Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    	Bob,
        I have been trying to send you mail about using your tape but
    i can't get through. Is your buffer full? I would like to see your
    tape, if you have a waiting list put me on it. Thanks.............
    							Bret

    
    I saw this program this past weekend on channel 36 (cable) in
    Shrewsbury. It pi$$ed me off to say the least. Two notable things
    about it. The first was that at no time did they say that hunting
    was to blame. It was well stated that ILLEGAL POACHING was to blame.
    Also some of those people have  got guts. They actually let people
    take videotapes of them killing hundreds of geese in a matter of
    minutes. They also showed aq tape of poachers in Alaska hunting
    grizzly from a plane. The only problem i had was that they said
    that hunters were hunting in areas around the state and federal
    parks. They made it sound like there should be a hundred mile limit
    around the parks that cant be hunted. But all in all it was avery
    good show and you should see it if it comes on again. 
                        
                        Walt

    I also happened to see that program this weekend. 
    
    It was very disturbing and enlightening. For example, a warden from I 
    believe it was Utah, stated that the number of legally harvested big 
    game in the state only accounts for 1/2 of the total taken in the state. 
    For every legally taken animal, one is taken illegally.
    
    The show for the most part concentrated on the black bear. There is a great
    number of poaching of black bear for the "parts", claws, gallblater were 
    mentioned the most. A sting operation in south eastern U.S. concentrating 
    on the poaching of black bear in the "Smokey Mountain National Park", I 
    think that was the correct name. Anyway, after three years of undercover 
    work many were arrested, jailed, and fined. The thing that seems to have 
    stuck in my mine was the fact that the wardens, and the people in the area 
    keep on saying that "...it is a way of life, the culture, it has been 
    going on for a great number of years, for generations.....It is entrenched
    in the culture....".
    
    It was recorded that during the three year period that about 600 bears
    were taken illegally from that area, which is the current population of 
    black bears in that state park!
    
    The market is there for the poacher. A black bear gallblater brings about 
    $100. In NY, or LA the gallblater goes for about $400, in Asia sometimes 
    depending on the species, thousands of dollars!

    The show also touched on the insurmountable task of the wardens to police
    large areas of land. A difficult task, realistically very few poachers are
    caught. But I hope that is changing, the show showed a road block, I don't
    remember were it was now but the results were very effective.
    
    The show did briefly talk about wildfowl and other big game species. The 
    one that sticks in my mind was the segment mentioned by Walt. The tape 
    of six or eight poachers that on a wildlife refuge killed in a matter of 
    what seemed like seconds, 200 geese over there limit in an area that I 
    believe was restricted, that was never really stated but the narrator 
    lead me to believe that was the case.

    I was glad to see the show dedicate some time to legitimate hunting and
    conscientious hunters. The narrator stated that the legitimate hunter is 
    the "one that is the most outraged by poaching." The show also spoke 
    about different organizations whose members, mostly hunters, spend 
    allot of time and money to preserve habitat and promote management of our 
    natural resources, not just the wildlife that is hunted.
    
    I was irate by the time the show concluded, there was blatant waste and
    total disregard for OUR, vs their personal, natural resources and wildlife
    by the poachers. I was also disgusted at the large numbers of illegally
    slaughtered wild game each year for profit and "fun".

    Very good show, sorry to ramble on so,
    Michael
    

    Read in the Fitchburg Leominster newspaper last night where 2 people 
    were arrested Sunday for poaching.  Had in their possession 2
    whitetails which were taken that morning, both shot with a 30-06 in
    Fitchburg behind Monty Tech. The bastards!!!
    
    lock em up!   Fra

    Can someone give me the number to call in Maine to report poaching? 
    I'll be calling from outside Maine (Mass), so the 1-800-ALERT-US
    (253-7887) number doesn't work (I tried).  It only works if you are
    calling from within Maine.
    
    Yesterday, while in Maine, I found the remains of a young buck beside
    the road.  The head, lower legs, and hide were there along with the box
    they were carried in and then thrown from a car or truck.  It was a
    recent kill and not "leftovers" from last fall.  The scary part of this
    is that the box was from a meatpacking company.  This could possibly be
    bigger than a one-time deal.  There was no name on the box, but there
    was a store number which could probably identify where this box was
    delivered to.
    
    Can someone in Maine tell me the number to call?  I couldn't find the
    warden, but did leave a note on his truck windshield.  I'd like to
    follow up.  Thanks.
    
    Pete
    

    Sounds more like illegal dumping than poaching. (By the meat-packing
    house or the guy whose deer they processed.)

    
    
       RE: .5
    
    The department office number is (207)289-2766.  Thats in Augusta.  You
    can ask them for the right person.  
    
      There are also regional headquarter numbers (800 and regular):
       Ashland - 435-3231
       Sidney  - 547-4145
       Bangor  _ 941-4440
       Gray    - 657-2345
       Greenville - 695-3756
    
    Chuck

    Thanks Chuck.  I called the Augusta number and they referred me to the
    number in Gray.  A warden is going to call me back.  I'm going to ask
    if they will let me know what they discover and any results.  Re:
    Illegal dumping  --  I don't think so.  This was a fresh kill. 
    Poaching was definitely involved unless someone likes to age their deer
    for 5 months.
    
    I'll post any results.