DNR: Trophy Buck Shot Illegally

[josh2415]

http://wcco.com/local/illegal.trophy.bu ... 08415.html

(WCCO) The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has seized the record-setting trophy buck and charges have been filed against its hunter, after a ruling was made that the deer was shot illegally.

The eight-point buck, said to be the largest spread ever measured, was illegally taken in October. Troy Alan Reinke, of Cannon Falls, has been charged with 13 counts of illegally taking the deer.

The 32-inch beam, 27-inch spread, classic eight-point buck weighed 269 pounds. The DNR said Reinke shot the deer on Halloween, while hunting on private land. Reinke also admitted to taking two other deer in October.

If convicted, the charges carry a maximum year in jail, $19,000 in fines and revocation of his hunting license.

The DNR said bottom line poaching takes away from hunters who do it the right way and follow the rules.

[josh2415]

D'OH!

[1911fan]

There goes the quarter mill endorsement deal

[cobb]

This one?

I heard there was an issue about a valid license in possession, but not that it was poached.

[JoeH]

Yep, the big eight.

[eph78]

What a loser that can't kill a deer in season, through him in the Goodhue jail for 5 months that will teach him about failure. Also don't allow him to even own guns in the future.

loser...

[josh2415]

Same story from Outdoor News:
http://outdoornews.com/articles/2009/11 ... 916963.txt

St. Paul - Minnesota conservation officers last week seized a record- book deer rack and on Thursday morning filed poaching charges against a man from Cannon Falls, Minn., in the case.

The Minnesota DNR investigation stemmed from an incident where three deer, including a trophy 8-point buck, were killed by archery in three separate incidents near Cannon Falls in October.

According to the complaint, Troy Alan Reinke, 32, admitted to conservation officers that he had shot a small doe and a small buck on separate dates in early October, and failed to tag or register either of the deer. Reinke said he shot the large 8-point buck, with a 185 net green score, on Halloween evening.

Case details

Maj. Rod Smith, DNR Enforcement operations manager, told Outdoor News that Reinke had been charged with a total of 13 counts. At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Smith read a statement thoroughly explaining how the case came together.

“On Nov 5, DNR Conservation Officer Tyler Quandt from Red Wing and Conservation Officer Kevin Prodzinski from Zumbrota, working from several calls from concerned citizens, investigated a complaint of a possible big-game violation in Goodhue County.

“During their investigation, suspect Troy Alan Reinke of Cannon Falls admitted to taking three white-tailed deer during the archery season using archery equipment.”

The first, Smith said, was a small doe, the second a small 8-point buck – both in early October on different dates. Reinke took the third animal, the massive 8-pointer, on the evening of Oct. 31.

“Mr. Reinke told the conservation officers that he did not tag or register the first two deer and that he brought them home and processed them himself,” Smith said in his statement. “He did tag the trophy buck and registered it in Cannon Falls.”

Reinke had purchased a resident archery tag that allowed him to harvest one deer of either sex.

On Nov. 5, the conservation officers seized the bow that Reinke used to take all three deer, the meat from all three, and the skull plates and attached rack from both bucks, and the cape of the larger 8-pointer, Smith said.

Reinke was charged Thursday morning, Nov. 12, by the Goodhue County Attorney’s Office with the following 13 counts, Smith said.

• Two counts of gross misdemeanor, transport of illegally taken big-game animals;

• One count, gross overlimit of wild animals;

• Two counts, misdemeanor, failure to register deer;

• Two counts, misdemeanor, failure to validate a deer license;

• Two counts, misdemeanor, untagged big-game animal;

• Two counts, misdemeanor, take overlimit of deer, and;

• Two counts, misdemeanor, take or hunt deer without a license.

Restitution for the small buck and doe is $500 each. Restitution for

the trophy buck is $1,000.

Reinke also could have his hunting privileges revoked for three years if convicted. A trial date has not been set.

Smith said that as with all poaching cases, the DNR and Goodhue County Attorney’s Office were thorough in their investigation to ensure the case was properly charged.

“If there’s some good new from this incident, it’s that the charges are a result of concerned outdoorsmen and women who reported a possible poaching violation,” Smith said.

Monster of a buck

In a brief interview with Outdoor News on Thursday, Chuck Corcoran, the Hampton, Minn., taxidermist who handled the deer for Reinke, called the buck “breathtaking.” Corcoran, who’d been fielding media phone calls all day, said the buck field-dressed at 269 pounds.

“And it’s just a rack you’ve got to see to believe,” he said.

A small kicker point on the rack’s left side was the only scoring deduction on the very symmetrical rack, Corcoran said.

Outdoors enthusiasts around the country have seen images of the deer circulating on the Internet in recent days. Maj. Smith said another DNR Enforcement official had spoken with staffers at the Montana-based Boone & Crockett Club and confirmed that the rack likely could be a world-record rack for an 8-point deer.

“We understand that a Michigan 8-pointer scored about 183,” Smith said. “We also understand that if (Reinke) is convicted and the state retains the deer, the state can then enter the rack with Boone and Crockett, and the club will recognize it.”

Smith said the scoring form for the deer reported an inside spread of 263⁄8 inches with a gross score of 1905⁄8 inches and net green score of 185 even.

“It’s a beast,” he said.

[eph78]

That dude should never be allowed to hunt again.

[mitchx3]

Also don't allow him to even own guns in the future.

I could understand revoking hunting privileges, a fine, some community service. $20k and a year for poaching? (And the suggested removal of ability to defend himself?) Seems a little harsh for doing something that would be legal in a couple months.



*I didn't actually read the story.

[Norsesmithy]

They are ramping up the penalties for poaching, because people didn't take the old penalties seriously ($150 fine? cost of doing business, etc).

Which is good, because our state does have a poaching problem.

Losing your right to own a firearm is par for the course when you commit a FELONY. Of course, if you go to the trouble to get your civil rights restored after you've paid the fine and done the time, you can regain your right to own a firearm, among other things.

[eph78]

Also don't allow him to even own guns in the future.

I could understand revoking hunting privileges, a fine, some community service. $20k and a year for poaching? (And the suggested removal of ability to defend himself?) Seems a little harsh for doing something that would be legal in a couple months.



*I didn't actually read the story.

He shames all hunters and gun owners. He can defend him self with a pair of antlers.

[cobb]

I could understand revoking hunting privileges, a fine, some community service. $20k and a year for poaching? (And the suggested removal of ability to defend himself?) Seems a little harsh for doing something that would be legal in a couple months.

Are you serious???
That same attitude is why there are so many problems today.

[Holland&Holland]

My patience for any illegal activity is quite thin these days. Especially when it involves what was my favorite activity.

I hope they throw everything possible at him...

[bensdad]

All I saw on the list were mis. and gross-mis. charges. The only gross mis. that earns loss of guns is domestic violence. (AFAIK/IANAL/YMMV). Feel free to correct me - that's how I learn - but I don't think making up consequences as we go is any kind of healthy approach. No more hunting? Sure, you bet. Big fine? Sure, you bet. Loss of bow, and even vehicle he used to transport the deer? Sure, you bet. Beyond that, show me the law that says a guy loses his guns for poaching - WHEN HIS GUNS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE POACHING.

Aren't we the same group of guys who say guns are just tools? Should we take this dude's knives, chainsaw, boat, jack-stands, rakes, shovels, etc.?

[Norsesmithy]

IIRC isn't Gross Overlimit a felony?

I might be talking out my ass here.

The debate whether or not it is acceptable to abrogate the civil rights of felons is another debate, but it is the modern practice of the law, and the law needs to be applied evenly and fairly.