mule deer
buck."
The Division of Wildlife encourages people to get outdoors and
enjoy the state's wildlife resources, but remember that the wildlife belongs to
all of the citizens of the state. So when fishing or hunting, follow the rules
of fair chase. Be respectful of other hunters and anglers, and don't take more
than your fair share.
If anyone suspects someone is violating wildlife
laws, they should contact their local wildlife office or call 1-877-265-6648.
Or, e-mail Operation Game Thief at
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.
Citizens can remain completely anonymous, and are eligible for cash rewards if
their information leads to issuing a citation.
For a complete list of
Colorado hunting and fishing regulations, visit the Division�s web site at: www.state.co.us.
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