Heavy Fine For Poaching

Man Pleads Guilty to Poaching $23,000 Trophy Buck
May 10 Written by: news editor
5/10/2010 12:00 AM 

05/10/10 A Scioto County man pled guilty to four wildlife violations in Adams County Court and ordered to pay $23,572.05 in restitution.
Man Pleads Guilty to Poaching $23,000 Trophy Buck Largest restitution for a poached deer ever imposed in Ohio

West Union, OH – A Scioto County man pled guilty to four wildlife violations in Adams County Court on Friday, April 30 and was ordered to pay $23,572.05 in restitution, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife. 
 
Johnny B. Clay, 37, of Minford pled guilty to four charges including taking a deer in a closed season, hunting without permission, no hunting license and no deer permit. The Honorable Judge Roy E. Gabbert Jr. presided over the case and ordered Clay to pay $1,500 in fines, an additional $134 court costs, and to forfeit the deer as well as the bow he used to kill it.
 
In addition, Clay will lose his hunting privileges for life. Clay had 10 prior wildlife convictions for deer violations and has spent time in jail for several of those offenses. He will be entered into the Wildlife Violator’s Compact and most likely will lose hunting rights in 33 other states.
 
The Division of Wildlife is also imposing restitution for the deer in the amount of $23,572.05. This is in accordance with Ohio's revised restitution law for illegal taking of white-tailed deer. The law went into effect March 2008 and allows the Division of Wildlife to seek an increased recovery value on all illegally harvested wildlife.
 
The typical trophy deer, scored according to Boone & Crockett (B&C) guidelines, netted an impressive 197 2/8.  This deer was the largest typical white-tailed deer harvested in North America during 2009. In Ohio, this deer would rank fourth all time in the Buckeye Big Buck Club records.
 
Concerned citizens contacted Ohio Wildlife officers Chris Rice and Chris Gilkey about the questionable taking of the trophy deer in March 2010. Upon closer investigation, the officers discovered that the deer was unlawfully taken in Adams County, Ohio during 2009. Clay then checked the deer in as a Kentucky archery kill.  
 
The Division of Wildlife is encouraging citizens to report any illegal activity they observe by contacting the TIP line. Tips may be phoned anonymously to 1-800-POACHER.
 
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR Web site at www.ohiodnr.com.
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Editor's Note on Restitution: The recovery value for 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 will be applied to all individuals whose gross 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 3/08).
 

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

I don't quite get how that formula computes to that total, but I don't care ... good enuf for gettin' his attention ...

All of life is six-to-five against, just enough to keep you interested. (Damon Runyan)

Gravity makes all the important decisions ... (John R. Powers)

NRA, REMF, PF, NAHC-L, NAFC-L, KC, NPPA

Hey Gary, how ya doing bud?  That money and the loss of hunting rights in 34 states should get the message across to some of the violators.  I wish the general public would turn in all the violations they see because it takes us all helping the G&F people to stop this crap!!!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

I absolutely LOVE this story!  Well, at least the part where the scumbag outlaw lost his hunting privileges for life in 34 states and all of the fines he is ordered to pay.   
 
I simply cannot stomach or tolerate poachers or trespassers!  I would turn my own brother in for poaching!!
 
What a magnificent animal.  It's too bad that buck had to die that way.  
 
Just think of all of the genetics that buck could have spread around during the course of his life if he would not have been poached.  What a shame.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve
 
 

I agree Steve!  Glad the scumbag lost his hunting privileges in other states!  Many folks live near a neighboring state so losing your privileges in your home state is just a minor inconvenience because you can drive a bit and hunt elsewhere.  I think that if you are convicted of poaching that you should lose your hunting privileges in the entire US!

Love playing that string music and sending a Muzzy flying!

In the article he had been busted before for not having a hunting lisence so in my mind, maybe the fine will teach him a lesson, but then again, maybe not. Now with the loss of funds, he will have to get groceries somehow. Dirty rotten sob. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

That's the problem with people like that.  He obviously didn't learn his lesson for previous violations and then went out and did that!  Now in order to pay the fines and still be able to eat he will probably have to keep poaching to feed himself!!!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Kind of my thoughts exactly top.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Topgun 3006


Hey Gary, how ya doing bud?  That money and the loss of hunting rights in 34 states should get the message across to some of the violators.  I wish the general public would turn in all the violations they see because it takes us all helping the G&F people to stop this crap!!!

 
I have reported poachers in my area and even called the police when a known poacher shot a high powered rifle in a residential neighborhood at 8:00 pm and nothing was ever done.  The poacher is the son and grandson of local businessmen and in this area, if you or your family have money, you are exempt.  Our conservation officers and police officers need to do their jobs and have some integrity against the lawbreakers.  If it was me, I'd be fined and jailed since I don't have connections.  I do take pride in being an ethical hunter and that will never change.

M. J. H

There is nothing better than being outdoors whether or not you're hunting(but you can always say you're scouting).