Last month, in the final week of deer rifle season, Sgt. Lee Farrar of the Oregon State Police鈥檚 Fish & Wildlife Division, or OSPFW, drove his cruiser in the predawn hours to a remote area near Dexter, located about 15 miles southeast of Eugene.
Robot deer
鈥淲e鈥檙e doing an early morning wildlife enforcement decoy operation,鈥� Farrar explained. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be looking for anyone that shoots (during) prohibited hours, so they鈥檙e shooting early, prior to legal shooting light. They鈥檙e shooting from a roadway, shooting with the aid of artificial light, shining their headlights or a spotlight on the deer.鈥�
The decoy in question is a robotic deer, which can turn its head for added realism. Farrar and OSP senior trooper Martin Maher set it up along a patch of woods where poacher activity has been frequent. Then Farrar drove to a nearby turnoff where he waited for someone to come by and take a shot at the fake deer.
Earlier this year, OSP troopers and a decoy nabbed a poacher by McGowan Creek east of Mohawk. Both the poacher and his driver fessed up as troopers confronted them.
Altogether, OSP鈥檚 robo-deer decoys take over 80 hits a year. They鈥檙e part of Oregon鈥檚 arsenal against poachers, catching many in the act.
K-9 assistant
Another tool is also an animal鈥he real kind.
鈥淭his is K-9 Buck,鈥� said OSP Trooper Josh Walcott, introducing a playful yellow Labrador who became Oregon鈥檚 first anti-poaching pooch in 2020.
Buck鈥檚 nose accommodates a full menu.
鈥淗e鈥檚 trained to sniff out deer, elk, bear, turkey, waterfowl, salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon,鈥� said Walcott.
People can lie to a police officer, but not to Buck鈥檚 super sniffer. He can detect poached game hidden in vehicles or other places, including under seats or inside packed coolers.
Recently, the pair responded to calls of an illegally-shot deer that led them to a suspect鈥� and more.
鈥淲e actually deployed Buck in that case,鈥� recalled Walcott. 鈥淎nd with witness interviews, we ended up seizing 32 firearms from a felon.鈥�
Walcott says Buck is one of 180 conservation K-9s in the country. While not a large group, their work is important as they can detect stashed or hard-to-see evidence as they pursue poachers.
Eyewitness accounts
It鈥檚 not all robo-deer and K-9 units. Authorities still bank on witnesses reporting poachers. A recent rash of poaching in November prompted county authorities to offer awards from $500 to $2,000 for tips. Hunter preference points provided another incentive.
For crabber Bob Browning of Tillamook, it鈥檚 all about doing the right thing. He鈥檚 helped state police nab poachers across the coast, including a . (This case came a few years after OSPFW personnel .)
鈥淚 just want to keep our industry going the way it should be,鈥� Browning told KLCC. 鈥淎nd the same goes with all hunting and fishing. Every time somebody does something wrong, even though 鈥業t may not be that big of a deal, let it go,鈥� you keep letting everything go and pretty soon we got nothing left.鈥�
Another ally is the Oregon Legislature. Yvonne Shaw, the anti-poaching coordinator for the state Department of Fish & Wildlife, said efforts got a boost in 2019 through , which toughened penalties and added five more officers.
鈥淎nd the third prong is to increase prosecution,鈥� said Shaw. 鈥淎nd this is done through a special prosecutor who was hired through the Department of Justice.鈥�
That prosecutor is Jay Hall, who received special recognition for prosecuting a poaching ring that killed over 300 deer and elk back in 2010.
Decoy operation
Back near Dexter, there have been a few close calls. Over the radio, Trooper Maher whispers that someone has driven up and stopped right at the decoy. Moments later, a few more headlights appear from down the road, and the first vehicle drives away, possibly scared off.
About an hour later, another vehicle stops, parks, and after a few minutes turns off its headlights. After a few minutes, Sgt. Farrar drives over and asks the driver his intentions, and then requests that he leave the scene. The man complies.
Ultimately, no one stops to shoot the robo-deer. As faint sunlight breaks over the forested landscape, Farrar and Maher put the decoy into the truck and call it a day.
Maher wasn鈥檛 discouraged.
鈥淗ey, you know, it was good compliance,鈥� said Maher. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 all we can hope for. That鈥檚 the whole reason for this program, is (to) make people try to play by the rules. And when we don鈥檛 get shooters, maybe the word got out.
鈥淏ut poaching still continues and that鈥檚 why we鈥檙e out here.鈥�
Last August, the state launched a public awareness campaign, Protect Oregon鈥檚 Wildlife. It educates the public on how to report poaching, and how to recognize it.
One important point: it鈥檚 not just a rural issue.
Eden Beck points to the part of her backyard in Eugene鈥檚 South Hills where she found a dead deer.
鈥淭he arrow probably finally connected with its spine and killed it there,鈥� she said.
鈥淲hat was really sad is when it鈥檚 out of season and when it鈥檚 at a time where it could really hurt the animal population,鈥� said Beck. 鈥淥r if it鈥檚 done within city limits and actually poses some harm if they鈥檙e shooting arrows, or guns around. Nobody wants that.鈥�
A variety of fines and charges can be leveled against poachers, depending on the extent of their illegal activities and possible harm to others. Farrar of the OSP said they can do license suspension requests for repeat offenders.
鈥淭he first time offense can be up to three years, the second time, five years,鈥� said Farrar. And then the third time we can ask for a lifetime suspension so they can never legally do hunting or fishing in Oregon again, depending on what the situation is they got caught doing.鈥�
Officials say on top of penalties and prosecution, education is also key. Informing people on the rules as well as impacts of poaching is essential, especially with younger hunters before bad practices become part of their outdoors experience.
鈥淵ou know, once people get older and get set in their ways, it鈥檚 hard to get through to them,鈥� crabber Bob Browning told KLCC. 鈥淏ut if you can teach the kids and explain to them how and why, then when they get older, they鈥檒l be more willing to help and work.鈥�
If you witness a poaching incident, authorities encourage you to use the Turn In Poachers (TIP) Line. The most expedient way to share a tip is to call (800)452-7888 or *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone.
Tips can also be emailed to: TIP@osp.oregon.gov between 8am 鈥� 5pm, Monday 鈥� Friday.
Finally, there is also an online form that people can fill out and submit, or print out and submit via email, FAX, or mail delivery.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
Copyright 2023