Wolf pelt investigation yields other wildlife charges for two Twisp men

Numerous charges have been filed

This is in relation to a story that was first reported last year in March about someone who allegedly tried to send a package that was dripping blood and contained a wolf pelt.

Charges for killing the wolves have not been filed yet but charges for state game violations have been filed. Wolves in this part of Washington State are fully protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Lookout Pack is thought to have originated from dispersing wolves from the coastal region of British Columbia.

The original story can be found here: Poachers kill wolves from Washington state’s first pack

Wolf pelt investigation yields other wildlife charges for two Twisp men
Methow Valley News


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  1. william huard Avatar
    william huard

    I find it humorous that one of these sleazeballs was a hunting instructor. Advanced poaching techniques was his specialty course. I remember a few months back it was Washington state where hunters cornered a herd of elk near a road as horrified passersby witnessed injured and dead elk being attacked by these “hunters”. Once again the lack of any ethical standards is right there for the world to see. When I questioned the Fish and Wildlife Service they responded with “an unfortunate incident letter” response. I am looking for the original reporting of the incident. Of course this is just another isolated incident and does not reflect the deterioration of hunting ethics!

  2. mikepost Avatar
    mikepost

    William, actual ethical standards in hunting have progressed positively in the last 80 years, all spectacular media stories aside. Every group (even this blog) has its 10%’ers, the knuckleheads whose self centered and destructive ways make life a misery for the rest of the group. We see it in mortgage banking, Japanese car manufacturing, foster child care just to name a few, and yes, hunting, as well as examples like ELF.

  3. william huard Avatar
    william huard

    mikepost- you are right, however all these isolated incidents add up. we may be talking 20% ers possibly.

  4. william huard Avatar
    william huard

    savebears- i’m not saying that they are criminals, but at least 20 % are unethical- if you add in the canned hunters, people that bait animals, track animals with dogs etc- people that conveniently ignore the fair chase ethic

    1. Tim Avatar
      Tim

      William,
      Have you ever caught a fish with a worm on a hook?

    2. Elk275 Avatar
      Elk275

      There is a difference between the law and ethics. The law is what you can and can not do. Ethics are your own personal moral code. No one should ever be cited for unethical actions in the field but all should be cited for illegal actions in the field.

    3. Tilly Avatar
      Tilly

      But, we as a society can choose to make more unethical actions illegal, like the upcoming Montana trapping initiative.
      http://www.footloosemontana.org/press.html

  5. mikepost Avatar
    mikepost

    Timz, when you see someone’s camp; hiker or hunter, you can pretty much tell who is going to leave their trash behind along with poor sanitation and other issues. I keep a pad and pen handy and write down license numbers and rough descriptions when I get suspicious and I pass it on. Certain folks get reputations over time with wardens and their camps get extra attention. You do have to do your part.

    As the father of modern policing, Sir Robert Peel (thats where “bobbies” comes from) once said: “A policeman [warden, et al] is nothing more than a citizen who is paid on a full time basis to do what every citizen should do on a part time basis”.

  6. Tilly Avatar
    Tilly

    Guys: getting the last word in is overrated

  7. Kayla Avatar
    Kayla

    Just had to comment on this thread. I personally am not a
    hunter but just what I call myself, a wilderness wanderer.
    I live here in Jackson Hole, Wyo. and do know quite a few
    hunters. And I do know how many of them are very
    conscientious people. Yes there are those rotten eggs out
    there which can be found in every group. But how many
    hunters are actually very conscientious people when in the
    back wilds from what I have seen. And I think many hikers
    also are very conscientious but there are again those
    rotten eggs that can be found in any group. In fact there
    are places here near Jackson that has all kinds of trash
    that is from neither hunters or hikers. But it is left over
    trash from people out in the woods for other reasons like
    just wanting to party. Timz, I wonder what your real
    objective might be if you are trying to criticize all hunters
    period. There is alot of good conscientious hunters out
    there. Just my opinion. But isn’t this thread about some
    wolf poachers in the state of Washington instead.

  8. JB Avatar
    JB

    All this bickering gets us nowhere. Hunters are nearly as diverse as the general public: they group contains ardent conservationists, as well as poachers and litterbugs. Stereotyping hunters only serves to divide those of us interested in conserving wildlife.

  9. Ken Cole Avatar

    Sorry about the little war here. I removed most but not all of the offending comments. I was on the road yesterday.

    Stay on topic please. Geeez!

  10. jon Avatar
    jon

    Ken, I emailed Ralph about a article that should be posted and he told me to talk to you. Is there an email where I can reach you at to send articles I think worthy of posting?

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Ken Cole is a 5th generation Idahoan, an avid fly fisherman, wildlife enthusiast, and photographer. He is the interim Idaho Director for Western Watersheds Project.

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