I retired from Law Enforcement last summer and my plan is to just spend my time enjoying and photographing wildlife. My dream world is to be able to do this without ever seeing any type of crimes being committed. I only lasted a few months before I saw my first wildlife violation. I guess I could have just ignored what happened but I think people need to take action by reporting what they observe and plus I want people to know that if I am in the area and they decide to break the law I will report it.
I went to the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge a few months ago to photograph the Snow Geese. Hunting season was going on so I had to try and locate an area where no one was hunting the geese. After driving around for about an hour I located the geese landing in a field where no hunters were. I decided to park my vehicle on the edge of the field and then get behind some trees so as not to spook the geese. I was having a great time and was getting some nice shots. About an hour later I saw several subjects in a pickup driving slow toward my location. I was getting ready to go ahead and leave so that they could have the area. I then noticed two of the subjects getting out of the pickup as it was still moving and walking on the far side away from the geese. It was obvious that they were planning to drive up to the geese and then shoot from the vehicle and the road which is illegal. I decided that I would photograph this as it took place. I know what it takes to get good evidence so I photographed them shooting from the vehicle and from the road. I also photographed them chasing the wounded geese and picking them up. I even photographed them returning to the vehicle and I also got the license plate. I was lucky because after I did all this a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Officer drove by and I was able to wave him down. I advised him of what I just witnessed and showed him the photos on my camera. I told him where they were parked and he drove to where they were. I later ran into the officer and he told me that they had admitted to what they had done and that they were written several tickets that will cost them a lot.
Note: I saw a total of 4 people in the pickup and one of those was a boy that appeared to be about 10 or 12 years old. What they did was wrong but having a child with them really made me angry. The strange thing about all this was that the subjects knew I was photographing them and I even took photos of them looking at me. I also want my family to know that I keep my distance from these type of people and that I am super careful.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Interesting story. My father was in law enforcement and I was a teacher for years. I still have a problem when I see people violating the law, especially in public use areas, and especially around wildlife.
Wow, well I’m glad they got caught and with your help. I agree it is very upsetting to see things like this and even more so when there is a child. What else are they teaching the child I always wonder.
Good job steve! What an awesome story
I guess you can’t REALLY retire. Well played and a good example of how to handle this type of situation.
Thanks for standing up for wildlife Steve. Not easy, but proud that you did it.
I’m sure you’ve heard this from your family, and know these situations far better than I … but I’m glad that the criminals didn’t further their crimes by threatening you in any way. If there is a next time, please take care … I doubt you have the instant radio communications for back-up like you used to. Perhaps just catalog the evidence and call it in to (active) law enforcement units.
Good luck w/ your dream retirement.
Way to go Steve!!!
as usual, we are all proud of you for standing up for what is right.
cant we do something abt this steve? an awareness programme somewhere would help isnt it? But yeah its the receptiveness that matters… Anyways thanks for putting this and glad that pl like them are getting caught.
spread peace
shyam
India
Shyam, Oklahoma has a great website explaining what to do: Operation Game Thief
Most states have a hotline to call and they do try to get people to call but I agree with you maybe we need to do more on getting people to call.
Way to go Steve. All to often we see things happen but do not want to get involved. Photos speak a 1000 words.
This is not hunting but poaching. One is done fairly and with respect, the other is criminal.
I hope those people got really stiff fines. They should also have been sited for the endangerment of a child. I’m glad the boy saw that they got in trouble for doing wrong.
And I’m really glad that they did not know you were a retired law enforcement officer.
Be careful, stay safe and keep being who you are. Great photos! God bless, Lili
Unfortunately what you observed was the Social Learning theory in action. According to the theory, our behavior is modified by our peers through a series of positive and negative re-enforcements within our peer structures.
As a Refuge Officer myself I have seen this all to often. I can remember once during an investigation of an individual who I found with five fresh deer heads in the bed of his pick-up truck (coincidentally, while I was getting my Masters Degree in Criminology). When I ran ran his name, I found he was the third generation from his family who had been involved in poaching related cases. His father, uncle, and grandfather had all convictions of poaching.
So what can we do with this information…The change must occur at a cultural level, so as law enforcement professionals, we try to alter the cycle. Working with AUSAs, we can make sentencing recommendations for manatory educational programs along with traditional fines. The educational programs can be in the form of community service with biologists on projects or a more formal community outreach programs (consult visitor services).
Good story….
Thanks for the great info Craig and I totally agree.