poacherkev 64 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 JUST FOUND THIS ON THE FORESTRY WEB SITE ......................................................................... Operation 'Antler' - Forest Watch initiative targets illegal deer poaching South Wales Police and the Forestry Commission are joining forces to tackle illegal deer poaching in the South Wales countryside. They will also work with local authorities to target poachers who tour pubs and restaurants in the run-up to Christmas trying to sell on the venison. Operation Antler forms part of the Forest Watch initiative, which was launched earlier this year to raise awareness and encourage reporting of crime in the countryside. PC Andrew Scourfield, a South Wales Police officer seconded to Forestry Commission Wales, said: "The Forestry Commission’s estate of Neath and Port Talbot and the forested areas to the west of Maesteg are resident to a wild Fallow Deer herd. "It is unsure exactly how many deer populate these areas, but it is estimated to be hundreds, if not more. "Over the years poachers have targeted these areas on a regular basis, particularly in the run up to Christmas where some will sell the venison to local pubs and food outlets. In some areas of the country poachers are making large financial gain from this illegal activity." The public’s perception of deer poaching may be a romantic image of an individual at night with a rifle in order to ‘bag one for the pot’. Unfortunately the reality is somewhat different. Today’s poacher is likely to be more sophisticated and involved in other areas of crime such as drug dealing, burglary, theft or fraud. They will be in possession of 4x4 vehicles, high-powered rifles and hunting dogs such as Lurchers. Forestry Commission area manager Kay Williams added: "Poachers will use whatever means it takes to unlawfully enter through Forestry Commission security barriers. Angle grinders, welding equipment and even JCBs have been used in the past. "The Forestry Commission in South Wales are creating more integrated forests and promoting areas such as the Afan Forest Park and we have witnessed the numbers of legitimate forest users and workers increase. "Events such as organised night time nature walks and mountain bike rides are increasing in areas where deer are resident and poaching is evident." By raising the awareness of the issue through the successful Forest Watch scheme and visiting local farms and rural dwellings there has already been a steady increase in reports of deer poaching. Reports of rifle shots, night time vehicle movement in the forest and the discarded remains of deer entrails, legs and heads are all signs of deer poaching. There are also concerns over the cruelty to the deer as the poachers are unlikely to be trained or experienced stalkers and are unaware "stalking rules", such as when to take a shot or what part of the body to shoot so that a clean kill is assured. For example, if a deer is shot in the mouth it is likely to starve to death, if a doe is shot before her fawn then the fawn will also starve without its mother. Some poachers have been known to use inappropriate and unlawful weapons such as crossbows and shot guns, increasing the risk of injury and suffering to these animals. As well as the animal cruelty aspect, the operation will also focus on food hygiene with local authority environmental health officers visiting and carrying out leaflet drops to pubs, restaurants and hotels raising the awareness of the dangers and legal consequences of purchasing or selling venison obtained from unlawful sources. Steve Adie, principal trading standards officer for Neath Port Talbot Council said: "Poachers have been known to tour local pubs and restaurants looking for a market for their venison, particularly in the run up to Christmas. "If the meat is not properly hung then toxins build up, and if this is put in the food chain then the meat is tainted which could cause serious harm to public health." Mike Thomas, Trading Standards Officer of Bridgend Council added: "All deer lawfully culled by trained stalkers will be examined by a qualified person for disease prior to entering the food chain for human consumption. "Deer taken by poachers will not, again increasing the risk to public health." PC Scourfield said the operation would have four main elements – education, intelligence, prevention and enforcement. "We aim to raise the public’s awareness of deer poaching to increase the flow of information to ourselves and highlight the dangers of purchasing venison from unscrupulous sources," he added. "South Wales Police has an array of specialist units which will form the enforcement aspect of the operation to investigate and prosecute those involved in illegal deer poaching." If you have any information regarding deer poaching, poachers or the unlawful sale of venison of you can contact PC Scourfield in confidence or Crime Stoppers below: PC Andrew Scourfield 01633 580234 forestwatch@forestry.gsi.gov.uk Crime Stoppers 0800 555 111 What's of interest The Deer Act 1991 25kb PDF Useful sites South Wales Police Neath and Port Talbot County Borough Council Bridgend County Borough Council Crimestoppers The Deer Initiative Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malt 379 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I liked this bit! Today’s poacher is likely to be more sophisticated and involved in other areas of crime such as drug dealing, burglary, theft or fraud. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
