Reading a outdoor magazine who posts all the fines received in Wisconsin, I noticed this guy received a big, BIG fine for possesing sturgeon during closed season.

Think this guy will learn his lesson?

His wife might teach him that lesson, 21K that won't being going to someone's college fund. I guess I'm ok with the "poaching, it's just not worth it" approach, but I know enough that in situation like this, it's hard on the entire family when a large fine is levied. Perhaps the larger message here is the fact when I read your post about the story, I thought to myself, "poaching it's just not worth it".

Besides, when someone poaches they steal from every honest sportsman of that state/province.

I believe that the easiest way to dissuade someone from repeating an offence is to make sure the punishment greatly exceeds the crime. An alternative to a fine like this to punish the person and only the person would be siezure of all fishing equipment and ban for ten years from obtaining a fishing or hunting licence. This country to often makes the punishment so lenient that the person does not care if they get caught.

I didn't know there was a season for sturgeon
I thought they were an endangered species

I believe here in the Niagara River you are not allowed to keep a sturgeon anytime

rebs

Great concept, and I agree. That said, if someone's inclined to poach a sturgeon, they're sure as heck not going to worry about having a valid fishing license.

Sturgeon are legal in some states for a short season. Wisconsin has a season for them. They are not as rare here. A fish (or other species) can become threatened or even endangered in one area of the country while still being relatively common in other parts of the country. They put them on the list to keep them from disappearing from that area.

As to the poacher not caring about a licence, if they fish or hunt other times of the year for other species and are stopped to have their licence checked once in a while they will not want to loose that licence as it only increases the chance that they will face more fines in the future. Every fine after the first should go up markedley.

I know some people who make enough money that fines for speeding do not really effect them so they don't worry about it. As long as it is not fast enough to get points on their licence they don't care. If you doubled the fine for them every time it would not take long for it to hurt them and for them to care. Not that I mind going five or ten over the limit at times there are times when it is not smart such as when cutting in and out of heavier traffic.

should've been fined 41,000. What would the fine be if someone shot a T-Rex out of season? The Laws need to be tougher for the idiots in this world.
Something is fishy around here.

PUT A MICRO-CHIP IN HIS BUTT HOOKED UP TO A GPS IN THE DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AND TRACK HIM. EVERY TIME HE GOES CLOSE TO WATER AND SPENDS ANY TIME THERE PICK HIM UP! AFTER A WHILE HE MIGHT LEARN IT DON'T PAY TO CHEAT!!!!!!

Why not just put a charge on that chip to zap him?? Kind of like an e-collar. Then we wouldn't have to pay the DNR to go rustle him up. Just sit there & give him a charge untill he's in the right place.

HEY, WHAT AN IDEA LETS PUT A PATENT ON IT.

DNR violation fines are totally rediculous. They don't fine anything near that for serious crimes against people!

We had a GameWarden in my neck of the woods who was know for writing tickets at a drop of the hat and being a all around jerk . Serveral years back he sold a boat he had in his back lower forty to a guy I know , dirt cheap . They took the motor off of the boat which was dirty but in good condition and cut the boat up with a chain saw and burned it right in the field . The guy was a game warden for years until they finally figured out he was rotten and they got rid of him . I still kick myself in the butt for not turning him in for stealing some guys boat . Something happens to some people when you give them a gun and a badge , I saw it many times in the MP's in the USMC .

Mike,

You obviously don't care about the sport and must be from the people's republic of MN.

I understan from a good sorce that they taste like chicken,boy that would be a freazer filler..BBQ sause anyone.

What is the season for T-Rex now,are you still only aloud one,and a season limit of two??

Actually, I do care!

Just pointing out that many crimes against people like drunk driving in injury accidents, burglary, armed robbery and etc... levy lesser fines in a court. But one fish...... $21,000. Crazy! On the same lines, I guess speeders should get hammered for say $1,000? Get real!