Poaching

Fake Turkey Shot From Road; Poaching Canada Geese; Illegal Fishing

June 24, 2026 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

An angler caught in the act filleting his illegal catch, and a large group ticketed for poaching more than a dozen striped bass are just some of the cases NYS Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) encountered in recent weeks.

The most surprising occurred on Sunday morning, May 10th, ECOs Brown, Dorrett, Heckler, and Hilton were using a robotic wild turkey decoy to catch people illegally road hunting in Williamstown, Oswego County, NY– it didn’t take long. [Read more…] about Fake Turkey Shot From Road; Poaching Canada Geese; Illegal Fishing

Poachers Caught With 10,000 Illegal Fiddleheads

June 3, 2026 by Editorial Staff 30 Comments

New York State Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Lieutenant Steven Bartoszewski reported that they responded to a report of illegal fishing on South Sandy Creek in the Town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County On April 26.

The complainant stated he observed three individuals carrying black garbage bags that were dripping with water to their vehicle, placing the bags in the trunk of the vehicle, and then returning to the creek. [Read more…] about Poachers Caught With 10,000 Illegal Fiddleheads

Hunting, Poaching & The American Revolution

May 18, 2026 by Anthony F. Hall Leave a Comment

John Bird Burnham (1869-1939), Chief Game Protector for the state of New York in the early 1900s, once made an observation worthy of Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America.

“The union of monarchial game laws with an anti-monarchial sentiment make for an impossible marriage, and in America, drastic prohibitions on hunting can never be as effective as they are in England,” he wrote. [Read more…] about Hunting, Poaching & The American Revolution

Environmental Conservation Police Statistics for 2023-2025

January 21, 2026 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

In 2025, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Law Enforcement fielded an estimated 101,169 calls.

These resulted in Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responding to more than 35,575 complaints. [Read more…] about Environmental Conservation Police Statistics for 2023-2025

Genesee and Wyoming County Frequent Deer Poacher Convicted

September 26, 2025 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

In July, a Wyoming County man pleaded guilty and paid a penalty for numerous deer poaching incidents in Genesee and Wyoming counties, ending a nearly two-year investigation by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs). [Read more…] about Genesee and Wyoming County Frequent Deer Poacher Convicted

30 Deer Over 5 Years: Persistent Poacher Faces Felony Charges

August 19, 2025 by Editorial Staff 2 Comments

On August 6, 2025 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Lieutenants Burnell, Grogan, and ECO Hilton arrested a subject accused of widespread deer poaching in Oswego County following a lengthy investigation that began in late 2024 with a complaint about gunshots on posted, County-owned property. [Read more…] about 30 Deer Over 5 Years: Persistent Poacher Faces Felony Charges

King Louie, Beloved Whitetail Buck Killed by Poacher, Was Record Size

June 23, 2025 by Editorial Staff 7 Comments

On December 5, 2024, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) received complaints regarding the potential poaching of a well-known whitetail buck nicknamed “King Louie” in Johnstown, NY, by a local hunter. Photos of the impressive deer, known for its unique antlers, circulated through social media and text chains, eliciting concerns in the community. [Read more…] about King Louie, Beloved Whitetail Buck Killed by Poacher, Was Record Size

Larkin’s Poison Register: Rats and Cats and Crows

April 16, 2025 by Guest Contributor 1 Comment

A poison register, now on a shelf in the Clinton County Historian’s Office, was used between 1905 and 1951 in Larkin’s Pharmacy at 1 Bridge Street in Plattsburgh, NY.

It gives an enticing look into the reasons people gave for using poisons in the early years of the 20th Century and how their reasons changed over the next half century. [Read more…] about Larkin’s Poison Register: Rats and Cats and Crows

Tickets Issued for Hunting in Long Island County Park, ATVs in State Park

February 28, 2025 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

On January 20th, NYS Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) DeRose and Francis responded to a call from a complainant who reported two subjects had killed a whitetail deer at Southaven County Park in Yaphank in Suffolk County on Long Island where deer hunting is prohibited. [Read more…] about Tickets Issued for Hunting in Long Island County Park, ATVs in State Park

