rsimms
Well-known member
I know this particular story belongs in Hunting Forum, but it could apply to fishing. I just wanted more folks to read it.
Story from a good friend of mine who asks to remain anonymous:
I was out scouting and started walking the flat near the edge where it drops off into a creek bottom lined with a tangle of Mountain laurel. About 30 yards away I spot a tree stand. As I approach to see if it has a name on it I spot a pile of corn 10 feet or so in front of the stand. Just to the right of the stand is a camera pointed at the corn. I back out and head for my ATV. On my way back to the truck I saw 2 ATV's with a couple guys ducking behind them. When I get back to the truck I decide that I'll follow through with what I told myself the next time I found baiting. I called the poacher hotline. This was around 6:30 on a Friday evening so I was not surprised when I was forwarded to a voice mail system. I left as much info as I could recall and all of the phone numbers I could be reach at. Later that evening I realized I forgot to mention that the bait was on state property so I called the hot line again.This time the phone is answered. I tell her who I was and explain that I had left a message earlier. She said she had just listened to my message and was getting ready to pass it along to a wildlife officer. When I give her the added info. She asks me to hold ... she comes back and tells me Officer Majors will be calling me shortly. Matt calls and wants to know if I can take him to the area this evening. Told him that's why I called. He said he had to check a couple of other bait sites elsewhere but would be to my area as soon as possible. Matt and Greg Atchley pulled up around 8:30. We drove to the area. They marked it on GPS and found another stand close by which was where I had seen the 2 ATV's earlier. Matt said he would stake it out the next morning. A few days later Matt told me he got two people for hunting over bait, plus other charges... and 2 other guys were cited for not having their orange on. I ended up hunting a 1/2 mile or so away from where I had found the baiting.
Telephone numbers for reporting poachers are as follows:
* West Tennessee ( Region I )- 1-800-831-1173
* Middle Tennessee ( Region II)- 1-800-255-8972
* Cumberland Plateau (Chattanooga area... Region III )- 1-800-241-0767
* East Tennessee (Region IV )- 1-800-831-1174
In addition to the reward offered by the TWRA, the Tennessee State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation offers up to a $300.00 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals poaching wild turkeys.
Information such as the individual's name or description, vehicle tag number or description, nature of the offense and location of the offense greatly assists the TWRA in apprehending wildlife poachers. All information received by TWRA is kept in the strictest confidence.
Story from a good friend of mine who asks to remain anonymous:
I was out scouting and started walking the flat near the edge where it drops off into a creek bottom lined with a tangle of Mountain laurel. About 30 yards away I spot a tree stand. As I approach to see if it has a name on it I spot a pile of corn 10 feet or so in front of the stand. Just to the right of the stand is a camera pointed at the corn. I back out and head for my ATV. On my way back to the truck I saw 2 ATV's with a couple guys ducking behind them. When I get back to the truck I decide that I'll follow through with what I told myself the next time I found baiting. I called the poacher hotline. This was around 6:30 on a Friday evening so I was not surprised when I was forwarded to a voice mail system. I left as much info as I could recall and all of the phone numbers I could be reach at. Later that evening I realized I forgot to mention that the bait was on state property so I called the hot line again.This time the phone is answered. I tell her who I was and explain that I had left a message earlier. She said she had just listened to my message and was getting ready to pass it along to a wildlife officer. When I give her the added info. She asks me to hold ... she comes back and tells me Officer Majors will be calling me shortly. Matt calls and wants to know if I can take him to the area this evening. Told him that's why I called. He said he had to check a couple of other bait sites elsewhere but would be to my area as soon as possible. Matt and Greg Atchley pulled up around 8:30. We drove to the area. They marked it on GPS and found another stand close by which was where I had seen the 2 ATV's earlier. Matt said he would stake it out the next morning. A few days later Matt told me he got two people for hunting over bait, plus other charges... and 2 other guys were cited for not having their orange on. I ended up hunting a 1/2 mile or so away from where I had found the baiting.
Telephone numbers for reporting poachers are as follows:
* West Tennessee ( Region I )- 1-800-831-1173
* Middle Tennessee ( Region II)- 1-800-255-8972
* Cumberland Plateau (Chattanooga area... Region III )- 1-800-241-0767
* East Tennessee (Region IV )- 1-800-831-1174
In addition to the reward offered by the TWRA, the Tennessee State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation offers up to a $300.00 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals poaching wild turkeys.
Information such as the individual's name or description, vehicle tag number or description, nature of the offense and location of the offense greatly assists the TWRA in apprehending wildlife poachers. All information received by TWRA is kept in the strictest confidence.
