Hunters Posed as Nature Photographers to Illegally Hunt & Kill Deer

quote:

---

the hunters conspired with a larger group of poachers who scoured social media posts made by wildlife photographers to target bucks in areas where hunting is banned.

---

That's horrible.

You have to be a disturbed individual to do all that just to kill an animal with some nice antlers.

I doubt they give a shite about losing their hunting licenses for the rest of their lives. Hopefully, the fines will bankrupt them. frick em.

quote:

---

According to the article, their licenses were revoked for 5 years and they were fined just over $1000 each.

I think it should be a lifetime ban and $10,000 fine.

---

That should be a lifetime ban. It is in some states.

I am a dedicated nature photographer….and this is why I gatekeep.

Some of the photo groups I am in, upon posting a photo, this first 8 out of 10 comments are "Where did you take that?"….not even, "nice shot, where did you take that". Like, not even a kiss.

I started posting only to my real life friends, not to groups where I didn’t personally know everyone. Cue the friend requests. One guy, who I deleted friend requests several times, whined "but you know where all the good stuff is"…Now, I don’t believe many, if any, of those folks were trolling for hunting or poaching purposes….but I know for a fact some of them have pretty low ethics as far as photography goes. As long as they get the shot, disturbing nests sites, screwing up a predator/prey hunt, etc doesn’t matter.

Since I decline to give locations, my "in all fairness" moral compass keeps me from asking others for locations. I might read the comments in case they offered up the info, but I won’t ask. I have even studied others photos for clues (found a badger den like that once) but mostly I just go out and find things on my own.

Of course, my friends are always welcome to come along, but most don’t want to get up,early-thirty and exist the entire day on trail mix.