32 Tickets Issued in Oneida Lake Ice Fishing Raid

February 28, 2025 by Editorial Staff 11 Comments

On February 8, 2025, nine NYS Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) conducting ice fishing compliance checks on Oneida Lake in Oneida and Oswego counties issued 32 tickets for a variety of crimes. [Read more…] about 32 Tickets Issued in Oneida Lake Ice Fishing Raid

An 1851 Fratricide Over Hemlock Trees

February 3, 2025 by John Conway 3 Comments

In January of 1851, Mamakating, NY, resident William Palmer announced to two friends, James Larkin and Albert Squires, that he intended to kill his brother. The Sullivan County siblings had been at odds for quite a long time, but the declaration marked an escalation in the feud, and proved to be prophetic. [Read more…] about An 1851 Fratricide Over Hemlock Trees

Rangers Fight Wildfires, Make Several Rescues in Adirondacks, Catskills

October 25, 2024 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people and engage in policing on New York State Lands.

What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers. [Read more…] about Rangers Fight Wildfires, Make Several Rescues in Adirondacks, Catskills

Repeat Deer Poachers Face New Fines and Hunting License Revocations

September 17, 2024 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) charged two North Country men with multiple offenses related to alleged deer poaching in Jefferson County. The subjects are repeat offenders who now face thousands of dollars in potential fines and revocation of their hunting licenses. [Read more…] about Repeat Deer Poachers Face New Fines and Hunting License Revocations

Tickets Issued For Illegal Ginseng Harvest

September 12, 2024 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

On August 29, Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) Osborne and Doig received a trespassing complaint in the town of Tompkins in Delaware County, New York. The complainant told the ECOs that there were two people trespassing on a large tract of remote land, possibly harvesting ginseng ahead of season, which began on September 1st. [Read more…] about Tickets Issued For Illegal Ginseng Harvest

Charges Filed in Sale of Wild Canada Geese

August 30, 2024 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

On August 15, a concerned hobby farmer in Wayne County, NY contacted New York State Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) John Rich and explained that he was in possession of a dozen wild Canada geese mistakenly purchased as goslings, thinking they were domestic geese. The geese later became aggressive to the farmer’s established chicken, duck, and goose flock, injuring some of them. [Read more…] about Charges Filed in Sale of Wild Canada Geese

Ticket Issued For Great Blue Heron Killing

August 6, 2024 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

On May 30, New York State Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) Boyes and Lovgren responded to the town of Montgomery in Orange County for reports of a deceased Great Blue Heron. The complainant reported hearing a gunshot before observing the bird on the ground near a pond. [Read more…] about Ticket Issued For Great Blue Heron Killing

Conservation Officers Investigate Killing of Eastern Timber Rattlesnake

July 21, 2024 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

On July 4th, NYS Environmental Conservation Officers Nathan Doig and Dustin Osborne received an anonymous tip that someone intentionally killed an eastern timber rattlesnake in the town of Hancock in Delaware County, NY. [Read more…] about Conservation Officers Investigate Killing of Eastern Timber Rattlesnake

Man Ticketed for Killing Great Blue Heron

May 27, 2024 by Editorial Staff 2 Comments

According to Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Jeff Hull, on May 11 he received a report from a resident in Verona in southwestern Oneida County, NY, who claimed she had witnessed her neighbor shoot a Great Blue Heron from a shed behind his home. Officer Hull responded to the location and reported observing a .22 caliber rifle on the floor of the neighbor’s garage. [Read more…] about Man Ticketed for Killing Great Blue Heron

11-Foot 750-Pound Alligator Seized From Home in Upstate New York

March 23, 2024 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

On March 13, New York State Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) seized an 11-foot, 750-pound alligator illegally kept at a residence in the town of Hamburg in Erie County, NY. [Read more…] about 11-Foot 750-Pound Alligator Seized From Home in Upstate New York

Rockland County Man Convicted For Selling Elephant Ivory Pool Cues

February 26, 2024 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and New York County District Attorney’s Office have announced the conviction of a Rockland County man for felony illegal commercialization of elephant ivory worth approximately $70,000, concluding a joint investigation that first began in 2020. [Read more…] about Rockland County Man Convicted For Selling Elephant Ivory Pool Cues

Poaching

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