N. Minn. hunting guide hit with mountain of charges involving bear, deer kills

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Exposing the Big Game

by: Paul Walsh PAUL Star Tribune

November 5, 2013

A northern Minnesota bear hunting guide has been charged with using various illegal tactics involving the killing of bear and deer, according to authorities.

A northern Minnesota bear hunting guide has been charged with using various illegal tactics involving the killing of bear and deer, according to authorities.

Keith R. Slick, 32, of Baudette, was charged Friday in Lake of the Woods District Court with a long list of offenses, among them: two counts of possessing an over limit of bear, three counts of unlawful possession of deer, two charges of unlawfully transporting a bear, failure to register a second bear, failure to tag a second bear, illegal possession of a car-killed deer, untagged big game animal (bear), no bear outfitter/guides license, unlawful transfer/lend or borrow of license, failure to register bear bait stations, hunting within 100 yards of an unregistered bear bait station, and placing bait for bear without a license.

There were other violations, according to the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), but the statute of limitations had expired on them.

Slick was not immediately available to respond to the charges.

According to the DNR:

During the fall bear hunting season, state conservation officer Robert Gorecki located an active bear bait station belonging to Slick. A search of his home uncovered numerous bear capes and skulls, as well as sets of deer antlers.

“There were no possession or registration tags found with any of the bears,” Gorecki said in a statement released by the DNR. “The bears did not have any cuts in their ears that would indicate that a site tag was attached at any time in the past,” Gorecki said.

A check of DNR records indicated that Slick never registered an adult male deer or bear taken in the past 10 years, which is as far back as agency records go.

A cellphone seized in the investigation contained pictures of Slick with a dead bear. Numerous text messages were also found with Slick telling people about the bear he had shot. Other text messages from Slick stated that he had shot seven bears in his life.

Only two of the six antler sets recovered had site tags on them, but from individuals other than Slick.

“Mr. Slick had multiple unexplainable deer racks,” Gorecki added. “A third set of antlers were from an unregistered road-killed deer, and he was unsure where the remaining sets of antlers came from.”

Slick faces nearly $4,500 in fines and restitution. A firearm and bow were also seized during the investigation. If convicted, his hunting privileges could be revoked for three years.

Environmental Cops Bust Connecticut Man for Drunken Archery Hunting

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Exposing the Big Game

[Newsflash: Booze and bowhunting don’t mix!]

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/11/04/environmental-cops-bust-connecticut-man-for-drunken-archery-hunting/

Nov. 4, 2013 3:51pm Fred Lucas

A Connecticut deer hunter is facing a slew of charges after environmental officers busted him for allegedly drinking while hunting with a handgun and crossbow.

Officers with the State Environmental Conservation Police were checking an area in the Charter March Sanctuary where they had previously found a tree stand baited with apples and corn. Connecticut law prohibits baiting for deer because it’s considered poaching. This led police to Darin C. Hanna, 48, of Tolland, Conn., The Hartford Courant reported.

According to the newspaper, Hanna was archery hunting, carrying a crossbow and a loaded handgun. State law prohibits possessing a handgun when archery hunting, police said. Officers also said he didn’t have a permit.

Connecticut State Police assisted the conservation officers in the arrest, after which he was charged “with hunting deer over bait, possession of a firearm while archery hunting for deer, hunting under the influence, possession of a firearm while under the influence, and carrying a handgun without a permit,” the Courant reported.

Hanna was released on $10,000 bail. His court date is set for Nov. 14.

___________

Could this news help explain why we’re seeing so many injured deer lately?…

Hunters in trouble: Ten ways Minn. hunters run afoul of the law

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Exposing the Big Game

Article by: DOUG SMITH , Star Tribune
Updated: October 30, 2013 – 8:12 AM

http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/229794201.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue

It’s a Top 10 list that’s not funny.

In fact, the 10 most frequent Minnesota hunting violations produce frustration among law enforcement officials and law-abiding hunters because, despite hunter education, fines and even loss of hunting privileges or hunting gear, the violations continue.

