Ohio Deer Law for Poachers

A recent article on the ODNR website revealed the fine for a poacher who shot a 218 7/8" buck in 2010. This is one of the largest fines that I have ever seen ($23,816). Unfortunately, it will most likely not have much impact in slowing down these dirt-bags from shooting deer illegally but it is good to see a standard process in place for these types of instances.

As posted in the article: The recovery value for an individual white-tailed deer is derived from the formula listed in 1531.201 of the Ohio Revised Code. The value is determined by measuring the antlers and using the following formula plus the value derived for wildlife. The formula for white-tailed deer may be applied to all illegally taken deer whose gross antler score exceeds 125 Boone and Crockett (B&C) inches. The formula is:

Recovery Value = [(gross score - 100)2 x $1.65] + the value derived in the Wildlife Value Formula ($500 as of March'08).

article: www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/News/NewsReleas...000-Trophy-Buck.aspx

I didn't know there was a formula, but in my mind making them pay thousands of dollars is great but are they learning anything. I mean all i take from that is if your goin to poach make sure your rich and can pay the fines. I tell what I would do with the poachers, I would lock them up for about a year and take away their hunting rights for life. Then if they got caught hunting anything again I would lock them up for 5 to 10 depending on good behavior. Then I think people would get the point that poaching is unacceptable.

I'm with you Rackaholic30 lock them up. All the time, effort, and patience it takes to find and harvest a trophy animal legally and these greedy-trigger happy idiots get the bragging rights. They deserve to spend some time incarcerated and lose their licenses so they get the point that what they did was break the law and give hunting in general a black eye.

I've heard of this formula but never really knew it was real. I seriously don't understand people who poach. I don't hunt just to kill things. I hunt because it requires me to hone my skills, pay attention to even the smallest details, learn patience, and learn how to be grateful when the Lord gives me an opportunity to take a life of a magnificent animal to provide for my family. Poaching does none of those things. Any moron can shoot an animal with a high powered rifle that is blinded by a spotlight. Providing he doesn't shoot himself in the process.

Lower the boom on these scum bags that give us a bad name.