TrailCamera Photo Helps Capture Poached Kansas Record Buck
Last month during the Kansas Mossy Oak Monster Buck Classic held in Topeka, wildlife authorities got suspicious of one of the entrants for the Big Buck Contest - a giant 14-point buck that threatened the state record which has stood for more than 35 years.
The event, which looks to promote the sport of hunting, showcases the latest gear and gadgets specifically designed for the deer hunting enthusiast. One of the largest attractions is the display of antlers, where the hunter who takes the state’s biggest buck can earn not just notoriety, but prizes as well. It was here where Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) officials confiscated the rack and took hunter, David Kent, into custody.
Kansas hunter David Kent, along with the antlers of the buck in question, were taken into custody at the Mossy Oak Monster Buck Classic.
Kent claimed to have taken the buck while hunting public ground in northeast Kansas. However, with the use of trailcam photos, KDWPT officials determined the antlers came from a buck that lived as recently as this fall in Osage County, many miles from where Kent claimed to have taken the buck.
This trailcam photo was used in identifying the giant Kansas buck, showing it alive in Osage County this last fall.
Following an investigation, Kent was charged on February 1st in Osage County with eight separate counts relating to a November 11th shooting of the deer. The charges include hunting with an artificial light, hunting during a closed season, illegal hunting from a vehicle, and use of an illegal caliber for deer hunting.
If the charges are true, this would be the third time since 1974 that the Kansas state record typical has been threatened - all three of those bucks taken illegally.
The current Kansas state record typical whitetail scores 198 2/8-inches, taken by Dennis Finger in Nemaha County in 1974. Kent’s deer measured 198 7/8-inches.
Due to the nature of the case against David Kent, resident Kansas hunters are crying for steeper fines and harsher punishments on all future poaching cases. Do you agree with them?
Re: TrailCamera Photo Helps Capture Poached Kansas Record Buck
Heck yes they need to be rewritten. According to KS law this buck is not considered a trophy because his inside spread doesn't meet the minimum of 17". Because of this Kent will not be charged and handed out the maximum penalties which actually need to be revised as well. They are pretty sad.
Re: TrailCamera Photo Helps Capture Poached Kansas Record Buck
He should never be allowed to hold a hunting license in the U.S. again. Until the fines change there (more severe) is nothing to deter people like this from poaching deer.
Re: TrailCamera Photo Helps Capture Poached Kansas Record Buck
Hey, isn't his brother the one convicted last year of shooting and killing another hunter while poaching? I understand there are too many deer that run around the highways but still they need to change the regulations to stop people like this. This should be a felony and he should have all his guns confiscated.
Re: TrailCamera Photo Helps Capture Poached Kansas Record Buck
Poaching is illegal and so is littering...the woods are full of both. I wonder why?
Re: TrailCamera Photo Helps Capture Poached Kansas Record Buck
he deserves to have the book thrown at him.if you cant take a deer legaly then quit hunting the sport.thats why they call it a sport.
Re: TrailCamera Photo Helps Capture Poached Kansas Record Buck
You will never get all the poachers but you can sure bet you would deter a lot of them, if they know getting caught will mean jail time. No exceptions. Really tosses my grits to know someone is too lazy to put in the time and effort to actually take a trophy legally. I am not from Kansas but that is down right wrong. Some poor hunter had probably spent an entire off season doing his homework, scouting and obtaining all the information he could to take that buck legally and some jackass poaches it before season. No respect for wildlife or fellow hunters. Amazing what people will do just to get their name in a record book. Take their guns, their vehicle, make them pay a very steep fine and let them spend 6 months in jail and see if they do it again.
Re: TrailCamera Photo Helps Capture Poached Kansas Record Buck
He should join his brother in prison,where it's safe from a riccocha bullits
Re: TrailCamera Photo Helps Capture Poached Kansas Record Buck
from my point of veiw anyone hunting for just a trophy and not the meat should not be hunting.and from reading all these posts ,it seems you are all mad because he killed the record and it did not count.Hunting has been around forever for the purpose of food not the size of the rack, so I don't see it as a sport.Just another sourse of food
Re: TrailCamera Photo Helps Capture Poached Kansas Record Buck
Be careful what you wish for guys, laws are already in place to care of the unfortunate events in Kansas. The more officials tinker with the laws, betters the chance other restrictions are added to create inconveniences and loss of simple freedoms us non violaters(the majority) have and deserve as a right! No need to bash if someone trophy hunts or meat hunts, as long as you soak the outdoor experience and be thankful for each momment, it's all good!
Re: TrailCamera Photo Helps Capture Poached Kansas Record Buck
There are laws already in place for this crime. The one thing Kansas needs is more game wardens. The state is currently way understaffed with some wardens patrolling two counties or more. These outlaws roam free to poach as they please. I would like to see them at least double the number of wardens.
Re: TrailCamera Photo Helps Capture Poached Kansas Record Buck
Problem is... More game wardens won't help somebody driving around at night with a gun.