“Most people support and comply with the laws,’’ said Ken Soring, Department of Natural Resources enforcement chief. “You can have some of the best days of your life out hunting and fishing with friends and family.

“We ask people to do it right. Those who choose not to, we’re there to hold them accountable.’’

The penalties range from $50 to $300, plus court costs, for misdemeanors, and up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $3,000 for gross misdemeanors.

Here’s the list, and the number of citations or warnings issued in 2012:

No. 1: Trespass » 337 violations

An archery hunter near St. Cloud who recently trespassed on posted private property to recover a buck he wounded now faces possible gross misdemeanor charges, which could lead to a fine and revocation of his hunting privileges for three years in Minnesota and 37 other states.

“The hunter had been told to stay off the property in the past and admitted to seeing the No Trespassing signs as well,’’ conservation officer Mike Martin said. Because the hunter transported the illegally taken big game, he could have had his vehicle and bow seized, Martin said.

Trespassing is a frequent complaint for most conservation officers. But the 337 violations tallied last year are the tip of the iceberg.

“Those are just the citations and warnings,’’ Soring said. Officers get lots of phone calls from people asking how to keep trespassers off their land, and from hunters asking how to get access to private land.

These days, with remote trail cameras, cellphones and more people in the woods, it’s riskier than ever to trespass, Soring said. The DNR has used trail camera photos to prosecute trespassers.

No. 2: License, registration or permits not in possession » 245

“When you’re in the field hunting, you need to carry your license with you,’’ Soring said. Conservation officers might give you a break if you left it in your nearby vehicle. “We write a lot of warnings,’’ Soring said.

No. 3: No valid license, registration or permit » 239

In these cases, hunters usually haven’t even bought a license or permit, a flagrant violation resulting in a citation and fine. With licenses now available online and even by phone, conservation officers rarely have sympathy for a hunter without a valid license.

No. 4: Hunting over bait » 225

Despite a law requiring Minnesota hunters convicted of baiting deer to lose their hunting privileges for a year, and possibly their gun or archery equipment, too, baiting violations continue. Last year, officers issued about 166 violations and seized 135 firearms or bows. “I don’t understand how you would relax and enjoy the hunt,” Soring said, knowing you’re hunting over bait and might get caught.

No. 5: Transporting loaded or uncased firearms in a motor vehicle » 222

Because the Legislature greatly relaxed restrictions on transporting uncased firearms, most of these violations are for carrying loaded guns in a vehicle. “The majority of time it’s people trying to cut corners,’’ Soring said. “Some are honest mistakes that could become deadly mistakes.’’ Some violators are poachers.

No. 6: Unplugged shotgun »161

Waterfowl hunters’ shotguns must have plugs in the magazine so their guns hold no more than three shells. The law has been around forever, yet every year many hunters are cited. An easy solution: Put your plug in and leave it in, even when hunting ruffed grouse or pheasants. It’s rare that you’ll ever need more than three shots anyway, Soring said.

No. 7: No blaze orange » 139

The blaze orange requirements for small and big game hunters also has been around for years, too, yet 139 violations were issued last year. “Wearing blaze orange has been shown to greatly increase safety,’’ Soring said.

No. 8: Taking game in a closed season » 126

Taking big game out of season is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and $3,000 fine. Hunting small game out of season is a misdemeanor. Some cited last year were waterfowl hunters who didn’t realize shooting ended at 4 p.m. at the beginning of the season. And split waterfowl seasons, which began in 2011, have ensnared some hunters. Another reason to study that DNR regulation book.

No. 9: Untagged deer, fur, traps or nets » 124

Some of these are flagrant violations, people filling deer tags for party members not even in the field, Soring said.

No. 10: No federal waterfowl stamps » 122

A federal “duck stamp’’ has been needed to hunt waterfowl since 1934, yet each fall hunters are cited for not having one. Maybe they’re trying to save the stamp’s $15 cost, but a citation is far more expensive. Federal officials have made buying them easier: Hunters can get them at any post office or sporting goods stores or online.

