Wardens are Stacking Illegal Road Hunters at Ozark National Scenic Riverways

As many of us know, it’s a great time to be afield and chase whitetails. Unfortunately, for some, the problem lies in the going ‘afield’ portion of the aforementioned statement. 

Road hunting, or shooting an animal from the comforts of a vehicle on a public roadway is outlawed in just about every jurisdiction in the country. It’s unethical and it’s dangerous. While I am sure many of us have had ‘unpure’ thoughts about a massive buck we spotted along the roadway, the vast majority of us can resist the temptation and either let him walk, or mount some other form of attack - if the conditions/permissions allow, of course.

For others, the resistance to adhere to the laws is too strong and in some cases, people make terrible decisions. As part of an effort to reduce these kinds of illegal killings Ozark National Scenic Riverways rangers in tandem with state game wardens are using public participation along with decoys to catch poachers in the act.

Their efforts have been fruitful so far with two individuals already facing charges for blatant disregard to rules and regulations. The first suspect was involved in the illegal killing of a rare piebald deer on M Highway near Van Buren. Riding in his truck with his son (a great example), the suspect asked his son to stop the vehicle so he could take a shot at the nearly all-white deer. Another hunter, who witnessed the incident made the call to local law enforcement and it was later revealed that another (legal) hunter was making his way through the very same field to take a shot at the piebald deer when the road hunter blasted his target in the face.

The second incident was a sting set up by wildlife officials that involved the use of a life-like decoy. Rangers utilized an animatronic replica of a deer, complete with movements and real deer hide along the KK Highway. 

The decoy was placed along a straightaway and rangers sat back and waited to see if anyone was stupid enough to take the bait. Well, it only took the second car to pass the decoy for the rangers to get a set of brake lights in the vicinity of the decoy. The driver didn’t even bother to exit the vehicle, blasting the fake deer as rangers moved in to make an arrest.  

With two suspects facing charges and awaiting their day in court, wildlife officials from ONSR, Missouri’s Department of Conservation and the National Park Service are confident the hard evidence gathered against them will result in harsh fines and suspensions.

Partner agencies reminded those heading afield that there is zero tolerance for road hunting, illegal use of dogs, damage to private property, or any other offense. They are encouraging all hunters to report suspected violations by contacting NPS Arrowhead Dispatch at (844) 460-3604 or Operation Game Thief at (800) 392-1111.