Another reason why the lawbreakers will always have the upper hand

[Haris122]

If the legislature would leave the MDC to determine the appropriate fine/punishment for something like this they still wouldn't need to be involved. That being said I thought the MDC could write you a citation. Don't they determine the fines for people that poach deer? And if so, how is this any different of a scenario? 

[MOPanfisher]

MDC can certainly write a ticket, however after that it goes through the County Court system, and the Prosecuting Attorney has to be willing to prosecute it, then to the judge, etc.  MDC can certainly take away the hunting/fishing privileges from the violator, however it is highly unlikely that someone who poaches, etc. is going to be concerned about whether or not they have a licence/tag.  MDC also has the ability to take vehicles/guns etc. involved in  some cases like caught shooting from a road at night etc.  I don't think the MDC wants to be the one setting the fines, just like the MSHP doesn't want to be the ones who set the fines for speeding etc., they make/approve the rules and do the enforcement, the punishment is up to the court system.

[Johnsfolly]

On ‎5‎/‎31‎/‎2016 at 11:20 AM, Haris122 said:

Btw. don't they have some type of tarantula here anyways?

The Texas brown tarantula is found in the south west part of Missouri. I have seen some on a couple of different trips to and from Branson, once at night on 65 heading into town and the other during the day on 160 East in the Mark Twain Nat forest after passing Beaver Creek. Pretty freaky seeing one cross the road at night.

[Al Agnew]

There are tarantulas in eastern Missouri as well.  I haven't come across one in a long time, but have seen several, including one crossing the highway right by our house.  It's pretty freaky to be able to actually see a spider crossing the highway when you're going 60 mph...means it's a darned big spider!

[ozark trout fisher]

6 hours ago, awhuber said:

Wait! Now we want the Missouri legislature more involved withe the MDC?  I'm so cornfused...

No. The MDC may make the rules but once the cases get tied up in county courts there isn't a ton they can do. I seriously doubt anyone within that agency is satisfied with this legal outcome.

I am simply making the point that outside of the MDC, such assaults against natural resources are not regarded as a serious transgression. This ranges from the legislature on down to rural court systems. It is a massive problem and I can't begin to see where a solution is coming from.

[fishinwrench]

I totally get the whole thing about a diverse wildlife population that includes potentially dangerous critters, I kinda dig that myself sometimes.  But there's alot to be appreciated about things like allowing your kids and pets to go off and explore while camping and stuff, without having to hover over them armed like a secret service agent.  

I dunno, I just grew up stomping the woods and creeks of Mo. where about the worst thing that was likely to happen to me was getting stung by a bee.  I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the outdoors near as much if I (and my parents) knew that at any time I could have been pounced on by a bear or a wildcat.   

[Haris122]

Quote

I totally get the whole thing about a diverse wildlife population that includes potentially dangerous critters, I kinda dig that myself sometimes.  But there's alot to be appreciated about things like allowing your kids and pets to go off and explore while camping and stuff, without having to hover over them armed like a secret service agent.  

I get that too. I just think the 2 can coexist, as long as those dangerous critters don't get too common. But with a couple hundred bears in the whole state, and probably less pumas than that, I'm thinking there's still room for more of them without leading to serious problems . That's still very far from having a dangerous animal around every corner, when you consider the size of Missouri, or even just the Ozarks portion of it. Less than there is to justify people just blowing them up, each time they glimpse them, which is how it seems to end up 80% of the time I hear of a sighting here. So yeah, it's not like I'd be comfortable with being out and about in a Serengeti, or Siberian forest-like wilderness (honestly I think Crocodiles would be what would suck the most, for us fishermen), but just squirrels and deer also doesn't do it for me. 

[XP 590]

10 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

 

I dunno, I just grew up stomping the woods and creeks of Mo. where about the worst thing that was likely to happen to me was getting stung by a bee.  I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the outdoors near as much if I (and my parents) knew that at any time I could have been pounced on by a bear or a wildcat.   

Wrench, I think the bear would have spit you out.  You seem a little salty to me. 

[MOPanfisher]

When I was a kid there were a couple packs of feral and half feral dogs around.  Way better chance of getting mauled by one of them, or stepping in a hole and breaking my leg that of being attacked by a bear or mountain lion now.  Besides it would give me a defendable reason to purchase a new pistol.

[fishinwrench]

6 hours ago, XP 590 said:

Wrench, I think the bear would have spit you out.  You seem a little salty to me. 

There was a cranky St.Bernard up the road from us when I was a kid.  This was before the movie Cujo came out, but that dog could have easily been the inspiration for that flick.  To my knowledge he never actually mauled anyone but he sure acted like he wanted to, and probably the only reason he never got ahold of any of us was because he was incredibly slow and short winded.