New Photo of Deer With Arrow Stuck in Him

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Exposing the Big Game

Here’s an update on the wounded deer I posted about two days ago: https://exposingthebiggame.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/wildlife-vet-or-rehabber-needed-asap/
If you know anyone who might have a new suggestion (aside from shooting him or doing nothing), or if you have experience with this and can determine from this photo what should be done to help this poor guy, please post it here or email: exposingthebiggame@gmail.com

DEAD MOOSE DISCOVERED, CPW ASKS THE PUBLIC FOR HELP

Posted on October 27, 2013 by Exposing the Big Game

DILLON, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife is seeking information about
the death of a bull moose found Wednesday, near Frey Gulch Road on
Tenderfoot Mountain, east of the shooting range. According to wildlife
officials, the moose died from a gunshot wound and was not field
dressed, leaving the meat to waste.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife urges the public to provide any additional
information that may lead to the person or persons responsible,
including personal photos of any live bull moose seen in the area since
early October.

The animal was discovered during Colorado’s 2nd Rifle hunting season,
however officials believe it was killed in early October, possibly
during the 1st Rifle season, Oct. 12 through 16. Although the
circumstances are currently unknown, officials are investigating the
incident as a possible mistaken or careless kill by an elk hunter.

“We understand that mistaken kills can happen while hunting, but we ask
hunters to let us know right away,” said District Wildlife Manager
Elissa Knox, of Summit County. “Killing an animal without a license,
abandoning and wasting the meat and evading authorities can potentially
lead to felony charges, substantial fines, prison time and a lifetime
suspension of hunting privileges in Colorado as well as 38 other
states.”

Knox adds that if officers have to track down individuals in cases like
this, they will likely face the maximum penalties. She says that
officers will take prompt self-reporting into consideration and
encourages the person responsible in this incident to contact wildlife
officials as soon as possible.

In recent years, Colorado wildlife officers have investigated a number
of incidents involving the misidentification of moose for an elk.
Hunters are reminded to always be 100 percent sure of their target
before they shoot and notify officials immediately if they have killed
the wrong species.

Anyone with information that can help in this investigation can contact
Operation Game Thief, a wildlife tips hotline at 877-265-6648 . Callers
will remain anonymous and cash rewards may be given if the information
leads to a conviction.

For more information about Operation Game Thief, go to
http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/RulesRegs/LawEnforcement/OperationGameThief/Pag
es/OGT.aspx
<http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/RulesRegs/LawEnforcement/OperationGameT hief/Pages/OGT.aspx>

Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado’s
wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational
programs. To learn more, please visit cpw.state.co.us
<http://cpw.state.co.us/> .

Moose Photo Copyright Jim Robertson

Poachers Try To Hack Data From Rare Tiger’s GPS Collar

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Exposing the Big Game

How often do you supposed this happen with collared wolves?

http://www.popsci.com/article/technology/poachers-try-hack-data-rare-tigers-gps-collar

The endangered tiger has been moved to a new reserve.

By Kelsey D. Atherton 10.18.2013

A Tiger Hunter And His Prize

Taken generations ago, before tiger hunting was banned.

Raikut, via Wikimedia Commons

There are fewer than 2,500 Bengal tigers left in the wild. To keep an eye on this endangered species, conservationists at the 210-square-mile Panna Tiger Reserve in India attached a GPS tracking collar to one of the park’s tigers this past February. Only three people have legal access to the location data for the tagged tiger. That data is emailed to the three people in charge of watching the tiger, and in July, poachers attempted to break into that email and find the tiger.

Dead tigers fetch a high price on the black market, with individual parts going for up to $2,000 and whole tigers priced at $50,000. Tracking the tiger is useful, but if the poachers can access the location information, it suddenly becomes a massive liability. Fortunately, in this case encryption and email security kept the poachers out, but that doesn’t mean more talented poachers couldn’t break through in the future.

