Poaching Story

[Stein]

Geez, it's a $110 fine EACH for undersized walleye in Canada.  $142 for all of that isn't much of a deterrent.

[fshndoug]

we need laws that allow total confiscation of everything involved with taking fish and game illegaly.I think Ontario does that,why can't we do the same?

[fishin_addict]

Quillback, I agree.  For a guy willing to spend the money to come up from Texas,  and the  paltry threat of a $300 fine, he will be back next week as odds have it he won't be stopped ever again.  And why let the daughter-in-law off with a warning?  I'm really tired of people playing dumb to try and get off with a warning.  Just like any other crime, if you make the fines stiff and actually enforce them, it'll cut way down on this BS.  They should ban this guy from  being able to get Missouri fishing or hunting license.

[Haris122]

darn. That is some bs. At least it wasn't just $116. $300 is still weak for 40 something extra fish but at least it’s not as much a joke as 116 would've been. But yeah, 2nd participant should’ve got just as much. 

What’s that come to, about the same price as he would’ve paid buying that many rainbow trout at the store? 

[Gavin]

Missouri's wildlife fines are incredibly low in comparison to allot of other places. Wish the legislature would address the issue, but that is very unlikely given the current leadership in Jefferson City.

 

[Gatorjet]

I think there should be an option for some leniency for first time "ignorance of the law is no excuse" offenders. But not for blatant wildlife hogs. I bet the $300 is less than a buck per fish for what he has taken over the years.

 

[Gavin]

Poaching deer wont cost you much, less than $1,000 probably allot less. Might get fined 5-20k or more in some neighboring states.

[MOPanfisher]

Part way down the article there is a link to a Uniform Fine Schedule for Conservation Violations.  According to the article 84 of MO's 114 counties use it.  The amounts are low across the board it seems to me.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.news-leader.com/amp/83196230

[oneshot]

Well caught one Trout this year that had been Gigged.

 

Knew a Guy years ago in North Missouri he would drive once a year to Taneycomo would come back with an Ice Chest full of Trout. Said he drives all that way he was going to make it worth his time.

But he got a Ticket one time for passing on a hill. All he had to do was pay the fine but didn't. Lost his Drivers License for a year.

 

oneshot

[fishinwrench]

Well here's the thing: It's pretty hard to give life imprisonment sentences for game violations when deer get killed on the highways by the thousands daily. And it is far from uncommon for spills from wastewater treatment plants and assorted other companies that we want in our towns wipe out complete sections of rivers.  

If killing a few deer with a gun out of season gives a guy serious prison time, then what would the penalty be for a waste spill or a train derailment that decimates a complete watershed for 14 years?    

If your argument is "Well those are ACCIDENTS".  Are they?   Accidents are prevented when RULES and REGULATIONS already in place are followed.   So the truth is that the powers that be simply do not wish to hurt those that in some way help communities.....and them. And fish/game violators ride on the coat tails of that.

Murder isn't punished to the degree that it should be either, because nobody has murdered more people than our government and the ones they are in control of.