daniel8822 0 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 dont know any hunters that are drug dealers or theifs around by me lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mattydski 560 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 What self respecting poacher is going to leave his fecking dinner behind???????? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poacherkev 64 Posted January 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 dont know any hunters that are drug dealers or theifs around by me lol WELL DANIEL YOU CANT BE SOPHISTICATED THEN CAN YOU ..LOL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Sporting Agent 0 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Has this been posted to warn land managers in the area of the threat of deer poaching, or to warn poachers in the area that Plod are on the case? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Back Stabbath 1 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Has this been posted to warn land managers in the area of the threat of deer poaching, or to warn poachers in the area that Plod are on the case? Haha, very good question! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SportingShooter 0 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Seen a few remains of Deer being taken on one of the big estates, friend of mine is a ranger. Not nice I have to say. Wounded by rimfires, then hacked to pieces and left there in all shapes. Shot and left sometimes. More than once I've been there with him and he's put a Deer down which has been wounded by whatever means. One had been shot with a HMR! Which just served to create a flesh wound in the chest and leave it bleed. Also seen a few that had been run and left there whole, nothing taken at all. Not really poaching, just messers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Back Stabbath 1 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Seen a few remains of Deer being taken on one of the big estates, friend of mine is a ranger. Not nice I have to say. Wounded by rimfires, then hacked to pieces and left there in all shapes. Shot and left sometimes. More than once I've been there with him and he's put a Deer down which has been wounded by whatever means. One had been shot with a HMR! Which just served to create a flesh wound in the chest and leave it bleed. Also seen a few that had been run and left there whole, nothing taken at all. Not really poaching, just messers. For f*ck sake, thats not hunting, thats just sick animal cruelty. No need for that at all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doglost Co-Ordinator 4 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Cant say I've seen many jcb driving drug dealers in the woods late at night Like you guys say the ones causing unecessary suffering that do it for a laugh & nothing to do with hunting for decent dinner give the rest a bad name. At least they've let you know they are going to be about- just have to hide a bit better If you do see any of the 'messers' leave em trussed up like xmas turkeys Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MY LAW Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 (edited) hope they do a good job it should be stoped ,atleast those that know what they are doing will have a few more to catch. at the moment every tom dick and harry is out with a dog or gun ,just to brag they can kill deer .thats why this is being done to try and stop it . Edited January 5, 2009 by MY LAW Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DEERMAN 1,020 Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 JUST FOUND THIS ON THE FORESTRY WEB SITE......................................................................... Operation 'Antler' - Forest Watch initiative targets illegal deer poaching South Wales Police and the Forestry Commission are joining forces to tackle illegal deer poaching in the South Wales countryside. They will also work with local authorities to target poachers who tour pubs and restaurants in the run-up to Christmas trying to sell on the venison. Operation Antler forms part of the Forest Watch initiative, which was launched earlier this year to raise awareness and encourage reporting of crime in the countryside. PC Andrew Scourfield, a South Wales Police officer seconded to Forestry Commission Wales, said: "The Forestry Commission’s estate of Neath and Port Talbot and the forested areas to the west of Maesteg are resident to a wild Fallow Deer herd. "It is unsure exactly how many deer populate these areas, but it is estimated to be hundreds, if not more. "Over the years poachers have targeted these