This certain WMA that you hunt......
Has a bow season, ML hunt, then a three week gun season. Season ends 1st weekend of December, then is closed to all hunting until this past weekend when small game opened. This WMA has about 75 roads that lead in and out to highways, and gates are left open all year to the public to access any road.
This WMA also has private property in it where there are a bunch of hunt camps, and several of the places people live in year round. One family that lives there is a known bunch of local outlaws. Always have been
Upon casual conversation with someone who hunts in a club nearby this WMA, you hear about one of the grandkids of this property owner has been "shooting everything that moves" while the WMA was closed to hunting. Rumor is he has killed 35 deer and has been bragging about it.
Now, this is technically hearsay. How would you handle turning this individual in? I do not know this person. If he walked up right now, I would have no idea who he is. I do know the reputation of his family and have no reason to doubt this is true.
They are taking from the resource I enjoy and feel it is my duty as a lawful hunter to turn them in...
Anonymous tip, but without a name or address or something, gonna be tough.
Hell, some crackhead stole my girlfriend's purse from her at work, and they did a big report and everything....I tracked down said crackhead and figured out where he lived, and two places he regularly hung out and pass the information along to the police. They also had video of him stealing the purse and he used credit cards multiple times, so felony charges were up. They did nothing...and the detective stopped returning my girlfriend's phone calls. Given, that's Tampa PD...but I have little faith in any law enforcement.
It's been a couple months, I'm thinking it's time for some vigilante justice.
Or find out where he's dumping the deer, and set up trailcams.
I'd call the local FWC office and have them check it out. If they're known outlaws then FWC will know where to go. At the very least they will be on the lookout for this guy and maybe they can catch him later on.
