Outdoors with Larry DiDonato - ECOs Combat Poaching while Helping County Residents

 Above photo: NYS ECOs in Greene County and across the state routinely confiscate and donate illegal deer of all sizes to local food pantries, including big bucks like this one. Local ECOs donated over 300 pounds of lean, nutritious venison to area food pantries in Greene County this past season. Photo contributed

Illegal Deer – Greenville  

 Local Greene County Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) have been busy mopping up cases stemming from deer season arrests in local courts. A hunter recently paid a penalty in Greenville Town Court for illegally harvesting a deer on November 30th. ECOs Milliron and Palmateer were at a deer cutter to drop off a confiscated deer for donation to the local food pantry when they saw another deer being butchered by shop employees. The ECOs observed the deer appeared to be recently harvested. The tag attached to it indicated the deer was shot in the 3M Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) way down in the Town of Goshen, Orange County, approximately 100 miles south of the butcher shop.

 The officers grew suspicious that a deer shot, tracked, gutted, dragged out, and transported 100 miles north was still warm enough to be releasing steam during the skinning process. They interviewed the hunter who harvested the deer, and he confessed to shooting the deer in the Town of Greenville (WMU 4H) where he did not possess a valid Deer Management Permit (DMP) which would have been required to lawfully tag the deer. He used a tag he had for another area instead. The subject paid a $500.00 fine in Greenville Town Court. ECOs confiscated the illegal deer, adding it to the many deer they donated to local food pantries in Greene County to help feed area residents in need. 

Illegal Deer and Shooting Across a Roadway – Prattsville

 Later that same day, on November 30th, ECO Palmateer received a call reporting two individuals had just shot a doe near a residence on property they did not have permission to be on. The caller took a picture of the vehicle but was unable to get a view of the license plate. ECOs Milliron and Palmateer patrolled the surrounding area until they located the vehicle in question. In the back of the pick-up lay the carcass of an antlerless deer. The officers interviewed two subjects and requested the hunters follow them back to the location where the deer was harvested. Officer Palmateer observed two spent shell casings in the middle of the road when they arrived back at the location indicating the subjects had shot the deer from the roadway. Both subjects admitted to seeing the deer in the woods, parking their vehicle a short distance away, walking down the road and firing at the deer from the middle of the road. The subjects received tickets for taking white-tailed deer from a public highway and discharging a firearm from a public highway, both misdemeanors. The ECOs confiscated the deer and once again, transported it to a local butcher shop to be prepared for donation.

Illegal Deer and Firearms Discharge – Athens

Earlier that month on November 15th, ECO Palmateer received a complaint of hunters discharging firearms near two residences in the Town of Athens. The complainant reported the hunters were still in the woods and harvested a buck. ECOs Milliron and Palmateer immediately responded to the location, interviewed the hunters, and discovered they shot a six-point buck and a doe. The deer were not tagged as required, and the hunters failed to “tag” the deer using the new for this year e-tagging process.

The ECOs took statements from the hunters and neighbors. Further investigation and a thorough search of the area led the intrepid ECOs to discover spent shell casings indicating the hunters discharged their firearms within 500 feet of a dwelling. The pair were charged with that misdemeanor in addition to illegally taking white-tailed deer, and failing to tag a deer as required. The case was handled in the Town of Athens Court, where the defendants paid $1,200.00 in penalties. 

ECOs confiscated the two illegally taken deer and transported the carcasses to a local butcher shop to prepare for donation.  

Illegal Deer and Firearms Discharge – Jewett

On December 7th, ECOs Hameline and Milliron received information from Greene County Sheriff’s Deputies about a deer shot close to occupied homes in the Town of Jewett.

ECOs arrived at the location and observed blood and drag marks extending from a yard between two homes to the roadway. The complainant, who witnessed the incident and was familiar with the shooter, passed the information along to the Officers.

ECOs visited the reported shooter’s residence and observed a pickup truck that matched the witness’s description. It had fresh blood in the bed of the truck. The subject eventually admitted to stepping off the roadway and discharging a high-powered rifle just 150 feet from the nearest home. It is illegal in New York State to discharge a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling or occupied structure. 

The subject received tickets for the misdemeanor illegal take of big game and for discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, returnable to Jewett Town Court. The defendant paid a fine of $500.00 and the officers confiscated the six-point buck and once again donated it to the local food pantry.

