If you see someone poaching trout, by all means, GET PISSED! This selfish individual is destroying your ability to enjoy the fine trout waters provided
to us by the Missouri Department of Conservation. We are not advocating that you do anything
rash. After all, this poacher has already demonstrated that he doesn't really care about ethics,
morals, the law, or your rights. Is it a good idea to confront someone with those qualities?
Okay, we admit that when you stumble upon some loser using worms on
Crane Creek dragging a stringer of twenty 8" wild trout behind him, you'll probably want
to kick his butt. However, there is a saner and safer way to handle the situation.
STEP 1: Join the Missouri Game-thief Posse.
To join, write your name, address and phone number of the back of a $20 bill and mail to...
(cue drum). Actually, being a member of the posse is more an "attitude of the heart".
In fact, all it takes is a decision on your part. Ready? Go! Congratulations. You are
now a deputy member.
STEP 2: Download this file: PosseCards.pdf. You'll
need Acrobat Reader to make it work. For the time being,
we only have this one basic posse card available. As Missouri regulations are getting more
complex, though, we're going to eventually post a posse card for each trout area in the state, so be
sure to check back. These cards are meant
to educate the public that there is a grass-roots movement dedicated to eliminating the
poaching of publicly-owned wilderness resources. Print off as many of these cards as you
like and use them as you wish. However, we have a few ideas that might work.
STEP 3: Prepare the cards by circling the appropriate regulations for the area you
are getting ready to fish. Upon arrival at your favorite spot, you might put a card on the
windshields of the cars you see there. However, a more beneficial means of distribution is
to hand the cards out while you're fishing. When you bump into someone, ask what they're
catching them on and make a bit of smalltalk. Then say something like, "by the way, I'm
handing these cards out to everyone I see, just in case they want to join the movement".
See what you did there? You gave him the card to enlist him as an ally. You sent the
message that you already know he's not a poacher, so there's no defensiveness or conflict.
As word spreads, the movement grows, and poachers will gradually become more and more
nervous about what they're doing.
HOWEVER...
This doesn't address how you should handle it when you witness someone poaching, does it?
Okay, let's look at a hypothetical situation. Let's say you're fishing
Mill Creek and stumble upon a guy sitting on the bank with a jar of power bait beside him.
What do you do?
BE NICE! Ask if he's having any luck. Strike up a friendly conversation with him.
After a few moments of breaking the ice, you'll have to use your best judgement to decide if
you should confront the behavior. We don't recommend you do this, because you never know
how this guy will respond. However, if you decide to address the issue, be as non-threatening
as you can. Give him the benefit of the doubt in how to bring it up. You might say, "I don't
know if you are aware or not, but you're only allowed to use flies and lures here." Chances are
he'll feign ignorance and take off. However, if he gets nasty, just apologize and tell him you
were only trying to help.
Try to memorize his appearance -- height, weight, hair color, etc. Then wish him luck, and head
in the direction where you think you'll find his car. Take several pictures of his car, including
his license plate. Try to take a picture of his car with a good landmark in the background. Leave
a Posse Card on his windsheild, and then get the hell out of
there. First chance you get call Operation Game Thief at
(800) 392-1111 and report exactly what you saw. Give them
a description of the poacher, and tell them you have pictures of his car with the license number.
BE SURE to tell them that he is still fishing at that moment. You should also make an effort
to email the pictures to the investigating agent. This is where your responsibility ends. You've
already done more than your share. Even if the poacher doesn't get caught, you've probably rattled
him enough that he'll stop poaching -- at least for a while. And the local agents have been tipped
off to him, so they'll know to keep an eye open for him. You've done great, deputy.
If you ever chose to break the rules and keep some fish you shouldn't, or use illegal bait or fishing
methods, know this: those of us who take trout fishing seriously will do whatever we need to do to
ruin your day. And if you're convicted of poaching on Missouri's trout waters, don't be surprised
if you find your photograph along with the details of your case right here on this page. We hate
to embarrass you, but… aw, who are we kidding? We will look forward to embarrassing you.
The following individuals have had
their hunting and/or fishing privileges revoked due to Wildlife Code violations. These names
and penalties are a matter of public record and were distributed to the public via press release
from the Missouri Department of Conseration on the dates listed.
