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Gaffer Variety:
Poacher V068:
By Willie Gaffer:
After we told him that, I had second thoughts. I wanted to get the poacher and I realized I had given someone permission to tamper with evidence. The tree guys had told me about a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) poacher hotline. They did not know the number.
From experience, I knew there was no point in calling the
police. I have called the Michigan State Police several times over the years
and they have always brushed me off. Every time I have ever encountered a state
cop he was either doing something to me or explaining why he could not help me.
Why bother? So, I went to the
RAP Hotline: 1-800-292-7800
How to Report a Violation
Complaints may be given to our operators by reporting online or calling the toll-free Report All Poaching number.
1-800-292-7800
Non-residents may reach our operators by calling (517) 373-1230.
When reporting a poaching violation, the more information you can furnish the more successful an investigation may be.
You should be prepared to furnish as full a description as possible on the following:
What was the violation?
When and where did it occur?
What weapons or equipment were used?
What vehicles or crafts were used (registration numbers are important)?
How many people were involved?
Describe the people, including their physical description and clothing.
What evidence is still at the scene?
Did the violator(s) take evidence of the crime with them?
Which way or where did they go and how?
When making a complaint, you may remain anonymous.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division is a member of the International Association of Natural Resources Crimestoppers. We and the other member states and provinces recognize the harm done to our natural resources by incidents of poaching of fish, game and endangered species, wherever they occur. If you have information regarding poaching in any state or Canadian province you may report it to us and we will forward it to the appropriate agency.
There was other information, but that was the main part of
it. So I called the hot line and a woman took my complaint. That was about
Needless to say, I was surprised when Ken, a CO called about
He did even better than he promised. About 20 minutes after he called me, he showed up with a partner and talked to me personally. I told him I had screwed up and given a guy permission to take the platform. He frowned but did not chide me. Then they went out to check things out and he called me from the scene. It turned out the platform had not been removed and he instructed me to make sure the tree guys leave it alone. He still wanted to catch the poacher in the act. He said, if I learned anything more I should call the hotline again. I promised I would.
On Tuesday morning, November 14, the tree guys showed up and I ran out to tell them what was happening and that they should leave the platform alone. Then I found out why they had not taken it. The tree guy tried to take it down, but it turns out the, brazen poacher had put a lock on the platform so it could not be removed. This guy is really unbelievably brazen. He is treating my property as though he owned it. I really want this guy.
On opening day, Wednesday, November 15 I heard one shot out
there at about
Now it looks like this may become an ongoing thing. The DNR has two guys to cover an entire county so they cannot camp out under that particular crime scene. Yet, to make a case, they must catch him in the act. Even though, from the logistics of the situation, it is obvious who the poacher is, there is no physical evidence.
It gives me a very sick feeling. I am being victimized and I have very little leverage to deal with the situation. This is a very dangerous situation where a criminal with a gun is lurking in the woods on my property. This means I cannot let my grandchildren play outside when they visit. I cannot go out into my own woods for fear I will be shot by this crud. How far will he go? I don’t know. I know he is flaunting the laws of our community.
This is a person who lives in a community and masquerades as
a normal citizen. He is not a citizen. He is a criminal. He had demonstrated
that he has no respect for law, for property rights, for his neighbors or for
his community. He takes whatever he wants without regard for the rights of
other people. How far will he go? How can we know how far a person who does not
respect the rights of others will go? If he were confronted, would he kill
someone? I cannot take that chance. The people in
Once a person decides to be a criminal, he has taken the
most difficult step. There is no way of predicting what he will do after that.
Yet, I cannot allow this situation to go on forever. The stress on myself and
my wife would be intolerable. If the DNR cannot deal with this, eventually I
will have to. I can wait a reasonable time. If this criminal is not apprehended
by the end of deer season, I will have to figure out what to do. If I am not
killed in the meantime, I’m sure there will be a follow up to this essay.
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