Will higher fines mean less poaching?


Massive Whitetail Buck
Photo credit: Shutterstock

Poachers seem to get off pretty easily most of the time with low fines and only a handful of days in jail. Tennessee has decided to change that by passing legislation that requires poachers to pay increased fines if found guilty of illegally killing or possessing any of the big game species within the state. Additionally, the new law requires anyone convicted of killing or possessing any of these animals (whitetail deer, wild turkey, bear or elk) to turn in their license until all fines have been paid. 

The increased fines if convicted of poaching are as follows:

Fee

Animal

$1000Wild turkey
$1000Antler-less whitetail deer
$1000Whitetail deer with less
than eight points
$1500Antlerless elk
$1500Elk with less than eight points
$1000 plus $750 for
each antler point
Whitetail deer with at least eight,
but no more than 10 points
$1000 plus $750 for
each antler point
Whitetail deer with 11
or more points
$5000Bear
$5000Bear cub orphaned
by killing of sow

 

This increase in fines follows a recent conviction of two Tennessee men who killed over 40 deer illegally and are banned from hunting for life. Hopefully, the increased penalties will make would-be poachers less inclined to carry out the crime.

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