areas on a regular basis, particularly in the run up to Christmas where some will sell the venison to local pubs and food outlets. In some areas of the country poachers are making large financial gain from this illegal activity." The public’s perception of deer poaching may be a romantic image of an individual at night with a rifle in order to ‘bag one for the pot’. Unfortunately the reality is somewhat different. Today’s poacher is likely to be more sophisticated and involved in other areas of crime such as drug dealing, burglary, theft or fraud. They will be in possession of 4x4 vehicles, high-powered rifles and hunting dogs such as Lurchers. Forestry Commission area manager Kay Williams added: "Poachers will use whatever means it takes to unlawfully enter through Forestry Commission security barriers. Angle grinders, welding equipment and even JCBs have been used in the past. "The Forestry Commission in South Wales are creating more integrated forests and promoting areas such as the Afan Forest Park and we have witnessed the numbers of legitimate forest users and workers increase. "Events such as organised night time nature walks and mountain bike rides are increasing in areas where deer are resident and poaching is evident." By raising the awareness of the issue through the successful Forest Watch scheme and visiting local farms and rural dwellings there has already been a steady increase in reports of deer poaching. Reports of rifle shots, night time vehicle movement in the forest and the discarded remains of deer entrails, legs and heads are all signs of deer poaching. There are also concerns over the cruelty to the deer as the poachers are unlikely to be trained or experienced stalkers and are unaware "stalking rules", such as when to take a shot or what part of the body to shoot so that a clean kill is assured. For example, if a deer is shot in the mouth it is likely to starve to death, if a doe is shot before her fawn then the fawn will also starve without its mother. Some poachers have been known to use inappropriate and unlawful weapons such as crossbows and shot guns, increasing the risk of injury and suffering to these animals. As well as the animal cruelty aspect, the operation will also focus on food hygiene with local authority environmental health officers visiting and carrying out leaflet drops to pubs, restaurants and hotels raising the awareness of the dangers and legal consequences of purchasing or selling venison obtained from unlawful sources. Steve Adie, principal trading standards officer for Neath Port Talbot Council said: "Poachers have been known to tour local pubs and restaurants looking for a market for their venison, particularly in the run up to Christmas. "If the meat is not properly hung then toxins build up, and if this is put in the food chain then the meat is tainted which could cause serious harm to public health." Mike Thomas, Trading Standards Officer of Bridgend Council added: "All deer lawfully culled by trained stalkers will be examined by a qualified person for disease prior to entering the food chain for human consumption. "Deer taken by poachers will not, again increasing the risk to public health." PC Scourfield said the operation would have four main elements – education, intelligence, prevention and enforcement. "We aim to raise the public’s awareness of deer poaching to increase the flow of information to ourselves and highlight the dangers of purchasing venison from unscrupulous sources," he added. "South Wales Police has an array of specialist units which will form the enforcement aspect of the operation to investigate and prosecute those involved in illegal deer poaching." If you have any information regarding deer poaching, poachers or the unlawful sale of venison of you can contact PC Scourfield in confidence or Crime Stoppers below: PC Andrew Scourfield 01633 580234 forestwatch@forestry.gsi.gov.uk Crime Stoppers 0800 555 111 What's of interest The Deer Act 1991 25kb PDF Useful sites South Wales Police Neath and Port Talbot County Borough Council Bridgend County Borough Council Crimestoppers The Deer Initiative every year as long as i can remember just before xmas they put something like this out in local papers and on wales today news , Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DEERMAN 1,020 Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 hope they do a good job it should be stoped ,atleast those that know what they are doing will have a few more to catch. at the moment every tom dick and harry is out with a dog or gun ,just to brag they can kill deer .thats why this is being done to try and stop it . and it will get worse mate as unemployment goes up, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scent 509 Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 I liked this bit! Today’s poacher is likely to be more sophisticated and involved in other areas of crime such as drug dealing, burglary, theft or fraud. jesus they have us off to a tee lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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