Post by: vermonster13 on September 13, 2006, 04:07:00 PM
Devin Reuer, 20, Watertown, was convicted by a Codington County jury on the charge of hunting big game without a license.
Conservation officer Martin Yost, Watertown, saw a photo of the trophy buck Reuer shot in a local store and got a tip that the deer had been taken illegally. Yost found the kill site on land in Codington County owned by Gordon Lillie. Reuer had a deer tag good for Hamlin County.
At the kill site, Yost took blood and hair samples, a procedure he goes through during every investigation. "You never know," Yost said, "where that evidence is going to lead."
In this case, it led to the WestCore lab at Black Hills State University, one of 13 forensic wildlife labs in the nation. "This case was pretty straightforward," said associate lab director Cynthia Anderson, noting that the lab had to match the DNA in two samples.
Anderson, who testified for the prosecution, explained that the lab provides DNA testing for research at BHSU and throughout the state. In addition, the lab can provide species typing as well as paternity testing when the lineage of purebred animals comes into question.
"That’s a remarkable lab that we have available," said Codington County State’s Attorney Vince Foley who prosecuted the case.
Foley said that the use of DNA testing in wildlife cases sends a clear message to would-be poachers. "It gets the word out that we have that kind of testing available to us and that we will use it," Foley said.
At a cost of about $750 for the lab's services in the Watertown case, Foley likes the DNA testing because it's affordable.
Yost likes the testing because it's irrefutable. "If we have samples from the kill site and if we have samples from the animal," Yost said, "it's evidence they can't refute because we have genetic material that says the deer mounted on their wall or in their possession was taken illegally."
The road to Reuer's conviction was a long one. He shot the deer on Dec. 4, 2005, the last day of the East River deer season. After a lengthy investigation conducted by Yost and conservation officer Kraig Haase of Hayti, Reuer was convicted on Aug. 3.
Reuer was sentenced to 10 days in jail and told to pay $250 in fines and costs. Seven days of the jail sentence were suspended on the condition that he be a law abiding citizen for one year, pay the fines and court costs and lose his hunting privileges for one year. The state will also pursue $1,000 in civil damages against Reuer.
Yost praised State's Attorney Foley for his efforts. "Vince and I met many times concerning the case and the department is very fortunate to have a state's attorney like Vince Foley who did an outstanding job prosecuting this case," Yost said.
Post by: Aeronut on September 14, 2006, 07:57:00 AM
Dennis
Post by: vermonster13 on September 14, 2006, 08:02:00 AM
Post by: ArcticArcher on September 14, 2006, 08:51:00 AM
It's too bad that the court system don't take these offenses very seriously. Heck they let drunk drivers go with only community service at times.
Post by: Dryrot on September 14, 2006, 03:42:00 PM
Post by: vermonster13 on September 15, 2006, 11:16:00 AM
A father and son from Bennington have both pled guilty to charges related to a case involving two deer taken illegally in last December's muzzleloader deer season.
Theodore J. Dunn, 53, of Gore Road and Jason C. Dunn, 29, of Chapel Road were convicted after a lengthy investigation involving DNA testing of two deer shot in the vicinity of Skiparee Road in Bennington, ballistics linking a 45-70 lever-action rifle to the killing of both deer, and chemical analysis proving that a grain and mineral salt block used in taking the two deer contained a large amount of salt.
Vermont State Game Warden Travis Buttle led a team of wardens during the investigation, including Sgt. Paul Gaudreau, Greg Eckhardt, and George Scribner, as well as Deputy State Game Warden Wynn Metcalf.
Theodore Dunn pled guilty to two counts of using a rifle during muzzleloader season. He agreed to pay $400 in fines and $1,500 in restitution. In addition, he forfeited an ATV and rifle to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and will not be able to obtain Vermont hunting, fishing and trapping licenses for three years.
Jason Dunn pled guilty to hunting from a ground blind without his name and address identified and to using an ATV on private property without permission of the landowner. He paid fines amounting to $362 and received five points in a Fish & Wildlife license revocation point system.
"I want to commend the wardens who worked on this case for their excellent investigative skills and thorough utilization of the latest technology available to us in crime scene investigations," said Colonel Robert Rooks, Vermont's chief game warden. "I also want to point out that the majority of Vermont hunters are law-abiding sportsmen and women who overwhelmingly support and make possible the wildlife conservation programs we have in Vermont. The actions of a small number of poachers should not reflect on Vermont's truly dedicated, conservation-minded hunters."
Colonel Rooks pointed out that Vermont hunters are helping to protect the future of hunting by continuing to report poaching violations.
Vermont slaps them a little harder.
Post by: Dryrot on September 15, 2006, 12:25:00 PM
Post by: Ragnarok Forge on April 04, 2010, 12:53:00 AM
Post by: owlbait on April 04, 2010, 08:50:00 PM
Post by: mwmwmb on April 05, 2010, 05:10:00 PM
Post by: Ragnarok Forge on April 08, 2010, 06:53:00 PM
I think a public flogging is in order for the accountable party for dancing with the stars.
Post by: Tsalagi on April 11, 2010, 08:13:00 PM
Post by: Zradix on April 28, 2010, 02:35:00 PM
WHAT A COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY TO GO AFTER THIS GUY in that way.
Post by: Bill Turner on April 28, 2010, 05:03:00 PM
Post by: Ric O'Shay on May 02, 2010, 10:51:00 AM
I wonder what really happened. Sure, this is the story the prosecutor went to court with. But, was the landowner also culpable? Questions:
1. Did he give the defendant permission to hunt on his land?
2. After the defendant shot the animal, did the landowner only then find out about the invalid county license?
3. Did the landowner, in order to cover his derriere, call the conversation officers and lead them to the kill site?
4. When did the officers collect the DNA? Prior to the picture showing up or after as the story says?
5. Just how did Officer Yost find a square yard of "kill site" in an entire county? Humm? Not without direction, I suspect.
Many more questions should be answered here. No doubt the deer was taken illegally. Poachers should be prosecuted and the maximum sentence handed down. But, as they say, the devil is in the details and these details smell to high heaven.
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Danny
Post by: Brian Krebs on June 18, 2010, 01:41:00 AM
I do so because I know that human twins if separated from one embryo to two within the first couple hours or days: can be identical.
That is : have the exact same DNA.
If this guy shot the twin to the poached deer... he could be innocent.
Deer normally have twins; and I don't know of any research done that shows if the twins have identical DNA or not.
If any data like that exists- its probably with high fence operations and controlled and monitored breeding.
Its a hole in the net that could be sewed up with the right data.
Post by: dbow on July 14, 2010, 03:35:00 PM
What a waste of taxpayers dollars!! Pretty soon you will get a pollution ticket for farting in your tree stand!
Post by: Buckeye Trad Hunter on August 10, 2010, 08:24:00 PM
http://www.petersenshunting.com/content/nabbing-poacher-johnny-b-clay
Post by: Brian Krebs on August 10, 2010, 09:50:00 PM
GOOD WORK !!! That poacher deserves some wall to wall therapy - and the officer :bigsmyl:
Post by: ChuckC on August 11, 2010, 01:16:00 PM
Typical fawns are not identical twins.
ChuckC