yadkin

For some weird reason, I totally agree with the "dog" on this one!

Feb 12, 2014 in WISCONSIN. Not NC.
Lead poison - not from bullets
A father and son who operate a large potato farm in northern Wisconsin have agreed to pay $100,000 in restitution in connection with the poisoning deaths of more than 70 wild animals, including at least two bald eagles.

Alvin C. Sowinski, 65, and Paul A. Sowinski, 46, of the Town of Sugar Camp in Oneida County, also face penalties of up to $100,000 each and up to a year in prison at their sentencing in May, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the western district in Madison.

According to documents filed by prosecutors, Alvin Sowinski used poisoned bait piles to try to kill predators such as coyotes and gray wolves.

There was no evidence that wolves, a federally protected animal at the time of the investigation, were poisoned.

The two men also permitted hunters and trappers to kill predators to improve hunting for penned pheasants, grouse and deer for the Sowinskis and friends.

One such hunter and trapper was an undercover officer of the state Department of Natural Resources, who was told by Alvin Sowinski how he used poison to target predators.

While poisoning of wildlife is known to occur throughout the state, prosecution of such cases are "extremely rare," according to U.S. Attorney John W. Vaudreuil, who said his office has prosecuted only one or two cases in the past 30 years.

Among the wildlife poisoned with pesticides by the Sowinskis between 2007 and 2010 were at least two bald eagles, a turkey vulture, nine coyotes, one bobcat, three ermine, crows, songbirds, squirrels, skunks and other unidentified animals.

Vaudreuil called the acts "incredibly selfish" for someone to "purposefully want to kill predators, and then they use this very horrible pesticide."

The Sowinski family owns about 8,000 acres in Oneida County, with about 4,000 acres consisting of an active farming operation.

According to the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, Sowinski Farms Inc. is headquartered in Rhinelander.

The investigation began in May 2007 when a DNR warden found dead animals on the property, including a bald eagle.

A dead deer in a bait pile contained carbofuran, a highly toxic insecticide, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service forensic laboratory concluded.

Then in 2010, law enforcement personnel found at least nine poisoned bait piles of white-tailed deer, beaver and processed meats placed by Alvin Sowinski on the property.

Dozens of dead wildlife were found nearby, according to records.

The son was aware that his father was setting up poisoned bait sites.

A video camera set up by law enforcement showed Paul, accompanied by a son and teenage nephew, driving an ATV and finding a dead eagle.

Paul Sowinski tossed it into the brush.

He returned later, picked up the eagle and tossed it into a burn pile.

In a statement Thursday, Greg Sowinski, president of Sowinski Farms, said representatives of the potato farm "deeply regret the impacts to animals caused by the unauthorized acts and have taken proactive steps to reinforce safe and appropriate practices."

The company also said Alvin Sowinski, who acknowledged primary responsibility for killing the wildlife, is no longer an officer at the farming operation.

Greg Sowinski said the company does not use the insecticide that killed the wildlife, and at "no time was the safety of Sowinski Farms' cropland or products affected in any way."

Paul Sowinski served on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association in 2012, according to the association's website.

I don't condone any poaching of any sorts of animals, especially big game. I have never shot anything (animal) for sport or out of season.
Aside from the larger group of poachers that kill bears for gal bladders - I don't know of any "problem" that you hear of in any of our local counties, and I've hunted many places through out NC.
I know NC WRC officers arrested several people in the western part of the state for poaching bear. But a large majority of hunters are very respectful and don't leave valuable meat behind.
Some bullets or shot used to hunt specific water foul with are now "non lead" bullets. For example bismuth and steel shot.
Dove and other birds are still taken with lead shot.
A vast majority of hunting rifles use lead bullets. Most all of those speciality bullets are copper jacketed or with ballistic tips. A large animal shot with those type of bullets are most likely going to die, however if for whatever reason the hunter makes a "bad shot" then those animals can run off and suffer from their injuries. They are more likely killed by another predator (coyotes) or die from infection, bleeding, disease ect rather than die of lead poisoning.
I wouldn't want anyone shooting a bald eagle with lead shot or any other type of shot, but one occur acne, that happened in Canada, does not make the thousands of hunters in NC poachers. Trying to make that point is absurd.
Oh, dog, I forgot you were there, you may go now, carry on about your way. (Idiot)

As much of a stink as he has raised I'll bet he has done it. You know I thought this was a 8 point and it turned out to be a 6, I cant have that hanging on my wall. What makes him a total idiot is telling me and others in Ashe we are lying. His other misgiving is challenging the the dog in the first place.

There ARE poachers and idiots that leave the dead behind that they have killed.
northwest hunter, perhaps you are a hunter that follows the rules. I hope all hunters do. BUT, some kill purely for the pleasure.

Underdog, I don't care where you live. Glad to have you here. There is no rule you can't be here! But there is a rule that one should not leave a dead deer.

Hunters, hope you are using non lead ammo. Saddest thing I ever witnessed was an Eagle dying of lead poisoning.

I tell you what prick. Come on over to goahe and prove me wrong.

You don't find carcasses lying all around with their heads cut off "all the time." you may find "gut piles" for the opossums and coyotes but those carcasses have the hams, shoulders, back straps and other valuable meats removed! We leave the intestines and stomachs for the "bottom feeders" like you dog.
You are a liar and chime in on every thread without knowing anything you're talking about! Why dont you just stick with Ashe county? And shut up.

Oh believe me they do. Find carcases all over Ashe county with the heads missing. It takes a low life pos to kill a deer just for its head to hang on the wall.

I have never known a hunter who would purposely leave a kill. I guess some hunters could just like some people kill and hurt animals just for fun. The thought of it never really entered my mind.

http://www.nps.gov/redw/nat...ullets.htm

Recently saw a program on PBS regarding Bald Eagles. Deer shot and killed lying around...just left there. Happens a lot. And then showed an eagle with lead poisoning.
Fiesta, you may not do this. But some others do.
There are a lot of articles on it.

The last lead mine in the United States closed not long ago. The government is using non lead in some of their weapons now. That is why I have stocked up on lead ammo for my hunting rifles. It will be harder to find soon enough I believe. I don't think the non lead ammo will have the same ballistics as the lead ammo my guns were made for. It would suck for a $1400 rifle to suddenly be worth it's weight in scrap metal because it doesn't shoot pin point anymore.

I also don't buy the people who eat wild game meat have more lead in their systems line. Bullets go straight through and most are copper jacketed. That doesnt contaminate the whole kill. You cut around the bullet path. As far as shot pellets they are cut out. I think scavenger deaths from lead contaminated game would be rather rare since hunters tend to track and take game they kill, not leave it laying in fields for the birds. I just smell someone with an agenda spreading bs with this video.