December 1, 2016
From NewYorkUpstate.com
The following incidents occurred between Nov. 11-20.
On the night of Nov. 11, Lt. William Powell, ECOs Brian Wade, John Lutz, John Stansfield, Todd Smith, Eoin Snowdon, and Joshua Wolgast responded to complaints of subjects sneaking into Lake Ontario tributaries to spear and net spawning trout. The ECOs apprehended seven individuals from Rochester, New York City, and New Jersey, seized 16 illegal fish, and wrote a total of 18 tickets for taking over the limit of brown trout, taking fish by means other than angling (spearing), fishing during closed hours, failing to comply with the lawful order of a Conservation Officer, and trespassing.
Hunting Deer with Bait … AGAIN – Sullivan County
On Nov. 19, ECOs Bob Hodor, Matt Burdick, Melissa Burgess, Lt. Mike Bello, and a New York State Police Trooper investigated a Fallsburg hunting camp.
Members of the family camp had been ticketed in 2013 after an investigation revealed that all of the ground blinds and tree stands associated with the camp were heavily baited for the purpose of attracting deer. Earlier this fall, ECOs Hodor, Burgess, and Lt. Bello revisited the camp and found that the hunters were still using bait. This year’s investigation resulted in the ticketing of five hunters, all for the violation of hunting deer with the aid of pre-established bait.
Trespasser With Too Many Tags – Putnam County
On Nov. 19, ECOs Craig Tompkins and Tony Drahms addressed a trespassing complaint in the town of Southeast. ECO Tompkins The ECOs observed a subject walking from the tree stand on posted property. The man was tracking a deer he shot while trespassing. During the interview with the subject, ECOs determined the man was in possession of his brother’s DMP tags and bow/muzzleloader tag as well as his own. The hunter was issued tickets for trespassing on posted property, illegal taking of protected wildlife (deer), and possessing the license of another person.
Trespassing to Hunt – Broome County
On Nov. 19, ECO Andy McCormick responded to a complaint in the town of Union regarding a group of hunters trespassing on private property. The complainant stated that he had confronted the men and the discussion nearly became violent. On Nov. 20, the complainant contacted ECO McCormick again, advising him that two of the hunters had returned to hunt the same property. Both ECOs McCormick and Anthony Rigoli responded, tracked the two on the property, and found them hunting again. Both subjects were ticketed for trespassing and were advised not to return.
Lots of Tags But Too Early to Shoot – Saratoga County
On the morning of Nov. 20 at 7 a.m., ECOs Rob Higgins and Steve Shaw responded to a call from a complainant who had witnessed a man shoot at a group of deer in the dark approximately 30 minutes before the start of legal hunting hours. The hunter and his father were interviewed and ECOs issued tickets for hunting deer during closed hours and killing a wild deer except as permitted by the Conservation Law.