Think about the annoying crime of keying a car. Why would somebody take pleasure in destroying a paint job? If they can't have the wheels that you do, by gum, then you shouldn't enjoy it so much yourself. That's envy.
The wild game of this state belongs to all of us collectively. Setting the politics of it aside, that game is managed by a state agency, enforcing wild game laws. I happen to think that our game herds have been managed fairly well, at least to the extent where the federal government hasn't put down their weighty booger of a foot (read: un-indigenous wolves). But the point is that Idaho's wildlife is a natural resource, and there are laws and rules for how that natural resource is extracted from the land.
Bottom line: when somebody poaches an animal, they're taking something of yours unlawfully because they want it. But also by doing so, they're grabbing at something so that you absolutely can't have it. You've had one car stolen, and they keyed your other car. You're a victim of envy.
Of course, envy itself isn't a crime, but it's where the perversion starts.
There can be other root causes of poaching. Someone may be genuinely in poverty, and truly needs the meat. I have more empathy with that situation, provided the person isn't passing up the smaller bucks. But if someone is really in dire straits, I could be tolerant. The problem is that even the poorest among us are wealthy enough to obtain food legally.
Others poach for money. No empathy or sympathy there. That's just theft fueled by greed.
But what kind of perversion is it that sees the 6x6 bull elk out of season, and just has to take it? What sort of soul is it that can crawl out of their little shroud of shame and brag about the trophy?
What if Boise St. beats Louisiana St. in the the National Championship Game in football this year? How would you feel if it came out that BSU had an insider that stole LSU's entire playbook and game plan prior to the game? What if they also wire tapped LSU's offensive and defensive coordinators during the game? You still fist pumping the air?
Hunting wild game is a sport that doesn't make any sense without sportsmanship. A trophy of any kind carries only as much legitimacy as the one who scored it.
Poaching for pleasure is the result of envy, lack of self discipline, and the ability to take pride in something illegitimate - a psychological perversion beyond my understanding.
So my solution for anyone caught poaching for pleasure is to promise them not a suspension of their hunting license and a small fine. Instead, promise them 1 year in a room with padded walls. That, combined with F&G's investigative force looking more like an episode of CSI, might ward off some of this nonsense.
~ J. Bunch
