Trail Cam Found In Oregon Leads To Conviction in Idaho

[noharleyyet]

April 29, 2010.

From Idaho Fish and Game:

A trail camera left at an illegal bear bait in Oregon in 2008 has led to the conviction of a former Idaho resident on wildlife related violations that occurred in Idaho.

On April 12, 2010, Aaron Loosli, formerly of Rexburg and now of La Pine, Ore., was sentenced in Idaho's Madison County for unlawful possession of a bull moose in October of 2004.

Information stored on the camera implicated a number of other individuals in illegal wildlife activities both in Oregon and Idaho. A joint investigation between Oregon and Idaho wildlife enforcement officers resulted not only in this conviction, but a variety of other charges.

The investigation resulted in the confiscation of numerous illegally taken trophy animals. Officers involved in the investigation said this was not about subsistence poaching to feed a family, but lust for trophy quality animals.

While investigators were able to charge Loosli with nearly 30 violations as the result of their investigation, legal maneuverings resulted in only the bull moose charge moving entirely through the court system.

Loosli's sentence issued April 12 included:

Nine-year revocation of hunting privileges.

One-year of determinant, two years indeterminate jail time (suspended).

$10,000 civil penalty to be paid to the State of Idaho at $200 a month.

$500 in fines plus $181 in court costs.

150 hours of community service.

30 days in jail served in either Idaho or Oregon.

Shall not carry any weapons during probation.
Daniel Parker of Bend, Ore., was also found guilty for his role in the illegal killing of this same bull moose. He received a similar sentence. Because of the interstate Wildlife Violator Compact both individuals will lose the privilege to hunt in the participating 33 states for the next nine years.

"This case demonstrates the distance that wildlife criminals will cover, as well as the staggering number of animals that they can illegally kill over the course of a few years," Idaho Fish and Game Regional Investigator Robert Howe said.

 

[elk_hunter]

Wow, not a bright idea to leave poaching pictures on the memory card in cams.

Anyway, on this topic,

this was not about subsistence poaching to feed a family

what do you think the outcome would have been if it would have been determined the poacher killed to feed his family? Do you think the state(s) would press charges or let someone off the hook? What are your thoughts/feelings about such an act?

 

[smalls]

Anyway, on this topic, what do you think the outcome would have been if it would have been determined the poacher killed to feed his family? Do you think the state(s) would press charges or let someone off the hook? What are your thoughts/feelings about such an act?

Perhaps many will disagree, but if a guy is having trouble making ends meet and shooting a deer or elk feeds his family, I have no problem looking the other way.

 

[Moosie]

I'm with SMALLS. I was in a Store in Garden Valley once that a lady was saying that another local friend that walked in that a different friend had shot a buck and it dropped a doe as well in one shot. I know this could be 100% accurate because..... Well, Let's say I heard a 100% honest mistake like this was done long time ago from a reliable source Whether that story was true or not I'm not sure. But she butchered this doe and used it for her family. I told her she probably shouldn't be sharing this story out loud becasue they could get in Big trouble.

Was I in the Wrong 100% for not reporting ? You betcha. Do I feel 1% bad for not turning them in ? No way.

Although, shooting a cow Moose for meat I'd have a bigger issue with then a doe deer. But I'm Human and that's how I roll.

 

[TheTone]

Perhaps many will disagree, but if a guy is having trouble making ends meet and shooting a deer or elk feeds his family, I have no problem looking the other way.

There was a ton more to this case than is stated in the news release.

In this day and age there are much easier avenues to attain food for your family than going poaching. If a guy is having trouble making ends meet he should be out on the job hunt, not out in the mountains looking for critters to kill.

 

[noharleyyet]

Perhaps many will disagree, but if a guy is having trouble making ends meet and shooting a deer or elk feeds his family, I have no problem looking the other way.

Hasn't the nanny state rendered subsistence hunting impractical? Hell, I'd've traded him a jar of peanut butter for the game cam.

 

[AZ402]

Hell, I'd've traded him a jar of peanut butter for the game cam.

Smooth or Chunky?

 

[Sytes]

Anyway, on this topic, what do you think the outcome would have been if it would have been determined the poacher killed to feed his family?

I believe judges should hold themselves accountable to using discretion in their actions. I believe they are not bearers of black and white law. If for family, the law was violated - The person still violated the law and should be prosecuted... With that, if the judge feels this was the actual case, minimal sentence... community service - along those lines should be the discretion. Breaking the law is just that - thankfully, judges DO hold the ability to modify sentencing.

Do you think the state(s) would press charges or let someone off the hook? What are your thoughts/feelings about such an act?

I would consider a "hardship" for family to be allotted "X" game tags per year(?) Though maybe better yet, ALL game not claimed at processing locations be turned over for "hardship" families...(?) I would pay $1 more per tag to cover cost associated with labor by the processing centers.

Something along that line IMO would be a better course of action versus making exceptions to breaking the law.

 

[Moosie]

A crime is still a crime. If your wife is Pregnant and you Speed to get to the Hospital You're breaking the law as much as someone that was just out racing. If you shoot a critter for food illegally you are still doing it illegally. I think if I was the cop though I'd look less at it in that case. But that’s me. There are better ways to get food and much easier ways as well actually.

Either way... they guy with the "Poaching Cam" got off easy I think.

 

[montanadogs]

If I were the judge I'd fine him the orginal $10,000, make him pay that upfront. Then every year for the next 15 years make him pay $5,000 for every possible calf he could have helped produce throughout his life time. On top of everything else he got. He got off way to easy. What is up with people these days?

 

[sweetnectar]

What do you guys think if a guy shot a lion or bear that was in his yard because he didn't want it returning to get a hold of one of his kids? Is he justified or totally illegal and should fined and loose his hunting rights?

 

[noharleyyet]

Bang.......