Are You Being Poached

Are You Being Poached?

By Robert Loewendick

I closed the truck door as quietly as possible, not wanting to spook any deer coming out of the field early. The sun was beginning to announce its appearance by the glow that was silhouetting the tree line. As I reached behind the truck seat to grab my bow, something bulky along the black, silhouetted tree line grabbed my attention. Looking out of place (I couldn’t remember anything there before when scouting earlier in the week) was an object measuring several feet in length and height.

I began the walk to my stand and, as I did, I glanced at the object on the tree line several times. Just as I was about to duck under a low hanging tree limb, the sign that marked my planned route to my stand, I looked over my shoulder at the object once more. I froze in my tracks. A small red light was glowing in the center of the object and then it moved. I thought to myself, what the heck is it? I crouched to a kneeling position and watched with curiosity. Just then I heard a voice, followed by another. The thing was now visible, a small SUV and two occupants. Who were they and were they hunters?

I was told that I was the only person given permission to hunt the property, so I didn’t expect to see anyone else. Then the thought crossed my mind, why didn’t they give me a signal they were there when I parked my truck? Wanting to get to my stand in good time, I fought the urge to go talk to these folks. But, if they were hunters, I wanted to know if they had permission and, if so, where did they plan to set up?

I began walking in their direction and gave them a flick on and a flick off of my flashlight. Before I took another two steps, the driver of the SUV started the engine and began to pull away in a rapid sequence. I stood there trying to figure out what was going on with these people and decided to resume my morning plans. A week later, I was told from a neighbor of the property that a couple of mornings while I was hunting there, an SUV pulled in and parked for a few minutes and then drove off. A few days after getting the neighbor’s tip, I found a dragged trail of deer hair and blood coming from the direction of my stand.

A time later, I began to think that possibly, I was poached. Not me really, but the deer I was hunting. I had helped the poacher idiots and didn’t realize it. I showed them where to park, when the deer would be visible, and most likely when nobody would be around to catch them. Since that experience, I keep in mind the lesson learned when deer hunting and adjust my techniques and routines to keep myself in a stealth mode as much as possible.

Poachers do what they do for several reasons, none of which are sensible. Some may actually use the meat from their illegal kills. But, the primary reason is to collect antlers and heads. The illegal antler market has been taking some hits recently from law enforcement agencies and sportsmen who turn in the poachers. Though ethical sportsmen and law enforcement officials are annoying these criminals, the market for antlers is still present. One characteristic of a criminal is laziness and this is certainly true of the poacher.

Poachers can, and do, stalk hunters as if they were prey. They intently are watching and listening for any piece of information to lead them to a quick kill and/or dollar. Keep this in mind the next time you park in the open, next to a roadway or within sight of houses, farm homes, and rural businesses. Don’t telegraph your hunting routine or hunting area to others. Even if a poacher doesn’t see you entering the woods with bow or gun, he can eavesdrop on public conversations between landowners or anyone sharing sightings of a large-antlered buck. That conversation is just enough information to bring one of these illegal-antler wranglers lurking around your hunting lands.

You can do your part in battling the poacher group by adding the possibility of being watched to your hunting plans. Watch for signs of vehicles that have parked where you normally park while hunting, especially if it is private property and you or only a couple of others have permission to hunt the property. Keep an eye out for slow drive-bys in which the driver gives you a good look-over when coming or going from a hunt. If you think the property you’re hunting is being scouted for a possible poaching, don’t hesitate to contact your local wildlife officer. With the advancement in criminal investigation technology, the chances are much higher for putting a poacher or poacher operation ring out of business.

Contact Robert Loewendick at: rrloewendick@yahoo.com