CSI Corson's: On the Trail of Poachers at the State Park
Two deer appear to be the victims of illegal traps within the park at the south end of Ocean City.
Photos
For more than a decade, Steve Moran has been tracking the small deer herds at Corson's Inlet State Park.
The 50-year-old accountant and 35th Street resident is not a hunter—he just goes to watch his "south end friends." At first, he says, he found them on the small spit of land south of the Russ Chattin Bridge on the way to Strathmere, but they soon migrated to some of the more remote fingers of upland within the park.
That's where he found an adult buck on a recent outing—but this deer was dead, its carcass still tethered by a snare trap.
Moran said he could see a circular rut around the tree where the trap was set, an apparent sign that the deer had tried to free himself. Moran called Lorraine McKay to report the "horrifying" sight. McKay is superintendent of Corson's Inlet State Park, where hunting and trapping is illegal.
So on Friday morning (Jan. 13), Moran found himself with Doug Ely, a conservation officer with the state Division of Fish and Wildlife, trying to pick up the poacher's trail on a walk that started from the beach at 59th Street and Central Avenue. Another conservation officer and a local fisherman were part of the party.
Moran provided the following account:
"Far off the established foot paths, we saw where the poacher had sawed away saplings to access the more remote areas. We came to a clearing the poacher had created by sawing away smaller trees and brush bordered by a large, pruned cedar tree, where presumably he had sat in wait."
"In addition to the freshly killed buck, we found another deer killed in the same fashion, by a braided wire noose trap. This deer looked look like it was killed around two months ago."
"Doug removed the noose from the fresh kill and examined it. He explained that, while hunting in any form is illegal in Corson's Inlet, the use of snare traps in New Jersey is allowed only by a permit/license obtained through the Division. He said the trapper is to 'tag' the trap with a permit number. Since this activity is illegal in Corson's, obviously the traps were not tagged."
"Furthermore, the snare trap we examined was not properly rigged. According to Doug, a snare trap is to have a 'stop' placed along the braided wire preventing the noose from exceeding approximately 2 inches in diameter."
"He explained the intent of a snare trap is to snare only the prey's foot. He said such traps are used for smaller game: red fox, opossum, raccoon, etc. We surmised the traps were set at the end of October as we actually found an A.C. Press still in its plastic sleeve back in one of the remote areas where the poacher been setting up operations, bearing the date 10/20/11."
"The poacher in all likelihood was targeting the red fox. But the facts remain: 1) The snare traps were set across established deer trails; 2) Without a 'stop' cinched along the wire braid, the resulting noose was wide enough to accommodate an entire deer's head, antlers included; and 3) The illegality of the whole operation in the first place."
"So we concluded the poacher returned to check his traps for fox, saw the big deers had fallen prey, and just left them, or just didn't return at all (the fresher of the two kills is only 2 or 3 weeks old). We searched a while for more traps, finding none we left."
Moran said Ely asked him and others to remain diligent for any signs of similar operations with the park. The telepone number for the park is 609-861-2404.
Jeanne Donohue
9:02 am on Saturday, January 14, 2012
This is very sad! Hope they catch this poacher :(
Robert McKenna, MIKE
9:28 am on Saturday, January 14, 2012
I certainly hope they catch the poacher(s) involved. However, the laws in this state are little more than a slap on the hand when compared to the cruelty of snare or snap jaw traps. The idea that New Jersey still allows trapping is repugnant. The purpose of a trap is usually to maintain high-quality animal fur (fur without holes from bullets or arrows). This behavior is in the same category as those people who club baby fur seals and skin them alive to maintain the quality of the fur. I am sorry if what I have said is distressing but the fact remains trapping is barbaric behavior, and poaching although illegal, the punishment hardly fits the crime.
Duffer
10:06 am on Saturday, January 14, 2012
Let's be clear, this was a crime committed by a criminal. This was a crime on every level.
Let's not confuse this with legal trapping which is over regulated in this state, serves a valid purpose and should be encouraged for future generations.
Gloria
10:29 am on Saturday, January 14, 2012
I know this persons "defense" will be that he is a "hunter", he's hunted all his life. He was raised, a hunter. Excuses, excuses, excuses. Go back to where ever it is that raises feral beasts, and live there. You are not welcome amongst the developed people. We have grocery stores now, and we work to earn the money that we use to trade for food. You are not welcome here.
Kevin
5:40 pm on Saturday, January 14, 2012
If it wasn't for hunters/trappers the wildlife would be out of control and would end up in an unhealthy balance. These people should be punished to the max, but its usually the law abiding sportsmen that pay the price.
Gloria
1:15 am on Sunday, January 15, 2012
Kevin, surley you jest? Wildlife would be out of control if not for hunters? We humans have so encroached upon the land that was theirs first, that it's a struggle for them to survive at all! If the population of any animal needs to be controlled there should be a more humane method found, shooting animals for "sport" is disgusting to me, and the "men" who do it, aren't, in my opinion! Man originally hunted to survive, what you do is called "sport"?! No, I say "sporting" is fair, what "hunters" do, isn't.
Robert McKenna, MIKE
11:42 pm on Saturday, January 14, 2012
Kevin I am not a hunter, and Duffer you are right this was a criminal act by a criminal, but the laws against these criminal acts rarely end in jail sentences or prohibitive fines. Like Gloria, I agree there are too many excuses made for even criminal behavior when only an animal is involved. The idea that hunters serve a purpose protecting animal populations from an unhealthy balance is an argument that has some truth. The predators in the wild control animal populations by killing off the sick and the old animals. The hunter goes for the healthy prime animals, and that is where the argument you make falls apart. Having said that I know too that the money spent on hunting licenses, and hunters who enjoy the natural beauty of the outdoors, have contributed greatly to natural areas for all of us who enjoy the few remaining wild areas left in the state. I don't believe and will never believe a snare trap or a leg trap is necessary or sporting whether legal or otherwise.
hunter
9:19 am on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
@gloria, that park and others like it are purchased and maintained largely by hunters' and trappers' dollars so "developed people" who buy their meat at the grocery (lazy?) can enjoy them along with hunter funded state forrests and other open spaces. The development encroaching on wildlife habitat further neccesitates the need for hunting as populations of wildlife are squeezed into limited habitats, famine and disease surely will follow and thin the herd in a very cruel way. In this case the Poacher (not to be confused with a hunter, at least by developed people) acted criminally in several ways and hopefully he or she will be caught and punished accordingly. By the way those of you who choose to buy their meat from a grocer while condemning hunters should visit a livestock or poultry farm sometime and see the slaughter you like to believe is more humane than a well placed bullet or arrow.