Follow up to two other articles I posted and Greg Ritz, Thompson/Center Arms, non involvement in this matter.
www.theoutdoorwire.comFEATURE
Game Trails Revisited
When we first reported the story of Game Trails more than two weeks ago, we suspected the story would attract more interest than most simple criminal investigations.
After all, Game Trails had built -and marketed - a reputation as a hunting location frequented by television crews, hunting writers and companies testing their newest products.
The man behind Game Trails, Gregg Ritz, is the former owner of Thompson/Center Arms, a television host, and closely affiliated with some of the most popular names in outdoor television.
That added to the interest of the story, and it has continued to roil across the industry.
Today, we offer a pair of clarification statements regarding Game Trails. We offer them both in their entirety - and without comment.
First, a statement from Smith & Wesson, the current owners of Thompson/Center Arms clarifying their relationship with Game Trails.
Statement from Thompson/Center Arms:
"Thompson/Center Arms does not now, nor has it ever, had any form of ownership of or control over the Kentucky hunting property that was operated by Game Trails, LLC. The Company has been a past customer of the property and has paid a fee for use of the property when hosting various events.
"The Game Trails television show, of which Thompson/Center Arms has been a sponsor, is not, to the best of our understanding, related in any way to the Kentucky property operated by Game Trails, LLC
"Thompson/Center Arms is steadfast in its commitment to the hunting heritage and promotes the highest level of ethics in all respects. We do not tolerate any violation of state or federal game laws and will continue our long support of national programs that nurture the sport of hunting and educating youth about the ethics, responsibilities and privileges of enjoying the outdoors."
Last night, we received a release from the attorneys representing Ritts and Game Trails.
It is lengthy, but again offered in its entirety and without comment.
Here, then, is that release:
"Sturgis, Kentucky. April 8, 2009. - Misstatements of fact and misleading information related to a misdemeanor case involving Game Trails, a company with operations in Kentucky, has prompted this release to clarify the record.
On March 19, 2009, Game Trails, LLC, and its general manager Dirk MacTavish pled guilty to misdemeanor violations of the Lacy Act. More specifically, the violations were technical in nature and involved the mistagging and telechecking of deer. Both Game Trails and Dirk MacTavish paid fines. No other sanctions were imposed: no probation; no loss of hunting rights; and no loss of outfitter's licenses. Gregg Ritz was neither charged nor plead guilty to any violation, misdemeanor or otherwise.
At all times throughout the process, Game Trails and Dirk MacTavish were forthright and cooperated fully. The mistakes in tagging deer were admitted and the matter was resolved. As noted, only fines were paid on technical misdemeanor violations. The case has been officially closed.
The relevant facts with regards to this case can be accessed through the United States District Court, Western District of Kentucky, Owensboro. However, the same cannot be said for subsequent reports, which have been littered with half-truths and false accusations. The facts have been misconstrued and inaccurately characterized. This statement will present the truth.
In addition to the aforementioned, the relevant facts are as follows.
In 2006, Games Trails was instructed by an agent of the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife and mandated by the land owner Kimball International to reduce the number of deer on the property to help reduce crop damage. Game Trails had been informed by Kimball's on-site manager that the crop damage caused by deer population had resulted in Kimball International offsetting the tenant farmer's annual lease in the amount of $35,000. Authorities at Kimball advised Game Trails that its lease would be terminated if the deer population was not reduced.In an effort to comply, Game Trails conducted the largest ever camera survey for whitetail deer in association with the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) to determine the proper number of deer to be harvested. A formal report was presented to Kimball International by the QDMA with a recommendation to harvest 200 deer. However the Commonwealth of Kentucky conducted an independent deer damage assessment and concluded that the harvest number was far greater than 200.
Game Trails sought the advice and cooperation of local Kentucky authorities to request and receive special consideration with the harvest process. The request for special consideration concerning the deer management program was rejected.