December 2006
Adelso A. Barrios-Vargas -- Carthage -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Alisha M. Beardsley -- Lohman -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Robert L. Burnham -- Casper, Wyo. -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
James L. Creed -- Mtn. Grove -- 2 years -- all sport privileges
Bradley J. Haaland -- Pottersville -- 2 years -- all sport privileges
Woody D. Hardin -- Eufaula, Okla. -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Troy J. Hinkle -- Fredericktown -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
William E. Holly -- Caruthersville -- until 10/23/07 -- fishing privileges
James E. Hurst -- Barnard -- 2 years -- hunting privileges
Donald M. Jennings -- Ewing -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Robert L. Kent -- Quitman -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
David A. Lowe -- Salt Lake City, Utah -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Jamie B. McCane -- Rolla -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
James E. Morey, Jr. -- Williamsville -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Betty A. Morris -- Sumner -- 1 year-- hunting
Betty A. Morris -- Sumner -- 6 months -- fishing
Matthew E. Myers -- Pineville -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Robert O. Newcomer -- Savannah -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Scott A. Ratliff -- Columbia -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Daniel P. Silva -- Ellington -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Dustin T. Souder -- Brixey -- 4 years -- all sport privileges
Wayne A. Souder -- Wasola -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Alan V. Tiggemann -- Ashland -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Teresa M. Tiggemann -- Ashland -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Daniel J. Vanhouten -- Columbia -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Bryan L. Wilson -- St. James -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
November 2006
Brian A. Adams -- Kaiser -- 2 years -- all sport privileges
Jonmichael Bentz -- Elmer -- 3 years -- all sport privileges
Jonathan P. Dennis -- Columbia -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Christopher T. Farris -- Ellington -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Billy T. Gibson -- Ellington -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Eric R. Jansen -- Jackson -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Jeremy C. Jobson -- Bucklin -- 2 years -- all sport privileges
David W. Lusk -- New Baden, Ill. -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Wesley S. Mitchell -- Gilman City -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
William D. Norris -- Hannibal -- 6 months -- all sport privileges
Rodney K. Rodenbaugh -- Jefferson City -- 2 years -- all sport privileges
Dale L. Rogers -- Marshfield -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
Charley J. Williams -- Cape Girardeau -- 1 year -- all sport privileges
October 2006
Russell J. Asay -- Doniphan -- 3 years -- all sport
Joshua Bearden -- Appleton City -- until 4/19/08 -- hunting
Mark A. Baker -- Springfield -- 1 year -- all sport
Leroy A. Boyer -- Grubville -- 2 years -- all sport
James L. Brandes -- Bunceton -- 1 year -- all sport
Bobby D. Bryant -- Greenfield -- 3 years -- all sport
James P. Burns -- Clever -- 1 year -- all sport
Melissa Burns -- Clever -- until 5/2/07 -- deer hunting
Ruben Doroscan -- Cabool -- 1 year -- all sport
Timothy Eidson -- Butler -- until 3/21/08 -- hunting
Ryan Gabriel -- Butler -- until 4/19/08 -- hunting
Ryan E. Gwinn -- Rich Hill -- 1 year -- all sport
John D. Hartsook -- Grubville -- 4 years -- all sport
Billy D. Hatfield -- Fair Play 1 year all sport
Raymond F. Herron -- Warsaw -- 1 year -- all sport
Anthony S. Hubbard -- Brighton -- 1 year -- all sport
Jason A. Hurt -- Salisbury -- 6 months -- all sport
Caleb Mankey -- Elkland -- until 6/5/07 -- hunting
Aaron R. McMains -- Stover -- 6 months -- all sport
Joshua L. McMinn -- Cabool -- 3 years -- all sport
Ronnie G. Patterson -- Ulman -- 1 year -- hunting
Charles P. Reyes -- Waynesville -- 1 year -- all sport
Mickie W. Roach -- Hannibal -- 1 year -- all sport
Michael L. Rodgers -- House Springs -- 1 year -- all sport
James W. Rose -- Boonville -- 1 year -- all sport
John L. Shepherd -- Hannibal -- 1 year -- all sport
Armond L. Vonsande -- Lake Ozark -- 1 year -- all sport
Crystal L. Withrow -- Hannibal -- 1 year -- all sport
June 2006
Joshua D. Burnett -- Ellington, MO -- 1 year -- All Privileges
Bobby Carter -- Appleton City, MO -- 1 year -- All Privileges
Kenneth Cook -- Ellington, MO -- 1 year -- All Privileges
Rufus Dulabon -- Clinton, MO -- 6 months -- All Privileges
Shawn A. Ferguson -- Pevely, MO -- 2 years -- All Privileges
Joseph W. Gambling -- Fairdealing, MO -- 1 year -- All Privileges
Joseph S. Grimes -- Craig, MO -- 1 year -- All Privileges
Tyson B. Hatfield -- Queen City, MO -- 1 year -- All Privileges
James S. Hudson -- New London, MO -- 1 year -- All Privileges
Paul Mazelin -- Cole Camp, MO -- 3 years -- All Privileges
Terry McNew -- Hartsburg, MO -- 6 months -- Commercial and Sport Fishing
Christopher Mooy -- Advance, MO -- 6 years -- All Privileges
Lynn Osborn -- St. Joseph, MO -- 2 years -- All Privileges
Cody Powell -- West Plains, MO -- 1 year -- All Privileges
Juan Reyes -- Carthage, MO -- 1 year -- All Privileges
Parker Stapp -- South Greenfield, MO -- 1 year -- All Privileges
Terry L. Teer -- Kansas City, MO -- 1 year -- All Privileges
Jonathan Townsend -- Winona, MO -- 1 year -- All Privileges
Earl Trauernicht -- St. Joseph, MO -- 1 year -- All Privileges
James B. Vanlue -- Macon, MO -- 3 years -- All Privileges
Justin P. Woods -- Van Buren, MO -- 1 year -- All Privileges
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