Last week officials from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the U.S. Attorney's office held a press conference in Wichita. The topic was the culmination of an undercover investigation that revealed Kansas deer poaching violations that ran the gamut. More than 100 trophy-class deer mounts and antlers confiscated in the case were on display.
Brothers James and Marlin Butler, both from Texas, were operating Camp Lone Star in Comanche County and catered to non-resident deer hunters. Deer were shot with the wrong permits, in the wrong units and seasons and with the aid of night-vision equipment. Many violations were documented and since most of the illegal deer crossed state lines there were numerous Lacey Act violations as well. The brothers were sentenced to 41 and 27 months in jail, respectively, and ordered to pay $50,000 and $20,000, respectively, in fines and restitution. Justice was served.
Poaching hurts all Kansas deer hunters and landowners that play by the rules. More than 100 trophy-class whitetails and mule deer aren't available now as a result of the poaching activity. These individuals and their unscrupulous clients robbed law abiding citizens of possibly the opportunity of a lifetime.
All the bucks were likely killed so the "hunters" could brag to their friends and show-off their trophies. How much pride could you have knowing you didn't take that particular buck under fair-chase conditions? Anyone could shoot a buck out of a truck window with a spotlight. That doesn't take any skill and frankly it's cowardly. It's definitely not the cowboy way. Matching wits with a big buck legally with archery gear or a firearm on his own turf and winning would be something to brag about and a real accomplishment.
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