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MN fella sticks deer farm buck.

by , Posted to on 01/03/2012 09:59 AM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/09/2002
Location: ND
Wow!  And he actually thought he could get away with putting a pic on facebook??? 

Trophy buck poached from deer breeding farm

A Rushford teen is suspected of killing the penned-in animal.

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The 19-year-old couldn't look more proud in the photo, wearing a broad smile as he squats next to the trophy buck he took with a bow and arrow.

But it may end up he's no trophy hunter at all, just a thief.

The trophy buck, which was used for breeding, was killed last week on a deer farm near Houston in southeastern Minnesota. Then, according to the animal's owner, it was tagged, registered with the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and taken to a taxidermist.

The antlers, hide and meat were recovered later by authorities and returned to the deer's owner.

Investigators are now building a possible felony case against the teen from nearby Rushford, according to the Houston County Sheriff's Office.

The deer's owner, who doesn't want to be identified until charges are filed, is angry. "He came in and took something from me that I worked very hard to do," said the owner, who raises deer with his brother. "He doesn't realize what he's done."

The 3 1/2-year-old buck, worth many thousands of dollars, is the product of "many years of intensive and selective breeding," said the owner, who has raised deer for the past 15 years. "It's a lot of time and money."

The buck was in a pen with more than a dozen other deer when the thief shot him in the dead of night last week. With blood staining snow on the ground and a hole snipped in the fence, the farm owners could easily see one of their prize deer had been killed.

"Whoever did this was definitely looking for a trophy," the owner said. Fourteen other deer escaped through the hole in the fence that night, but 12 returned for food. Two bucks are still missing.

"One is a younger brother ... and genetically better," the owner said. "We're making every effort to get these deer back. I even went up in a helicopter yesterday."

The dead and missing deer will take a large chunk out of the family's business. "Our future is in jeopardy," the owner said. "And I don't have money to replace the deer."

Scott Bestul, who co-writes the Whitetail 365 blog for Field and Stream magazine, lives about 20 miles from the deer farm and said he was "pretty disappointed" when he learned about the theft. Days before he learned the deer had been poached, someone had sent him a photo of the 19-year-old showing off his trophy.

"Make no mistake, it's just monstrous big," Bestul said. "In Minnesota, you might get one or two that large. They're very hard to come by in the wild." But for a farm-raised deer, the size is not unusual, he said. "This kid made a big, dumb mistake that will affect the rest of his life. He's probably in a lot of trouble because he stole private property."

Mark Johnson, executive director of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, said the case had little to do with hunting.

"This obviously was livestock, a penned deer, and it would be akin to horse thievery,'' Johnson said. "This was not hunting, it was stealing.''

For the deer's owner, it has shattered his family's sense of security. "You hear a noise outside, you hear something different, you wake up and come flying out of bed to see what will happen next," he said.

Hunters and nonhunters often visit the farm. "They enjoy coming out to look at the antlers, to see the babies in the spring," he said. "They come to see the deer up close rather than hitting the front of their car when they jump across the road. ... It's really sad this happened."

Star Tribune staff writer Doug Smith contributed to this report. mlsmith@startribune.com pwalsh@startribune.com

 
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“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” ~ Mark Twain
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 10:35 AM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/09/2004
Location: Sa
 It's often hard to fathom why people think they can get away with some of the stupid things they attempt. Even if he wouldn't have posted a picture on facebook he would have gotten caught in a short time. It's not doubt the owner of the deer had pictures and even documentation of the deer. As soon as it was reported you could put a picture up on the news and any person that knows him or the taxidermist would recognize it.

I don't care how you feel about high fenced hunting, or raising deer, there is absolutely no excuse for this.

J
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 10:40 AM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/23/2006
Location: ND
I wonder what kind of broadhead he used?
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 11:39 AM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 12/01/2008
Location: ND
I wonder how far he had to track it..................?  Seriously, a person couldn't have been more stupid.  He deserves all he gets. 

"Diligence is the mother of good luck."
Benjamin Franklin

Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 11:46 AM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/09/2002
Location: ND
Capt, I suspect with the price tag listed he is going to be getting a plenty!
“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” ~ Mark Twain
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 11:47 AM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/23/2006
Location: ND
He could have shot it with a gun.  That would have been less inteligent.
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 11:49 AM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 05/20/2009
Location: Mt
He should have to work there for free till he pays off what the total net worth of animal would have been worth, through breeding sales and such for the averaged life of the animal!!


Captain Ahab Said:

I wonder how far he had to track it..................?  Seriously, a person couldn't have been more stupid.  He deserves all he gets. 


Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 12:05 PM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 05/08/2007
Location: ND
Obviously the deer came from a much better gene pool than the poacher
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 12:07 PM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 08/12/2003
Location: ND
 They used to hang livestock rustlers.
..............THIS SPACE FOR RENT..............
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 12:08 PM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/23/2006
Location: ND
I don't care for this high fenced hunting stuff.  Just not very challenging.
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 1:04 PM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/18/2004
Location: ND
Pheasant 54 Said:
Obviously the deer came from a much better gene pool than the poacher

 Ha ha
 

If we're not supposed to eat animals, how come they're made out of meat?

Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 2:17 PM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 12/07/2011
Location: ND

If the owner was up flying around in a helicopter the next day, I doubt he's "hurting financially" from this.  It'll be a sad day when the B&C records are all set by these artificial, high fence deer that take hunting out of the equation. 

“When you have to shoot, shoot. Don’t Talk.” – Tuco (The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly)

Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 2:29 PM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/09/2004
Location: Sa
 
sageghost Said:

If the owner was up flying around in a helicopter the next day, I doubt he's "hurting financially" from this.  It'll be a sad day when the B&C records are all set by these artificial, high fence deer that take hunting out of the equation. 


It doesn't matter if he can afford to take the loss. That isn't the point at all. It would be the same principal as the kid shooting 89 year old Farmer Jim's only cow that he was planning to butcher to feed himself over the winter. The fact of the matter is that he stole someones property; stealing is stealing.... is stealing. 
J
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 2:34 PM | Reply #13 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 05/04/2007
Location: ND
sageghost Said:

If the owner was up flying around in a helicopter the next day, I doubt he's "hurting financially" from this.  It'll be a sad day when the B&C records are all set by these artificial, high fence deer that take hunting out of the equation. 

Yep, I agree. Sort of like steroids and sports... once the genie is out of the bottle, it taints all records because of the doubt and possibilities, even when they're 100% legit. Even genuine natural phenoms (like sports stars) look like no big deal because of all the human engineered versions muddying the waters and making them look dinky.

I find it creepy/weird and don't think trophy farming is a good idea in general.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 3:06 PM | Reply #14 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/14/2002
Location: ND
What this kid did was harder to do than what the high fence hunter do.  Especially and not get caught.

This is a criminal matter and not a game & fish crime.  No different that if he shot a hog, or a cow.  This crime dose not make him a poacher, it does make him a theif, and proves that he is very stupid.

I'm sure the farmer had insurance on such an expesive animal, and will be filing a claim.  That buck isn't unreplaceable, just buy a new one.  I'm sure the loss of a pet is upsetting however.
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 3:25 PM | Reply #15 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/18/2004
Location: ND
Rowdie Said:
What this kid did was harder to do than what the high fence hunter do.  Especially and not get caught.

This is a criminal matter and not a game & fish crime.  No different that if he shot a hog, or a cow.  This crime dose not make him a poacher, it does make him a theif, and proves that he is very stupid.

I'm sure the farmer had insurance on such an expesive animal, and will be filing a claim.  That buck isn't unreplaceable, just buy a new one.  I'm sure the loss of a pet is upsetting however.
I pretty much agree with you on all points.
Should be treated the same as though he shot a prized cow, or pig, then took it to eat or what ever

 

If we're not supposed to eat animals, how come they're made out of meat?

Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 3:59 PM | Reply #16 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 05/24/2008
Location: Mo
sageghost Said:

If the owner was up flying around in a helicopter the next day, I doubt he's "hurting financially" from this. 


Now tell me how you would know what the owner of the deer has for money.  Is it less of a crime if he has money?   I doubt he's "hurting financially" from this.  That is one of the dumber things I have read on this site and there has been a lot of them.

Did you even read the article before you pasted judgement on this guy?
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The dead and missing deer will take a large chunk out of the family's business. "Our future is in jeopardy," the owner said. "And I don't have money to replace the deer."





  



 
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 4:20 PM | Reply #17 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/23/2006
Location: ND
For as much as the people claim these wild animals (that are HIGH FENCED in) are worth, I would think a simple tracking collar would do the trick.  So when they do get out you know where they are at.  Or just a tracking chip.
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 4:27 PM | Reply #18 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/09/2007
Location: ND
To bad this didn't happen during the rut, the two that are still missing could be out there breeding some wild doe's.
I support women in camo 
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 4:38 PM | Reply #19 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 10/24/2005
Location: SD
An interesting question on this....A guy is out hunting and this buck's brother walks by.  Guy legally shoots it from his treestand.  What could this guy do?  I'm thinking nothing.  Hopefully some hunter whacks one of the other bucks.  Be a good lesson for this deer breeder about trying to raise an animal that doesn't belong in a pen.
Re: MN fella sticks deer farm buck.
by on 01/03/2012 5:18 PM | Reply #20 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 05/26/2006
Location: ND
 

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke

"The time at which I stand before you is full of interest. The eyes of all nations are fixed on our Republic. The event of the existing crisis will be decisive in the opinion of mankind of the practicability of our federal system of government. Great is the stake placed in our hands; great is the responsibility which must rest upon the people of the United States. Let us realize the importance of the attitude in which we stand before the world. Let us exercise forbearance and firmness. Let us extricate our country from the dangers which surround it and learn wisdom from the lessons they inculcate."


-Andrew Jackson, 2nd Inaugural address, 1833
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Posted On: 01/03/2012 09:59 AM
3989 Views, 53 Comments

Tags: deer, farm, buck, trophy, sticks, fella, smith, breeding, tribune, star
More Tags: Scott Bestul, Mark Johnson, Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota, Houston, Star Tribune, mlsmith@startribune.com, pwalsh@startribune.com, food, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Houston County Sheriff's Office, Doug Smith, executive director, trophy hunter, taxidermist, staff writer, Star Tribune,
Region: North Dakota

Categories: Hunting > Big Game Hunting - Bear, Elk, Moose, Antelope
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