In the meantime, the tiger was transferred to a new reserve for protection. There, it is followed by a team of wildlife officials, whose presence should be enough to deter poachers—a physical solution to a cyber problem.

Reports of bullet-riddled raptors increase as bird season opens

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Exposing the Big Game

One had bullet holes through its wing feathers, narrowly missing the humerus bone. Another had a body peppered with lead shot. They were the lucky ones.

Red-tailed hawks and other raptors fall as unintended or illegal targets each October as upland game bird season resumes in Montana. Those that survive the blast occasionally wind up in the care of raptor rehabilitators like Rob Domenech of Wild Skies Raptor Center.

“Most of it goes untold because the birds just drop and that’s it – end of story,” Domenech said. “But last week, I got a call from the manager at the Missoula landfill who had a raptor there. He found it right near the scale house. We think it was shot in that area, because it couldn’t have gone too far with those pellets all over its body. It was lead shot, probably for upland game birds.”

The hawk is slowly recovering at a clinic on Missoula’s south side under the care of Brooke Tanner, a licensed raptor rehabilitator.

“This one was the worst I’ve seen in all my years doing rehab,” Tanner said. “Usually it’s one piece of metal. This bird had nine. It must have been far enough away because the injuries were superficial. But the bird had been on the ground several days, and the wounds smelled pretty bad. We’ll let the bones heal and treat for infection before we try to dig out the pellets.”

Tanner has also treated owls, crows and numerous other non-game birds for firearms injuries. The red-tailed hawk with the blasted wing feathers was still able to fly, so she left it in the wild.

Federal law and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibit the killing of migratory raptors such as red-tailed and rough-legged hawks, and all owls. Crows don’t have that kind of protection, but most of the corvids Tanner’s seen were shot inside Missoula’s city limits, where discharging firearms is illegal.

“I get several crows every year when the babies are fledging and they’re pretty vocal,” Tanner said. “People don’t like the noise.”

With raptors, the problem may be a mistaken assumption that the birds of prey compete with two-legged hunters for pheasants and other game birds.

“Rough-legged hawks are not predators of upland birds,” said Ben Deeble, president of the Big Sky Upland Bird Association. “They have a real small foot, and eat nothing but smaller rodents. Red-tailed hawks are more generalist, and they catch the occasional upland bird. But we don’t consider hawks to be a predation problem where there’s good habitat.”

Most hawks seek mice and voles that compete with pheasants for forage in fields and meadows. Golden eagles will kill game birds, but there aren’t many of them in the Missoula or Mission valleys where bird hunters are active.

Pheasant season started Oct. 12, while other upland game birds like grouse and partridge have been legal since Sept. 1.

“Among some, there’s sentiment raptors are big birds that kill things and don’t have much other purpose,” Domenech said. “There’s some anti-predator sentiment out there. It’s disheartening someone would kill these birds. This (birdshot hawk) is a young bird, and they have 60 (percent) or 70 percent mortality in their first year of life anyway. It’s tough out there if you’re a raptor. All it takes is one bad person with a shotgun and they take out a lot of hawks.”

Hunter kills gray wolf in Pasayten Wilderness area

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Exposing the Big Game

http://methowvalleynews.com/2013/10/02/hunter-kills-gray-wolf-in-pasayten-wilderness-area/

by admin on Oct 2, 2013

Photo courtesy of WDFW

By Ann McCreary

A deer hunter shot and killed an endangered gray wolf north of Harts Pass last month, according to state and federal wildlife officials who are investigating the incident.

The hunter, who lives in the western part of the state, told state wildlife officials that he shot the wolf, an adult female, because he felt threatened.

“He felt he was in danger. He acted in self defense,” said Sgt. Dan Christensen of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

The hunter called WDFW on Sept. 20 to report shooting the wolf, which is protected under federal law as an endangered species. Wolves in the western two-thirds of Washington state (west of Highway 97) are listed as a federally endangered, while wolves in the eastern one-third were removed from federal protection in 2011. Wolves throughout Washington are protected under state law as an endangered species.

