SC Game Wardens have been busy busting poachers

Tips from the public are a big help to game wardens

SCDNR officers have issued numerous citations for hunting and fishing violations this month. They don’t publicize many of their arrests because they don’t want to jeopardize their cases before they are tried in court. But every now and then, they’ll release information as a service to the public, and hopefully a deterrent to would-be poachers.

In South Carolina’s Region 3 during the early turkey season, a concerned individual tipped local game wardens about a possible baited turkey site. When LCpl Laney, PFC Price, CO Grooms, and DLEOs Lowder and Watson investigated, they found several baited sites.

On day three of turkey hunting season, the officers apprehended two alleged poachers in Clarendon County. They were hunting turkeys over bait, and they did not even have turkey tags. Unbelievably, one of those same individuals was arrested again days later doing the same thing in Sumter County.

Three turkeys too many, while trespassing

Around April 14, PFC Tatum got a call from a landowner in Greenville (SC) County complaining of a possible trespasser hunting his property. Tatum located a licensed hunter who had entered this property illegally and had killed four mature turkeys on that day.

This individual was arrested for intentional trespass to hunt turkeys. He was also charged with having three turkeys over the daily bag limit. SCDNR seized his firearm and equipment to use as evidence in the case.

Catfish poachers busted

CO Grooms and DLEO Lowder were conducting an evening boat patrol on a freshwater river in the midlands when they encountered a small boat with three people on board. The boaters said they were running set hooks for catfish. They had 17 catfish on the boat, along with two fishing rod-and-reel combos.

Because having gamefish rods on board while using set hooks and other non-game devices is illegal, they were cited. Upon further investigation, LCpl Laney was called in. The officers discovered the three subjects had allegedly stolen the 17 catfish from a nearby commercial hoop net. The three boaters were then issued additional citations.

Trout poachers caught redhanded

In the Upstate’s Region 1, Sgt. Busha was alerted to possible trout poachers near the Walhalla Fish Hatchery. A concerned citizen observed two anglers carrying trout to their car, then returning to fish multiple times. When Busha investigated, he found that the two subjects allegedly had 35 trout in their possession.

The legal limit is five trout per day. Busha confiscated their catch and charged them both with possession over the trout limit.

Game wardens have a tough job, and even when you don’t see them, they are hard at work investigating and building cases against poachers like the ones mentioned above. While they find plenty of illegal activity on their own, they always appreciate the help of concerned citizens.

If you see illegal activity while hunting or fishing, help the game wardens out by calling 1-800-922-5431 (South Carolina) or 1-855-WILDTIP (North Carolina).