Dominic Aiello, Special to the Statesman Journal

 Published 6:00 a.m. PT Dec. 20, 2018 | Updated 10:43 a.m. PT Dec. 20, 2018

“More deer are taken by poachers each year than by legal hunters.” That is a phrase I’ve seen quoted online frequently, but is it true? 

The question was in the back of my mind when I recently went on a ride along with Trooper Tayler Jerome of the Oregon State Police on a Wildlife Enforcement Decoy operation. This is when Fish and Wildlife Troopers utilize fake deer, sometimes referred to as “scruffy,” in an effort to catch people attempting to illegally kill deer.

On my ride along, Trooper Jerome and his partner placed two deer on the side of a forested road after dark. Trooper Jerome and I hid in the bushes while his partner drove down the road and pulled off the road out of sight.

Then we waited. 

I could hear the first vehicle coming down the road and my heart started pounding. As the vehicle’s lights exposed the deer on the side of the road the truck quickly stopped. 

The reality of the situation set in, I was less than 10 feet from the passenger window of the vehicle. There could have been someone with a firearm in the truck willing to commit a crime while I witnessed it. I would have been lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. The people in the vehicle looked at the fake deer through the window for a few moments and then drove away. This scenario repeated itself about a dozen times, but fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, no one shot at scruffy.

The night created more questions than answers and I chatted with Trooper Jerome to discuss the topic further. 

Question: Based on your experience, does Oregon have a "poaching problem?"'

Trooper Jerome: I don’t think I can answer that. What I can say is, there is definitely plenty of it going on. Could Oregon justify employing more game wardens? Absolutely.

Q: How many poaching cases have you presented to the District Attorney in 2018? 

Trooper Jerome: During the 2018 hunting season troopers working the greater Yamhill and Washington county areas have seized 27 firearms used in illegal activity; 16 of those individuals shot a Wildlife Enforcement Decoy at night. Troopers seized 13 unlawfully taken big game animals, six deer, five bull elk, one cougar, one bear, and four geese. The exact number remains to be seen as these cases shake out in the courts, but approximately 55 individuals face 3 or 5 years hunting license suspensions.

Q: When you catch someone shooting the decoy, are these average people who made one bad decision or are they career poachers?

Trooper Jerome: I’ve worked four fall hunting seasons as a Fish and Wildlife Trooper and have personally been a part of approximately 25 Wildlife Enforcement Decoy operations in which a violator shot the decoy. I would estimate that about 3 out of 4 of these violators fall into the category of normal people who given an opportunity, made a poor choice. Every so often there are extenuating circumstances that lead us to believe the incident wasn’t a first-time offense.

Q: Do people calling in tips to OSP help? 

Trooper Jerome: Yes. I cannot stress this enough. Earlier I stated OSP seized 13 illegally taken big game animals within the area I work; 12 or 13 were the direct result of tips from the public. OSP could not successfully do our job without the help of the legal and ethical hunters who make up the majority of our community. To reach OSP on your cellphone all you need to dial is *OSP (*677).

Q: Is the new preference point incentive encouraging more people to provide tips? 

Trooper Jerome: I would say it is definitely helping. It is a bigger incentive than the cash reward for many folks. From my experience, people call in because it’s the right thing to do, not for the reward. In years past, hunters didn’t really care if I submitted the cash reward for them.

Now, people definitely inquire about the points. Last year I submitted seven Turn in Poachers cash rewards. This year I am already at 11. My experience so far matches what I have heard from other Troopers that about 3/4 of folks choose the preference points over the cash reward. I would add that ODFW has been very quick at contacting those who are eligible for a preference point reward. The new system seems to be working out pretty well.

Q: Is there anything else you would like the public to know?

Trooper Jerome: We are blessed to live in a state with ample public land and hunting and fishing opportunities. Our wildlife belongs to all the citizens of Oregon. When someone takes wildlife illegally, it is theft from everyone who pays to enjoy these great resources ethically and legally. I commend those who do it right and have the moral courage to hold violators accountable.