Instead, Game Trails was informed that if it needed assistance in reducing the population, then it should consider allowing local authorities, their friends and family access to hunt. This idea was not satisfactory to Kimball.QDMA, on behalf of Game Trails, then appealed directly to officials in Frankfort, Kentucky, the state's capitol, to request special consideration for the doe harvest. Again, Game Trails was denied special consideration and was informed no consideration would be given as long as Game Trails was in possession of the hunting lease.
Later, in 2006, Kentucky issued Game Trails several hundred Animal Control tags to accommodate the additional deer harvest requirements.
The harvesting of the deer and use of the Animal Control tags were improperly managed by a former Game Trails' site manager, who applied the tags to any hunter; essentially "community tagging" the animals. The former site manager performed all operational aspects of the business and personally tagged every animal. He was later terminated for performance issues unrelated to this incident.
It must be noted that no deer went unchecked and all deer were harvested by licensed hunters.To further clarify and correct the misinformation circulating we would like the public to know the following:
• Neither Dirk MacTavish, General Manager of Game Trails, nor Gregg Ritz, owner of Games Trails, tagged or tele-checked any of the deer harvested;
• There were no charges or fines levied against Gregg Ritz;
• Neither Dirk MacTavish or Gregg Ritz made false statements to Investigators, or any other authorities;
• Neither Dirk MacTavish nor Game Trails lost their outfitting license, hunting rights or were placed on probation;
• Every deer killed was processed and given to families in need;
•
With the exception of this 2006 incident, no other violations were found to have occurred during the period in which Game Trails occupied the property; • Felony prosecution of former Game Trails' employee Chris Helms is only incidental, and is unrelated to this matter; neither Gregg Ritz nor Dirk MacTavish have any involvement with that case; and
• Kimball International sold the Sturgis, Kentucky land last November (four months prior to this event) and the new landowner chose not to sublease the hunting rights, resulting in Game Trails closing its Kentucky operation at present.
Due to the mistagging and telechecking at Game Trails, the personal and business reputations of Game Trails, Gregg Ritz and Dirk MacTavish have all been unfairly tarnished. Mistakes were made, and a fine was paid. But Game Trails and Gregg Ritz have built a name of excellence and integrity in the industry, and these technical violations should not diminish that reputation. It is unfortunate that multiple inaccuracies have worked to do just that. Basic fairness dictates that those involved should be judged on the facts of record in this case, and those facts alone. "
OK, they've had their say. As is my prerogative, I will have the final words - at least for this morning - on Game Trails.
The facts of this matter are pretty straightforward.
Someone at Game Trails screwed up.
An investigation verified suspicions of wrongdoing and led to appropriate charges being filed by state and federal officials.
Game Trails - and its owner, directly or otherwise -admitted the mistakes, plead guilty to the violations, and paid the fines.
If Game Trails had been most operations, that would have been the end of the story.
But it isn't.
This story has "legs" because of the notoriety of Game Trails, its sole-proprietor and his many friends and industry contacts who have hunted there.
Their involvement, innocent or not, adds a whole new level of scrutiny to the story.
That scrutiny may or may not be fair, but it is one part of the price of celebrity.
--Jim Shepherd
? my numbers came from ss records sent every year or so 
H.H.!!!!
The have to kill a big racked buck obsession that some people have has taken away from the sport of deer hunting. I still pass smaller bucks in the hopes that a mature 3 & 1/2 year old buck may wander past me, but if I felt like taking a lesser buck I would. I still harvest several does a year for meat, and the only ground beef that I buy during the year is to mix a little with the venison. I still remember when you could legally harvest four antlered deer in Indiana, and I wish that we could at least take two, one with bow and one with a gun. The camaraderie of deer camps are becoming a thing of the past as well. In the early 90's a tennis player named Jackie Bushman was the "Buckmaster", and Chuck Adams was one heck of a bowhunter. A new guy who was buds with Jackie at the time, Bill Jordan, was taking some pretty impressive deer while a young kid named Michael Waddel was filming for him. I still enjoy watching the shows and videos, but I would rather be and probably am huntin' during the season. I like the "Crush", but it's not because of big bucks!!!!!!!!!! ;D 
