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Boone and Crockett Club Releases National Poaching Study.

1,325 Views | 13 Replies | Last: 1 mo ago by MAROON
Gunny456
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5:05p, 11/19/25
AG
A good article written by Brian McCombie on this study in the American Hunter Magazine. It's a good read and confirms what a lot of folks been saying about the poaching problem across the U.S.
https://www.nrahlf.org/articles/boone-and-crockett-club-releases-data-from-major-national-poaching-study/
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CS78
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5:46p, 11/19/25
I just read the article and not the full report. Did they define what they classified as "poaching"? There was a time where that term was reserved for the habitual offender or more serious offenses. Spotlighting, hunting land you didn't have permission on, hunting out of season, etc. In recent years, there seems to be a push for the term to include all wildlife crimes. The guy that forgets to fill out the log on his license or accidently shoots a mature 12 7/8" buck, just aren't poachers in my book. But, the state would like for us to think of them as one and the same and report them as such. In a way, it has served to water down the seriousness of the real problem children out there.
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Gunny456
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In reply to CS78 • 5:57p, 11/19/25
AG
Here is the full report. It should answer your questions.
It appears to be a very well done and comprehensive study which I would expect of B&C. The study is not based upon administrative technical game law violations that you are speaking of.
https://wildlifemanagement.institute/sites/default/files/2025-10/poach_pay_final_report.pdf
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Gunny456
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6:02p, 11/19/25
AG
This is from B&C Web site. Good read and video on the project.
https://www.boone-crockett.org/poach-and-pay
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Gunny456
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In reply to CS78 • 6:08p, 11/19/25
AG
Arkansas and MO is already addressing the findings with possible funding of additional means of enforcement. Our MDC regional guy said it is confirming what they already knew. Addresses nuts and bolts of pure poaching of fish and wildlife…stuff that actually matters like poaching rings, spotlighting, trespassing, over harvest etc.
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KRamp90
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6:17p, 11/19/25
AG
What is the allure for poaching? Money? Boredom? Stupidity? Thrill of killing something, for no reason?
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Gunny456
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In reply to KRamp90 • 6:33p, 11/19/25
AG
Total disregard for the hunters and fishermen who work hard and spend lots of money and time to do it right. They cheat and steal from all of us because of their greed and ego and total disregard of the game and trespassing laws.
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fullback44
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7:39a, 11/20/25
AG
There is always going to be poachers, some families rely on the meat because they are poor country people, I can actually look past that. Then there are poachers that will shoot deer off anyone's property just for the horns, those are the worst, most don't even keep the meat. I guess people poach other big and small game as well

I tend to poach every few weeks, but my poaching is at HEB !
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O.G.
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8:24a, 11/20/25
Attitudes on poaching have changed over the decades for sure. I remember when "road hunting" was a running joke when I was a kid in the 1970s. It kinda gets joked about now, but it was basically an open secret then.

Its also important to realize that other states do not have the same level of law enforcement that Texas has for Game Wardens. I've had Michigan landowners tell me about problems that they have had with poachers/trespassers and nothing gets done about it. And, with all due respect to our neighbors to the East, Louisiana guys that come to Texas/other states are notorious for it.

What basically amounts to a traffic ticket in some states, is a felony in Texas. In that respect, Texas gets it right IMHO.
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Gunny456
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In reply to fullback44 • 8:25a, 11/20/25
AG
Roger that on HEB!
I found it interesting that the study showed that poaching for the need of food was found to be the reason in only just above 3% of the cases.
Bottom line is it's a bad problem by bad degenerate people 97% of the time for basically ego and greed.
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Gunny456
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In reply to O.G. • 8:29a, 11/20/25
AG
Very true. Here in the Ozarks they are tough on wildlife and fish violations but they just don't have the wardens to cover the ground. Violators know that and take advantage of such.
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Furlock Bones
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In reply to Gunny456 • 10:00a, 11/20/25
AG
a couple of years back we had a couple of guys on our lease that we knew were breaking not only lease rules but the law. we just couldn't catch them. fortunately, they ran afoul with the land manager after breaking really stupid rules like keeping feeders away from fences. land manager ran them off but let the rest of us stay.

we knew our own members were poaching but had no proof. even a game warden told us. i know those guys are lying through their teeth but there was nothing to cite them at the time.

if it is that hard to police your own people, imagine what it is like policing the country.
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Gunny456
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In reply to Furlock Bones • 10:03a, 11/20/25
AG
Yes sir. Well said.
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MAROON
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10:50a, 11/20/25
AG
a lot of poachers are also criminals in other areas - as in thieves.
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