Post by Woody Williams on Dec 18, 2007 10:51:58 GMT -5
12/14/2007
Division of Wildlife 2004 poaching case ends in guilty plea for Elizabeth (KY) resident
Elizabeth resident Jacob Haas, 22, has pled guilty to charges filed by a Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) officer stemming from the illegal take of an elk on private property on a ranch near Franktown in southern Douglas County. Haas must pay the $10,000 ‘Samson’ surcharge for killing a trophy quality bull elk, is on probation for two years, and faces license suspension for illegally killing the bull elk and hunting on private property without permission. The guilty plea is the culmination of three years of work on the case by District Wildlife Manager (DWM) Travis Harris. Harris also credited the assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s office and Douglas County Open Space rangers with helping secure evidence in the case.
On October 16, 2004, Haas and a friend entered private property and illegally killed a trophy-class bull elk. DWM Harris received a tip and responded to the working cattle ranch south of Franktown. Douglas County Open Space rangers, a Douglas County sheriff deputy, and two other wildlife officers responded to the area and assisted Harris as he led the investigation. Among other violations, they found Haas had entered the ranch without permission from the landowners.
“It’s always unfortunate when people knowingly hunt on private property without first obtaining permission, since it can negatively impact a landowner’s willingness to allow legal hunters access in the future,” said Harris. “We want landowners to remember that this particular violation was intentional, and that the DOW will aggressively prosecute these cases when landowners are willing to press charges.”
DWM Harris also cited Haas with the killing of a 5x6 bull elk, prompting the assessment of the ‘Samson’ $10,000 surcharge. The Samson surcharge was passed into law in 1998 following the killing of Samson, a large bull elk, in Estes Park. “We take prosecuting poachers who target trophy animals very seriously,” said DWM Casey Westbrook, who assisted Harris in his investigation.
Haas faces suspension of his hunting, fishing, and falconry licenses. In Colorado, if someone accrues 20 or more points against their wildlife license privileges they can be suspended from those activities. An administrative hearing will determine the length of Haas’ suspension, which must then be approved by the Wildlife Commission. In especially egregious situations, lifetime suspensions can be imposed.
Harris added, “Residents of Douglas County are fortunate to live in a place with a rich and diverse wildlife resource. Some people will try to exploit this resource, and DOW relies on the support of the citizens and landowners to assist us in protecting and preserving Douglas County’s wildlife.”
Operation Game Thief is a Colorado Division of Wildlife program, which pays rewards to citizens who turn in poachers. You can call us toll-free within Colorado at 1-877-COLO-OGT, Verizon cell phone users can dial #OGT, or contact us via e-mail at Operation Game Thief.
Division of Wildlife 2004 poaching case ends in guilty plea for Elizabeth (KY) resident
Elizabeth resident Jacob Haas, 22, has pled guilty to charges filed by a Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) officer stemming from the illegal take of an elk on private property on a ranch near Franktown in southern Douglas County. Haas must pay the $10,000 ‘Samson’ surcharge for killing a trophy quality bull elk, is on probation for two years, and faces license suspension for illegally killing the bull elk and hunting on private property without permission. The guilty plea is the culmination of three years of work on the case by District Wildlife Manager (DWM) Travis Harris. Harris also credited the assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s office and Douglas County Open Space rangers with helping secure evidence in the case.
On October 16, 2004, Haas and a friend entered private property and illegally killed a trophy-class bull elk. DWM Harris received a tip and responded to the working cattle ranch south of Franktown. Douglas County Open Space rangers, a Douglas County sheriff deputy, and two other wildlife officers responded to the area and assisted Harris as he led the investigation. Among other violations, they found Haas had entered the ranch without permission from the landowners.
“It’s always unfortunate when people knowingly hunt on private property without first obtaining permission, since it can negatively impact a landowner’s willingness to allow legal hunters access in the future,” said Harris. “We want landowners to remember that this particular violation was intentional, and that the DOW will aggressively prosecute these cases when landowners are willing to press charges.”
DWM Harris also cited Haas with the killing of a 5x6 bull elk, prompting the assessment of the ‘Samson’ $10,000 surcharge. The Samson surcharge was passed into law in 1998 following the killing of Samson, a large bull elk, in Estes Park. “We take prosecuting poachers who target trophy animals very seriously,” said DWM Casey Westbrook, who assisted Harris in his investigation.
Haas faces suspension of his hunting, fishing, and falconry licenses. In Colorado, if someone accrues 20 or more points against their wildlife license privileges they can be suspended from those activities. An administrative hearing will determine the length of Haas’ suspension, which must then be approved by the Wildlife Commission. In especially egregious situations, lifetime suspensions can be imposed.
Harris added, “Residents of Douglas County are fortunate to live in a place with a rich and diverse wildlife resource. Some people will try to exploit this resource, and DOW relies on the support of the citizens and landowners to assist us in protecting and preserving Douglas County’s wildlife.”
Operation Game Thief is a Colorado Division of Wildlife program, which pays rewards to citizens who turn in poachers. You can call us toll-free within Colorado at 1-877-COLO-OGT, Verizon cell phone users can dial #OGT, or contact us via e-mail at Operation Game Thief.
