CA Game Warden Shortage Leads to Increased Poaching

Home > CA Game Warden Shortage Leads to Increased Poaching

Short post for today, but I think it’s important. California has long had a shortage of game wardens. For the past several years, less than 250 wardens were assigned to patrol the entire state (something like 160,000 square miles). They are supported in their jobs by park rangers, but as budget cuts threaten to close State Parks and lay off these rangers, the burden will grow even more.

This article in the SF Chronicle paints a pretty scary picture of the current and future status, as poaching continues to increase while law enforcement strength dwindles.

CA sportsmen, now more than ever, need to be proactive in reporting poaching and other illegal activities. In many cases, we are the eyes and ears of the DFG. We can do more to protect our sport and our image by showing that we are concerned and active in preventing wildlife crime, and prosecuting the criminals.

Arthur

Posted June 9, 2009 at 2:59 PM

It’s a sad reality, but I guess it is the times we currently live in. I definitely think that less conservation officers leads to more illegal outdoor activity. And as you pointed out, Phillip, that means it is up to all of us to point the bad guys out. We all need to do our part.

Don Hooton

Posted June 10, 2009 at 7:18 AM

I was taught to uphold and obey the rules always. If the number of wardens is decreasing then, the number of responsible hunters must increase. If you see a hunting violation happening , then report it. Doing so can only help the legal hunters!!

Albert A Rasch

Posted June 10, 2009 at 10:03 AM

Phillip,

Now more than ever, with the increasing lawlessness and ill behavior, law abiding citizens need to step up and do the right thing. We can be the eyes and ears of the law enforcement of the Nation.

Regards,
Albert
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles.
Where do Donations to the HSUS Go?.

Josh

Posted June 10, 2009 at 11:09 AM

A great post and reminder. Alas, one of the problems with crimes committed while hunting is that witnesses are often close friends or relatives, and so an added issue arises as to ratting out in-laws and such.

Good luck and God bless to those of you who find yourselves in that position this year. May you be strong enough to do the right thing.

NorCal Cazadora

Posted June 11, 2009 at 5:19 AM

I think it’s also important for hunters to speak up and tell the Legislature that we want more wardens – that we aren’t satisfied with an enforcement environment that makes it so easy for people to poach.

And the fines people get charged are ridiculously low – how about making a much bigger penalty? Last time Hank and I went sturgeon fishing, we learned that sturgeon roe – aka caviar – can fetch $5,000, just from one fish. That makes those paltry fines a mere cost of doing business.

If you read the comments in the Chron article, there was huge anti-immigrant sentiment in them, and usually that pisses me off (you know, me being 100 percent of immigrant descent). But I know there are some groups that really are causing problems, and I wouldn’t mind seeing deportation or threat of losing a green card (same thing, I guess), for immigrants who are breaking the law.

Ralph

Posted January 16, 2011 at 3:49 PM

The unfortunate rise in CA poaching is caused by two things:
1) The lack of game wardens, as previously mentioned.
2) The increase in the cost of legal hunting.
•Ammunition has dramatically increased in price, due to “lead-free” ammo requirements.
•Hunting licenses, stamps, and tags steadily increase in price.
•Nonsensical tag requirements for non-native invasive species.
-There are countless sources documenting the detrimental effect of feral swine on the ecosystem. They destroy crops, and eat fawns, calves, eggs, and chicks. They also breed at a rate that makes it nearly impossible to stop the growth of the population. Yet the state in it’s wisdom not only makes hunters buy a tag to hunt this animal, but also sets the price at an absurd $20/tag. Coyotes, skunks, etc. do much less damage, yet are considered pest species, and no limit is placed take; pigs should be no different.

CA Game Warden Shortage Leads to Increased Poaching

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