New member's Deer..

[dec]

Sorry, you're right.

I'm just so happy to see this a hole get his.

You're right Woody.

[dec]

I took a rash of crap over this one week ago. Hotshot will back me up on this.

A DU member was telling me what he had heard about this buck a few weeks ago. I simply tried to call this a hole out on how this deer was harvested. Greendeem nailed the guy. Yet, I took a whipping from some fellow DU committee members on this. I had to defend myself and their accusations of being a "snitch". Hotshot had my back, which was great. I even ran into one of these guys on Friday night. He said "everyone be quiet. you have to watch what you say around Derek" when I walked into the room.

I've taken a beating on this.

Kind of why I was excited and jumped the gun in posting the picture that Woody (rightfully so) edited out above.

I've got a DU meeting tonight and I'm dreading the comments that come tonight.

[hornharvester]

So whats wrong with turning in a poacher? Sounds like your DU friends aren't friends at all. h.h.

[dec]

hornharvester said:

So whats wrong with turning in a poacher? Sounds like your DU friends aren't friends at all. h.h.

"Friends" is a loose term. Hotshot is my only "friend" there. I simply know many of the others. You have to know the players. Many have a long history of bending, if not breaking, the rules.

I have two choices. 1) walk away and let them have their committee or 2) stay and try and make a difference in a positive direction. I choose to be a pain in the azz and make a difference. I have kids, Hotshot has kids, my friends have kids. Those kids need to see there are good law abiding hunters and that there is far greater reward in playing by the rules then by breaking them. I won't and never have compromised my values and ethics.

Derek

[Woody Williams]

DEC,

I think I can say for all our memebrs that you have our 100% support.

Poachers should never be tolerated.

Calling someone a "snitch" for doing what is right sounds like middle school.

Please do stay and "make a difference".

The future hunting generations will thank you for it.

[Woody Williams]

dec said:

Sorry, you're right.

I'm just so happy to see this a hole get his.

You're right Woody.

I understand...

[Ahawkeye]

Greendeem, THANK YOU!!! I love it when the good guy's win. DEC stick to your values in this age it's hard to find men and women with them. I am never happy when I hear "who's going to know?" and in this case I'm sur it crossed this guy's mind and maybe a few of those DU guys. Pwople ask me to be a part of NWTF DU NRA and other organizations. I'n not saying they're all bad but if you sink a lot of money into one of these groups and find out that the big wigs are bending or breaking the rules it really pzzzz's me off if ya know what I mean. If there were a few mor people like you in charge I might be more inclined to donate my hard earned dollar to these organizations. Just my 2 cents. Remember I didn't say all these guys were bad so don't go burning me at the stake here.

[retnuhreed]

maybe we need a new section in the talk forums..

Prating Poachers

[bsutravis]

WOW..... Oh the web we weave....... Great work goes to Greendeem AND Woody on this one. Amazing story!

[johnc911]

I cant beleive they were talking about you because you turned a guy in. Good work DEREK

[dec]

Thanks for the good intentions camby, but for business reasons I really don't want these guys' named drug through the mud. I own a business and with some of these guys, I do business. If I were to walk out tomorrow and see one of them violating a game law, I'd turn them in in a heart beat. But I'm not going to rat them out because they defended a guy that broke the law. We had a meeting last night and this issue was discussed some more. Basically, there are a handfull of good ol' boys that think bending the rules doesn't hurt anyone, so long as you don't get caught. We all know that is not right, but in their minds it is OK. I'll handle my own fight with committee members. Getting DU national involved actually HURTS me as a business person. So please do not flood DU with emails about this. It is a few jerks on a committee, not some corrupt faction within a fine organization. I can handle them, I'm a big boy, and if I have to I'll take them out back one on one and thump them around a little.

I've said this before on other issues and I'll say it again. We, the people of these types of forums, are not the average hunters. As we've seen, yes, there are those who poach and break the law and then come brag. BUT, for the most part, we are the exception. We are the good guys. There are a lot of the average Joe's out there that won't think twice about violating a game law. So, yes they are going to end up on a DU committee or in some other area where you would not expect them to be. It is not right, but it will happen.

I'll handle my DU committee members. DU is not a corrupt organization. It is a good organization with good intentions.

[hotshot]

Jumping in Late, I'll state that I've actually turned in one kid that sits on the committee. The committee is made up of two distict groups: those that are law abiding caring people who want to make a difference, and the others- who find excuses to bend the rules. Interestingly,
the kids learned it from their dad. I call them poacher to their face. For some reason the ones that want to bend the rules aren't the sharpest pencils in the drawer. Those of us that are educated seem focused on doing it right. Please note this is one small group. I have many friends and hunting biddies who have not sought post high school education that are fine people and ethical hunters. I am only sharing one group.
DEC and I really stir the pot with the 3-4 guys who "outlaw".
Actually it ticks me off that they act that way, and I mention it often.

[dec]

Thanks man.

And thanks Camby for deleting the post.