From an interview conducted with TJ Schwanke, featured in this months issue of Alberta Outdoorsmen, September 2009 (on newstands now). Click an image thumbnail above to view a larger version.
Interesting recent developments, and sorry I was not on this one right away, as I myself was out of commission yesterday getting some surgery done on my right leg. All is well, and hoping to have it healed before legal hunting season begins next month. However, Greg Scratchley caught this one and already commented on it in my absence.. I stand with my friend on it.
Yes, it appears David Fraser (or at least someone purporting to be him, posted an “open letter” on the Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum) — poachers slamming legitimate hunters? Go figure. So please take this one with just a grain of salt — due to anonymity. However, if David truly wishes to open a dialog with either myself or Greg, or even publicly we’ll be glad to host that discussion on FiftyNorth.ca below. Our e-mail addresses are out there publicly – and personally I would welcome either a “public” or a “private & discrete” logical and meaningful discussion on the matter with them.
Anyways, as Rob T. (AO Forum Admin) could not verify the origins of the posting, and for that reason alone I can only surmise, they pulled the post. However, it did not go unnoticed… and hence here is that open letter that was captured, and re-posted with Greg’s response.
Again, if you wish to open a public dialog to make amends.. great.. I encourage it. Anyways, I refer you now to the following threads posted now on the FiftyNorth.ca forum.
Link #1: YouTube Poachers speak post sentencing.
Link #2: Open Letter To “Hunter Community”
And.. sadly.. even as this case closes.. another is opened.
“DEER LAKE, N.L. — A group of boys could be facing criminal charges after a moose they reportedly chased and hit with sticks earlier this week in a western Newfoundland community had to be destroyed.” – CANADA.COM
http://www.canada.com/boys+could+charged+after+beaten+moose+down/1884797/story.html
Anyways, it’s all now a matter of public record – NowPublic.com.
Greg Scratchley and I were out “in the field” today at my Aunt’s place helping to clear out the gopher population.. and coyotes.. and setup up our trail camera for our first Antlerless Mule Deer Draw out in WMU #232 this year.
It so happens when we got back to the farm house, there were messages from the Calgary Sun and Global TV whom “hunted down” both me and Greg for phone interviews — looking for “hunter reactions” to the capture.
Greg.. whom speaks so eloquently did the phone interviews, and a few sound bytes from one interview made GlobalTV tonight. The others will likely appear in print in the Calgary Sun tomorrow and on-line.
Video Link Here To Global TV Segment Today
PS – To my buddy Greg, congrats on your “New Hunter” article that appears in the latest issue of Alberta Outdoorsmen. I don’t think you could have timed that one any better. I am glad to instill what skills I have to you as an outdoorsman, you have many more mentors in line. Keep preaching the faith.. never stop learning.
I also refer you also to this thread here now – “To Hunt” or “Not To Hunt”.
http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=7901003e-24d2-4b62-945b-c86d4b9f14cd
Three Saskatchewan men arrested in connection with YouTube duck shooting video
(CP) – 35 minutes ago
SASKATOON — Three Saskatchewan men have been arrested in connection with a recent video posted on YouTube that shows a trio of males using rifles to shoot ducks on a prairie pond.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment says all three suspects are from a Saskatoon-area community.
The ministry also says the video was shot at a location in rural Saskatchewan, and that all three suspects face charges under both federal and provincial wildlife protection laws.
The video depicts two of the men firing at the ducks while the third captures their glee on camera.
The Internet posting led to widespread public outrage over the shooting.
The three men will appear in Saskatoon provincial court on Monday.
Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
And… finally.. from Global TV – (Edmonton) tonight. A special thanks to their news team for keeping this issue on the air waves!
I got a call this morning from Fletcher Kent of Global Television – Edmonton, looking to do an interview about the Facebook group “Get The Poachers”. Here is a quick segment of raw footage, I snapped of them getting ready to film my hunting and fishing buddy Greg Scratchley about the subject. He is a media guru — thanks for lending a hand to help nab these guys, and great job on the poster.. it is getting a lot of downloads right now.
The piece will air on Global TV – Edmonton tonight at 6:00 PM.
August 06, 2009… Anyone in the area with information about the identity of these men is
asked to call the Report-a-Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800. …
August 06, 2009… Darcy Whiteside, a spokesman for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, said
the province’s Report-a-Poacher tip line also has been receiving numerous calls …
August 05, 2009… Anyone in the area with information about the identity of these men is
asked to call the Report-a-Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800. …
August 05, 2009… officer, said the ministry has been investigating the incident since learning of
the video on Thursday when someone phoned Saskatchewan poacher tip line to …
August 05, 2009… Anyone in the area with information about the identity of these men is
asked to call the Report-a-Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800. …
6:00 PM – Evening News Coverage (May be on again at 11:00 PM):
Totally disgusting! Let’s nail these bass-turds! Join the Facebook group here… and spread the word! Alert your local media!
GET THE POACHERS – FACEBOOK GROUP
Here is a link to the video itself
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-g7Ie0nr2kHere is a link to the original poster of the video
http://www.youtube.com/user/Shax1101Link to the guy who filmed it…
http://www.youtube.com/user/thedeclined2004I am starting this group because of a poaching incident, that was blatantly posted on youtube to show the world what kind of big men they were.
These guys are NOT HUNTERS!!! THEY ARE POACHERS!!! The more people who see this video the better the chance is that they will be caught. PASS IT ALONG!! It was filmed in canada, probably in AB, or SASK. The original poster pulled the video, but it has been put up again to catch these guys. I know that not everyone is a hunter like myself, but everyone should be disgusted by the total lack of regard for the law, and lack of respect for the animals.
Quick warning. The video is graphic, but must be seen.
If you have any info contact the RCMP
British Columbia
•DFO: Observe, Record, Report (ORR) Line – 1-800-465-4336
•Province: Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) – 1-877-952-7277Alberta
Province: Report a Poacher – 1-800-642-3800Saskatchewan
•Province: Turn in Poachers – 1-800-667-7561Ontario
•Province: 1-877-TIPS MNR (847-7667)Quebec
•DFO: Poaching Alert – 1-800-463-9057Nova Scotia
•Natural Resources Canada: Report a Poacher – 1-800-565-2224•DFO (via Coast Guard Regional Operations Centre) – 1-800-565-1633
Yukon
•Territory: Turn in Poachers / Polluters (TIP Line) 1-800-661-0525Northwest Territories
•DFO: 1-867-669-4900
•Territory: Report a Poacher – 1-866-762-2437
P.S. – More posted here on Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum… as well, I will be hosting up the 25 MB MPG video file here to pass on to your local enforcement agency, and contacts. The story has now made CTV, CBC, Yahoo, and other news sources. Let’s hope they are caught by the end of the week.. enjoy your last long weekend boys!
''I am still alive and well and have not been killed in some tragic accident involving bears, alcohol, geekery, GPS, fire, water, and/or high voltage. Yet!'' - RB
N53 35.152 W113 24.741, Phhhhzzt!
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