Yesterday I reported on the generosity of Virginia deer hunters to give to the needy by donating deer they harvested. Hunters For the Hungry in Virginia had a record breaking year with those in need benefiting greatly from the generosity of hunters. As I reported many states have similar groups that pair hunters with processors who process the meat for the food banks. Many of these processors will do this project at a reduced cost but there is some cost involved and usually the Hunters For The Hungry coordinate raising the funds and paying the processors for butchering the deer.
Today a story out of Pennsylvania is certainly disturbing and unfortunate in regards to their similar program called Hunters Sharing the Harvest.
Following a lengthy undercover investigation into the illegal commercialization of wildlife, William Kielty III, 60, of Evans City, Butler County, was charged with 28 violations of the Game and Wildlife Code for allegedly possessing unlawfully taken deer and illegally selling game. If convicted of all charges, which were filed with Magisterial District Judge Wayne Seibel of Evans City on Feb. 21, Kietly faces penalties of up to $22,700, and the possible loss of his hunting and trapping privileges for up to 65 years.
The story goes on to explain what Wildlife Officers have uncovered…
Pilarcik said that the investigation found evidence that Kielty was taking deer that were taken illegally, as well as picking up and failing to report road-killed deer. In addition to being charged with selling the meat from unlawfully possessed deer, Kielty is accused of stealing and selling meat from legal deer he was processing for hunters who took deer lawfully.
Kielty, who was enrolled as a participating processor in the Hunters Sharing the Harvest program, also is accused of keeping some of the venison from hunter-donated deer for himself or to sell, and would then forward the remainder to local food banks and soup kitchens.
“This man stands accused of stealing from hard-working hunters – both their venison and their money – and sadly, people in need,” WCO Pilarcik said.
If these allegations hold up I certainly hope that Mr. Kielty gets all he has coming to him. To deny food for those in need in Pennsylvania as well as steal from hunters both their own meat as well as meat they so generously donated is pretty low. Although I think this is an unusual event those in charge may want to look a bit closer at this situation and see if it could have been avoided. The Press Release from the PA Game Commission noted that he had some previous convictions involving processing untagged or illegal deer in the past but maybe they were not serious enough to exclude him from the program.
Bottom line I think these programs are great and we should do all we can do to help them grow and expand in our own state. The hunters I know and hang around with are a pretty generous bunch that will do whatever they can to help you. I think that is a pretty common trait among hunters as a whole so lets keep up the good work and do what we can to help the needy around us.
