Don't manipulate your grain

[BIG TIMBER]

I heard a pistol was pulled out during the bust and stuck in face of the " outlaws"! Again another example of the money making schemes from our MDWFP. You can throw 10,000 lbs of corn out for deer, but run over a corn stalk that has less than a lb of corn on it and it's gonna cost you $30,000!! Give me a break, oh wait they don't believe in that

[torch]

Wait till your looking at 18 months jail time and 250k fine for not tagging ducks


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[torch]

Everyone on this board should read the Lacey Act and I guarantee it will scare the crap out of you. The Feds have a major overreach here


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[quit calling]

There has to be more history to this story than just this one hunt... You don't get that heavy of a penalty unless there is a back history. Probably lucky that is all that could stick that day.... No loss of hunting privileges or was that part of the plea?

... And don't compare a pest deer to a federally protected migratory bird.

[torch]

The Lacey Act is overly broad and contains inadequate criminal intent provisions to protect even a sophisticated defendant, let alone the average citizen. Though originally passed with the good intention of enforcing state laws and protecting the American bird population, the Lacey Act has now become a casebook example of federal overcriminalization run amok.


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[Plainsman04]

I think when the punishment for DUI's, burglaries, drug charges, etc. is less harsh then running over some corn stalks...maybe, just maybe, we've gotten our priorities a little bit out of whack.

[sondance]

I think when the punishment for DUI's, burglaries, drug charges, etc. is less harsh then running over some corn stalks...maybe, just maybe, we've gotten our priorities a little bit out of whack.

+1000 !!!! The area I hunt the farmers disk and row up anything they can so there is no waste grain to be had. Then many have quit no til because it is thought to reduce yield by leaving water on the land. Therefore there is very little food or habitat for migrating waterfowl unless it is planted or paid for in some way by hunters. I don't blame the farmers as it is their livelihood. However, I do believe the governments role particularly with migrating species is entirely too broad and should be reduced. They have made regs so confusing and subject to interpretation it has gotten out of hand.

[deltadukman]

Im no legal beagle but the term "manipulation" is vague at best and leaves a lot up to disgretion and interpretation. Then it is guilty until proven innocent in a justice court and its up to you and your resources to fight it. Usually in these smaller courts in small towns you are going to get hosed. I've personally heard a justice court judge say "its not the courts responsibility to interpret the laws". Now if a guy is riding a ranger or dragging a chain between 2 tractors to knock grain down for the soul purpose of knocking it down, then yes, there is an issue.

[torch]

Im no legal beagle but the term "manipulation" is vague at best and leaves a lot up to disgretion and interpretation. Then it is guilty until proven innocent in a justice court and its up to you and your resources to fight it. Usually in these smaller courts in small towns you are going to get hosed. I've personally heard a justice court judge say "its not the courts responsibility to interpret the laws". Now if a guy is riding a ranger or dragging a chain between 2 tractors to knock grain down for the soul purpose of knocking it down, then yes, there is an issue.

Justice court ain't handling these cases. US attorney's office



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[quit calling]

Talked to a few men from down that area.... Seems the boys reputation precedes him, and not favorably. Sounds like he's lucky that's all he got ......considering.

[jtdumallard]

There has to be more history to this story than just this one hunt... You don't get that heavy of a penalty unless there is a back history. Probably lucky that is all that could stick that day.... No loss of hunting privileges or was that part of the plea?

... And don't compare a pest deer to a federally protected migratory bird.

More to the story as in dumping truck loads of corn in "said hole".

[Roach]

U.S. Attorneys » Northern District of Mississippi » News








Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Northern District of Mississippi



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Thursday, December 10, 2015

Guilty Plea of Greenville Resident




OXFORD, Miss. Felicia C. Adams, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, and Luis Santiago, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, announced that:

Gene Stock, 36, of Greenville, Mississippi, pled guilty on December 8, 2015, before United States Magistrate Judge David A. Sanders, in Aberdeen, Mississippi, to one charge of Taking Migratory Game Birds by the Aid of Bait and to a second charge of Aiding and Abetting others to do the same, in violation of federal law. The guilty plea arose out of an investigation concerning Stock’s hunting practices during the 2014-2015 waterfowl season. Stock, who had planted corn in his duck impoundment in Washington County, had, during the course of the season, used his ATV to drive throughout the impoundment for the purpose of going to and from his hunting blinds, retrieving downed waterfowl, and moving blinds from one location to another. In the process of driving his ATV through the impoundment, Stock knocked down stalks of standing corn, spreading grain throughout the impoundment. Federal law makes it unlawful to hunt migratory waterfowl over any area where agricultural crops have been manipulated, including manipulation by any motorized vehicle, unless the manipulation consists of a normal agricultural practice as defined by the state extension service.

Following his guilty plea, Stock was ordered to pay a $15,000.00 fine for each count of conviction, for a total fine of $30,000.00.

“We are committed to working with Mississippi and its citizens to conserve and protect wildlife,” said United States Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent in Charge Santiago. “Our collective efforts help ensure that these resources will be here for future generations of fair chase hunters, trappers and outdoor enthusiasts.”

This case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP). MDWFP Chief of Law Enforcement, Steve Adcock stated that he looks forward to the continued cooperative relationship with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as together we protect and conserve Mississippi’s natural resources.

[maverick21]

I'm not sure how many times it can be emphasized that there's more to it than what is listed. It is vague in the fact that anyone who leaves standing corn can be charged with a violation at some point whether unintentional or not. With imagine and aerials, drones, etc it's pretty obvious when it's been systematically knocked down or some one just made a wrong turn on a ranger.


Besides a winged bird that sails or not having a dog, is picking up birds with a ranger a common thing? Seems lazy

[ScottBrown]

$30,000 really? A fine that is comparable to the crime committed is justified, but $30,000 for knocking down corn and shooting a duck over it this could negatively affect this guy’s financial wellbeing for the rest of his life. Where is the common sense in this?

[LODI QUACKER]

Exactly what part of leaving corn standing and then flooding it is "NORMAL AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES"? NONE!!!!!!!!!!


I dont know this guy but this is BS!! I would make a wager that the arresting officer has broken this exact law multiple times every year! I know for a fact that the department and the departments in other states are breaking this law on a daily basis on the draw hunts when they turn the hunters loose with atv's. I know for a fact on daily draw hunts in other states these laws are broken by state employees shuffling handicapped hunters to and back from blinds. This ticket can be written TO ANY AND ALL hunters hunting over flooded crops. Hell they can blame the dam dog if they want to.

After dealing with the crooked biologist and wma manager last year I am seriously considering selling all my crap and giving it up. Selective enforcement, and lazy officers not enforcing the rules on the books but always asking for more has just become the norm!!