Because the wolf was killed in an area of the Pasayten Wilderness where wolves are under federal protection, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) officials are leading the investigation and collaborating with state officials, said spokesman Doug Zimmer.

Capt. Chris Anderson, of WDFW enforcement, said a group of four state and federal wildlife officials hiked on Sept. 22 to the site where the hunter reported shooting the wolf. He said the animal was a healthy adult female without a radio collar, and had been shot twice.

Christensen, who supervises wildlife enforcement for Okanogan and north Douglas counties, said he spoke with the hunter on the phone. The man said he was participating in the high buck hunt and was about five miles north of Slate Peak, not far from Silver Lake, when the wolf was shot on Sept. 19.

Christensen said the man was hunting with three companions from western Washington, but was alone when he encountered and shot the wolf. He called WDFW to “self-report” the next day, Christensen said.

Wildlife officials examined the dead wolf, took tissue samples and brought the hide back for examination and evidence, Christensen said. “There is no evidence” that the wolf is one of the wolves that has been monitored in the Lookout Pack territory, west of Twisp.

“We are assuming it was a lone female on a road trip,” Christensen said. “We have dispersing females just like we’ve had dispersing males. There were no signs of other members” of a pack, he said.

It will be up to federal investigators to determine if criminal charges related to killing an endangered species are warranted, said Christensen.

Also from the same paper:

State, feds consider changes in management of gray wolves

By Ann McCreary

Changes in the way endangered gray wolves are managed are being considered at both the state and federal levels.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider amending state wildlife interaction rules during a public meeting Friday (Oct. 4) in Olympia.

Those rules include conditions that allow ranchers and farmers to take lethal action to protect livestock from predators, including wolves, as well as for compensation for the loss of livestock killed by predators.

Amendments under consideration would:

• Make permanent an emergency rule that permits ranchers, farmers and other pet and livestock owners in the eastern third of the state to kill a wolf that is attacking their animals;

• Add sheep, goats, swine, donkeys, mules, llamas and alpacas to the list of animals livestock owners could be compensated for if those animals are killed by wolves. The current list only includes cattle, sheep and horses.

• Permit state compensation regardless of whether livestock owners were raising the animals for commercial purposes; and

• Compensate livestock owners for their losses at market value.

The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, will meet in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m.

On the federal level, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposes removing Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections from wolves in most of the nation and has scheduled hearings around the country on the proposal.

The proposal affects wolves in Washington because, if enacted, it would remove federal protections for wolves in the western two-thirds of the state, where they are currently listed under the federal ESA. Wolves are currently protected as endangered under state law throughout Washington.

Several western conservation organizations have called on FWS to schedule more public hearings on the proposal, including hearings on the West Coast. Hearings were scheduled in Sacramento, Calif., Albuquerque, N.M, and Washington, D.C.

The Pacific Wolf Coalition, representing 34 conservation organizations, advocates scheduling additional public meetings in Washington, Oregon and California.

NHLer’s B.C. Grizzly Kill Offside?

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Exposing the Big Game

Huffpost 09/30/2013

by Chris Genovali, Executive Director, Raincoast Conservation Foundation

photo copyright Jim Robertson

Raincoast Conservation Foundation has asked the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, the entity responsible for managing the trophy hunting of bears in the province, to investigate the killing of a grizzly on the central coast by National Hockey League player Clayton Stoner. As a result, the BC Conservation Officer Service is investigating Stoner’s trophy killing of the grizzly bear in question.

There is widespread concern regarding the circumstances surrounding this particular hunt, including uncertainty as to whether Stoner is technically a B.C. resident. If he is not, then he shouldn’t have been issued a B.C. Resident Hunter Number card nor should he have been allowed to enter the Limited Entry Hunt (LEH) lottery to kill a grizzly.

