By Cory Boothe
Coryboothe@hotmail.com
Unfortunately, poaching is a sad reality. Why do people poach? I believe many just want to see if they can get away with it. Many poachers do so for trophy game or bragging rights. Some just don't want to buy a license or tags. I'm sure a very, select few do it for the meat.
Lots of poachers use the need for meat as an excuse. However, those people let the doe walk by so they can kill a buck. Were they really in need of meat if they let a doe pass?
Any way about it poaching is wrong. It is unfair and costly to every outdoorsman who abides by the law. Poaching takes away valuable game and unjustly shines a negative light on the sport of hunting. It is the law-abiding hunters job to turn in a poacher. Everybody knows a poacher but no one ever turns them in.
The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources has a website for turning in a poacher at www.wvdnr.gov
The regional DNR office at Parkersburg phone number is (304)420-4550. You may also call your county's DNR officer or 911 if an incident is in progress.
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