U.P. St. Martins Island deer harvest pic (was poaching raid)

[fr0sty]

Update, with the info posted on page 3, I am changing the title from "poaching" to something more accurate. See page three for details.

Not sure if this has been posted. I did a search, but didn't see it. Also, this was forwarded to me, so I can't vouch for the info.

This is the next island beyond Rock Island. (Just beyond Washington island) Wis/Mich line is right between Rock and St. Martins island. For those that don't already know...Terry Short is a Warden in Upper Michigan

From our raid on St. Martins Island on Nov. 19, 2009.

31 bucks and 9 does on the pole. Nothing smaller than a 7 point. Another approx. 10 deer, antlers, and heads found on the ground around the camp. A mix of smaller bucks and does.

10 deer without tags, approx. another 10 deer with wives/girlfriends tags.

Investigation continues.

[fr0sty]

[Musky Buck]

Just think how much better our hunting might be if poaching didn't exist. I'm not sure what I'm looking at other then a very depressing sight, will or is any of the meat any good ? Some look pretty rough. If this is factual these guys really have a pair. I will be curious to see what the "further investigation" turns up. I hope this isn't a true thing, almost unbelievable. I notice about a 1986 Chevy truck in the pic. I'm surprised they would allow anyone in their gang to photograph it, but frosty it'll be curious to hear more on this photo.

[fr0sty]

Me too. I suspect it will be in outdoor news or other publications if it is real.

[mrklean]

i can only hope this is photo shopped but i dont think it is sad

[sticknstring]

Fascinating pictures. I think that island is only a few miles long and mostly private. I wouldn't think it could sustain a harvest like that every year. A neat place to live though.

[fr0sty]

Looks like it may be real. http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/on_wluc/content.aspx?id=110744 The story starts at 19:55 in.

[Nate McVey]

Thanks for posting that link, I was just coming to do the same. It does appear to be true, 10 deer without tags, 10 deer with wives/girlfriends tags, total of 30+ deer. I love what Buck says at the end of the story "the deer population is flourishing, no cars, no wolves and they feed them in the winter." Sounds like a good way to manage a herd to me

[paceman]

Looks like about 50 deer, only 10 didn't have tags. Must be a bunch of guys involved...

[fr0sty]

Amazing that a small area can hold that many deer. From the looks of the actual meat poles, looks like this isn't their first go round with that many hanging...

[Swill]

50 deer, 10 no tags and 10 tags for girlfriends and wives, most likely not there. So almost half of the deer were illegal. You know those guys have done that before. the meat pole looks old and used. Better check their photo albums!

I guess I have never wondered this before, but is there a party limit on the number of people you can have in a camp? Party hunting to the extreme here.

[sticknstring]

Nice little video there. I love hearing those old timer stories. Can't wait to hear the fines & restitution for those folks. I'm sure it's been going on for years.

[Musky Buck]

I will be curious to hear how such a small island could hold that many deer/bucks. A few MI guys claim poaching is huge and exists in most counties. I wonder what would this look like if it were somewhere in MN ? We definitely need ultra stiff penalties or someone reading between the lines might find some loophole for 1st time offenders and not worry as much about poaching. No doubt frosty, those meatpoles have been used before. I read that Sunday Star and Trib recently on baiting and how the people caught don't care about the fines, they only ask about their hunting priviledges being revoked. I bet you could find the breaking point in fining people. The worst part about revoking priviledges ex. baiting is 2 convictions in a 3 year period.

[BucksnDucks]

Of all those bucks in that pic, not one of them looks to be of true "Trophy" caliber. What a shame to take that many bucks nearing there prime out of the entire equation. IMO the herd in that area had to have been in pretty good shape to give up that many antlered deer. Now what next year brings is totally up in the air!

[Musky Buck]

My last wonder. People start out as babies. How or when or what makes someone feel self worth when you are knowingly doing something illegal ? The word conscience must mean little to those that break the law meaning they lack one. My last wonder is if they have been at this for awhile, on a small island or 2 that likely doesn't have enough food to support a large herd, especially through winter, how would there be any deer left to slaughter like they did this year ? Speculating is fun, can't wait to hear the report although this went down 18 days ago you would think they have some info to go on, maybe more people to interview ?

[Musky Buck]

1 more, sorry, how many were shot at and missed, wounded, who did all this shooting and why is putting them on the meatpole with hides etc. so important ? I never thought in 2009 I'd ever see anything like those photo's.

[lakevet]

Sounds more like deer farming than deer hunting. Buy property, manage your herd via controlling predation/death loss, buy feed, harvest to get return on investment. Only thing they didn't do is put up a barn for the deer. They could do it with Bison, get more meat, and not get into legal trouble.

lakevet

[lakevet]

50 deer, 10 no tags and 10 tags for girlfriends and wives, most likely not there. So almost half of the deer were illegal. You know those guys have done that before. the meat pole looks old and used. Better check their photo albums!

I guess I have never wondered this before, but is there a party limit on the number of people you can have in a camp? Party hunting to the extreme here.

Illegal POACHING to the extreme. Please don't confuse legal party hunting with poaching.

lakevet

[MrCrappie]

Whoa!

[Musky Buck]

I just googled and the 1st article up was about 2 Mich. state troopers that poached a buck while on the job, combined fines of almost 10 grand from last year. The next one was about 2 high school kids that poached a bunch of deer shooting them mainly in the eyes with a .22. I better wait to hear more from this story, been internet fooled before. If true and if those deer went to waste, ick.

[zackthehunter]

man no wondar i never see any bucks these poachers need to be fined like 1,000 dollars apiece make them realize that they are in the wrong this stuff makes me sick

[CRAZYEYES]

That is a pretty discusting display. Thats as bad of a waste of wildlife as I have ever seen. Forget fines, that deserves some real jail time and they should take their deer camp away and auction it off.

[vister]

That is a pretty discusting display. Thats as bad of a waste of wildlife as I have ever seen. Forget fines, that deserves some real jail time and they should take their deer camp away and auction it off.

I'll start the bidding

[Musky Buck]

For a moment thought it was Hillview management area, how'd they do I wonder as their HSOforum must have a virus or something. This island must be amazing, I wonder how it works does 1 guy own it and people pay to hunt it or are deer bought and brought in, do they swim in, did they shoot all mature bucks and what's left over, what is up ?

[leech~~]

What a very terrible waste! The other sad thing is there is still planty of leafs on the trees so you know the meat is going to waste on at least some of them because of it being warm!