As the ministry website states, “Participation in the LEH draw is available to any resident of B.C. who legally possesses a B.C. Resident Hunter Number.” To obtain a B.C. Resident Hunter Number and Resident Hunter Number card an individual must provide evidence that he is a resident. The legal definition of a B.C. resident is a person who “is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, whose only or primary residence is in British Columbia, and has been physically present in British Columbia for the greater portion of each of six calendar months out of the 12 calendar months immediately preceding the date of making an application under this Act or doing another thing relevant to the operation of this Act.”

Stoner plays for the Minnesota Wild, a U.S.-based team in the NHL. As such, he is required to live and work in Minnesota the majority of the year. The NHL regular season runs from October through mid-April. That doesn’t count time spent at training camp prior to the regular season or potential participation in the playoffs. Given the length of the NHL season and the fact Stoner plays for a U.S. based team (and has played for U.S. based teams in the NHL, AHL and WHL since 2002), it would seem implausible that he could have been physically present in B.C. for the time required to qualify as a resident.

The investigation by the province raises several troubling questions. Big picture, this event could very well end up calling into question the integrity of the LEH, as well as the B.C. government’s ability to monitor the hunt and enforce their own regulations.

The Conservation Officer Service office in Bella Coola has been closed and moved to Williams Lake. Bella Coola is the only central coast community accessible by road and is the community nearest to where the grizzly bear was killed. “It’s fortunate that First Nations research technicians were there to observe and record this incident. Stoner’s party, or any hunters conducting potentially illegal activities, would be more likely to encounter aliens from another planet than a Conservation Officer in these remote coastal areas,” said Brian Falconer, guide outfitting coordinator for Raincoast.

In the 2002 Raincoast report “Losing Ground: The decline in fish and wildlife law enforcement capability in B.C. and Alaska,” author and wildlife scientist Dr. Brian Horejsi concluded the following:

Wildlife populations and biological diversity are endangered by chronic underfunding and marginalization of wildlife conservation-oriented enforcement programs in British Columbia and, to a lesser degree, in Alaska. This period of measurable political disinterest and low and declining priority now approaches 20 years in duration. There is little evidence available to the British Columbia or Alaska public to indicate that current enforcement capabilities are sufficient to provide effective compliance with fish and wildlife regulations, a problem being aggravated by escalating and uncoordinated land use activities. In every capability measure examined, capability today is significantly lower than it has been previously. Enforcement and protection staff are presently unable to effect widespread and long-lasting changes in resource user behavior in either Alaska or B.C. While fish and wildlife protection capability in Alaska has slipped…the evidence indicates that B.C. has now crossed the threshold at which protection of fish and wildlife populations and their habitat by enforcement services has effectively and materially been abandoned.

We stand with Coastal First Nations in their call to end the trophy hunting of bears in B.C.’s Great Bear Rainforest. Coastal grizzly bears, in particular, face numerous threats to their survival, including habitat loss and a declining supply of salmon; the additive pressure from trophy hunting exists throughout much of the Great Bear Rainforest, even in many legislated protected areas. This is more than just a “management” issue. It’s also an ethical issue. Bottom line, killing these magnificent animals for recreation and entertainment is a barbaric and anachronistic practice that should be ended on the coast of British Columbia.

Austrian hunter’s obsession turns to murder

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Exposing the Big Game

[My neighbor has a skull like this hanging in his barn. Those pictured here were poached by the Austrian hunter featured below.]

http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Austrian-hunter-s-obsession-turns-to-murder-4826751.php#photo-5206406

By GEORGE JAHN, Associated Press

Thursday, September 19, 2013

GROSSPRIEL, Austria (AP) — In Austria, hunting deer and wild boar is a hallowed way of life [way of death, more like, but anyway], one that follows age-old codes of honor [ahem, honor among killers?] and requires a license bestowed only after passing rigorous exams. In that exalted world, Alois Huber was a brazen outlaw even before he went on a murderous rampage that left four people dead.

