I absolutely think that the three-strikes approach should be applied in the case of serial poachers, although, honestly, I don't know that even this will have a significant effect on folks like Vorhies.

The law has been no hindrance on his activities up to now, what makes anyone think that a prohibition on possession of firearms or other limitations of a felony conviction would stop him from further poaching?

I'm not sure what people think happens to someone who's convicted of a felony, but believe me, to most of the bad guys, it's just another case of bad luck. Unless they're locked up, there's absolutely nothing stopping them from going right back to the activities that got them there in the first place... even if they have to break a couple of additional laws in the process.

I'm all for forced, supervised labor for the rest of his life... put his ass to work cutting fire brakes, managing trails, and doing maintenance on fire towers and rangers' quarters. Keep him so busy working for the resource that he doesn't have time to abuse it.

Of course, that's a fantasy. No way it'd happen in the namby-pamby, oh-poor-criminal-it's-not-your-fault criminal justice system we have these days.

Some people never change their ways...new laws usually never stop a determined criminal, they usually end up being used to over penalize someone else on down the road...but 3rd poaching offense becomes a felony sounds good to me....especially if a trophy is involved, taking a doe to feed the family and taking a large racked animal are two different issues...

I think that if they were to cut off a finger for each offense that would work, eventually he would have no choice when all of his fingers are gone....

I agree with the other guys. Sure thing, go right ahead and make it a three strikes felony, that's what they deserve...but, realistically, I'm not sure it would have much of a deterrent effect to a calloused lawbreaker. Reminds me of how the FedGov keeps trying to ban "illegal guns"...a criminal isn't going to stop just because you passed another law.

The courts should classify each animal as one violation instead of per instance. That way the three strike rule would go ineffect more quickly.

Maybe these should try to quit suspending parts of his sentence?

If you get four years, serve four years. At least you'd know what he's doing for those four years......

What a Loser this guy is.

My answer to how you stop a serial poacher involves a similar fate the animals got that he took illegally. Harsh? Yes. But I dislike stupid people.. A LOT.

1st of all quit lettin him get away with it by lettin him out without servin his full sentance.

3rd time should not even be considered I think 2nd time and throw him under the jail.

I agree if he takes more than one animal charges should be brought against him for each individual animal. That eliminates the 3 strike rule as well.

Once guys like this get off easy they learn how to manipulate the system and are encouraged to continue poaching and learning from the mistakes they made to make them better poachers. We as hunters pay for it, we as tax payers pay for it as well.

I like the idea of the 3-strikes rule. If he gets busted 3 times take his guns, hunting privileges, and whatever else is needed to stop him. People like this guy is what gives something as great as hunting a bad name.

antipersonell landmines placed out by the gamewardens in off season in a way that only they know where each one is, then stricter control in season employing those nifty drones they use down in the middle east with infrared cams and antipersonell munitions.. used in accordance with satelite linked electronic huntinglicenses should do the trick. anyone carrying a gun and doesnt have a license is a poacher and gets himself in a world of hurt.
the american way :D lol

Maybe I'm a little hard core but I think his guns, bows etc should all be confiscated for life and that his hunting privilages revoked for life. I know that may not stop him from borrowing and hunting illegally again but it may send him a message

Check out how this guy committed crimes with an ankle bracelet and got nabbed.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/13/crime-spree-ends-thanks-to-gps-ankle-...

I would use the same thing - along with HogBlog's idea about him working for the forest service.

A trophy poacher should never be able to hunt or fish again. Feed-your-family poacher should do service and not be eligible for a trophy hunt (moose,sheep,bull elk) so they can still feed their family in the future but need to end up making sacrifices. It should also teach us all a lesson, understand the regs clearly before pulling the trigger. If would also help if the states would actually write the regs clearly (Idaho Regs are a nightmare).

The problem with defining poaching as a felony, is that a person who shoots an animal a minute to early or late is a poacher, a person who incorrectly tags an animal can be considered a poacher. There has to be certain criteria set up first otherwise you end up with a law like the one in the supreme court that could ban hunting shows.