 These are just a few highlights of the many cases successfully handled by our local ECOs Lucas Palmateer and Darren Milliron, along with the assistance of Albany County ECO Mike Hameline. In Greene County alone this year, ECOs provided over 300 pounds of lean, nutritious venison to local residents in need. Multiply that by the 56 counties in NY where deer are illegally harvested, confiscated, then donated by NYS Environmental Conservation Officers, and you can surmise what a positive impact these officers have upon feeding hungry New Yorkers. A noble gesture indeed. 

Happy hunting, ice fishing, and trapping until next time!

News and Notes

Looking for Something to Do?

Here’s a list of some area ice fishing derbies by county:

Schoharie County

The Schoharie County Conservation Alliance, (SCCA), in conjunction with the Fulton Rod and Gun Club is sponsoring an ice fishing derby on the Franklinton Vlaie in Franklinton on state route 145 on Saturday, February 14th. Cost for adults is $10.00, kids under 14 are free. All kids get a prize. The event runs from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Students enrolled in SUNY Cobleskill’s Fisheries Program will have minnows for sale with all proceeds going to their program. Hot dogs, coffee, tea, and hot cocoa will also be available.

Columbia County

The Canaan Conservation Club is holding its 27th Annual Hardwater Fishing Derby on     Saturday, February 14th at Queechy Lake in Canaan, NY. Registration begins at 5:45 am and the event runs from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm.  Cost for adults 16 and older is $15.00, and $5.00 for kids 15 and under. There will be cash prizes for first, second, and third place for the largest fish in the following categories: trout, pickerel, perch, and crappie. There will also be a raffle with the grand prize being an insulated ice shelter, and other prizes including rods and reels, fishing gloves, a cordless ice auger, and a Buddy Heater, in addition to a 50/50 raffle. The event may be cancelled due to ice conditions. For more information, visit Canaan Conservation Club’s Facebook page.

Montgomery County

The Annual Free Kid’s Ice Fishing Derby on Mariaville Lake will take place on Saturday, February 14th. Registration begins at 8:30 am for kids up to 15 with fishing from 9:00 am till noon. Plenty of prizes will be awarded at 12:30. Those kids can get, and keep one fully rigged up tip-up while supplies last. The Schenectady County Conservation Council (SCCC) bought 100 tip-ups to give away to the kids! Be sure to bring your own gear to fish and up the odds of catching a lunker. Bait is provided. The event is sponsored by the SCCC, Gary of the Wiggly Worm, Joe and the Mariaville Lakeside Store, The New York Conservation Officer’s Association, the Adirondack Conservation Council, and Fred’s Sanitation. The “rain”/exceedingly cold weather date is Saturday, February 21st. Call or text Jason at 518-339-7612 the night before or early on the morning of the derby to confirm the event is a go.

Greene County

The Catskill Mountain Fish & Game Club in conjunction with the Stony Clove Rod &        Gun Club is hosting their Annual Children’s Ice Fishing Derby at Rip Van Winkle/Tannersville Lake on Sunday, February 22nd. Registration begins at 9:00 am, fish from 10:00 am to noon. Kids up to 16 years of age can compete in two divisions for prizes. Live bait, refreshments, and a few tips ups will be available. For more information, call Bob Monteleone at 518-488-0240.

Albany County

Thacher State Park’s annual Ice Fishing Competition will be held at Thompson's Lake in Voorheesville, NY on Saturday, February 21st. Cash prizes for the longest fish in Pickerel, Trout, and Perch categories. Traina’s Bait and ‘At First Bite’ Food Truck will be in attendance. Minimum of eight inches of ice required. Registration is from 6:00 am to 9:00 am. Fishing and measurements continue to 1:00 pm. $10.00 registration fee; kids under 12 fish for free. Call the Campground office at 518-872-1674 for additional information and to check on weather conditions for the event.

The Albany County Conservation Alliance is hosting their Annual Ice Fishing Derby on     Warners Lake on Saturday, February 28th from 7:00 am to noon. Registration is $5.00 and begins at 7:00 am and qualifies you for a door prize. Look out for additional raffle tickets for just $1.00. If you’ve never fished through the ice before, equipment is available on loan for the day. Parking for the event is at the Maple Inn at Warner’s Lake. There will be two prize divisions, one for youth 15 and under and one for adults 16 and older. Prizes will be awarded at 12:30 pm. Contact Chuck Berenger at 518-466-4259 or at the_stump3@hotmail.com.  All proceeds from the event go to sending youths to NYS DEC Conservation summer camps. 

Remember to report poaching violations by calling the 24-hour ECO Dispatch at: 

1-844-DEC-ECOS.