Not only did he poach game illegally in the middle of the night, he violated one of hunting’s most sacred rules: Kill for meat, not just the trophy of the wild animal’s head. [“Sacred”? There’s nothing sacred about killing.]

Huber shot countless deer in the forests outside Vienna, sawed off their antlered heads to mount at home — and left their decapitated bodies to rot in the underbrush.

Until this week.

Police had gotten wind of Huber’s nocturnal poaching and went to confront him in the early hours of Tuesday. Enraged, Huber’s illegal hunting turned to murder: He embarked on a shooting rampage that left three officers and a paramedic dead. Then he set his farmhouse bunker full of trophies on fire, and killed himself with a gunshot to the head. It was one of the worst multiple slayings in Austria’s postwar history.

Villagers are baffled by the shocking violence — and say Huber led a double life. They describe the trucker as an upstanding neighbor, a welcome guest at birthday parties who gladly helped out when asked for a favor.

“He was a quiet, pleasant person who never did anyone any harm,” said Adelheid Wieder, just hours after Huber’s charred body was found. “Nobody imagined that he could be so without scruples and so aggressive.”

But Huber had good reason to keep his passion a secret: Poaching is severely punished in this tightly regulated country where it can draw up to three years in prison.

Hunters are licensed only after passing exams that test their knowledge of weapons, ballistics, hunting traditions, different kinds of game and their diseases — and a host of other disciplines. Police followed up on more than 300 reported hunting violations last year.

Among licensed hunters, rogues are held in the highest contempt.

Interior Ministry spokesman Karl-Heinz Grundboeck says that police moved in on Huber after monitoring phone calls in which he acknowledged being the illegal trophy hunter being sought in the vicinity of Annaberg, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of Vienna. Additionally, said Grundboeck, a search of his farm on the outskirts of the village of Grosspriel turned up hundreds of deer antlers and other game trophies — and about 100 guns, “many taken from other hunters’ huts.”

“We have no doubt that we found our man,” he told The Associated Press.

State Prosecutor Michaela Schnell says Huber is suspected in the illegal killing of numerous stags since 2005 and is also thought to have been the masked man who attacked a hunter with a knife two years ago, in what investigators now consider attempted murder.

In past centuries, poachers in Austria were often seen as cunning Robin Hood-like figures outwitting the noble owners of lands that they illegally hunted on for food. Now, says expert Roland Girtler, some “drive in the night with SUVs in the forest, blind the game so that it stands still and then shoot. That is pathetic.”

No one in Grosspriel or the cluster of surrounding hamlets about 70 kilometers (40 miles) west of Vienna suggests that Huber used such methods.

They describe the 55-year-old as an expert who hunted legally and whose hobby turned into an obsession after his wife died about 15 years ago, leaving the childless widower with no close family. Those willing to talk about him after the trauma left by his rampage still don’t believe that he was the man leaving the headless carcasses of deer in his wake.

“We often went hunting for rabbits and pheasant,” says innkeeper Martin Jaeger between bites of schnitzel and gulps of cloudy wheat beer. “There was never any talk of poaching.”

For experts, analyzing Huber’s motives without knowing him is difficult. Speculation runs freely. But psychiatrist Reinhard Haller says his rampage could have been linked in part to a romantic view of himself as a poacher of old on the run from repressive authorities.

From the start of his illicit hunts to his standoff with police, it was a “struggle to see who is better,” he told the Austria Press Agency, describing Huber’s suicide as “an expression of his determination not to accept defeat.”

Some of Huber’s last words as police closed in support that image of a defiant outlaw proud of his illegal shoots.

“I am the poacher of Annaberg,” he told his friend, Herbert Huthansl, by cellphone, in comments cited by the daily Kronen Zeitung.

“They’re not going to get me.”

Exposing the Big Game

Forget Hunters' Feeble Rationalizations and Trust Your Gut Feelings: Making Sport of Killing Is Not Healthy Human Behavior

Tag Archives: poachers