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Poaching At a Pittsburgh Airport
Authorities trying to deter hunters from trespassing on 9,000 fenced-in acres surrounding Pittsburgh International Airport weren’t very convincing at first, in this Times article, noting, “There are certainly some very nice bucks in there — bucks of a lifetime — and many have never been hunted before. It’s not uncommon to see 40 or 50 together in a two-acre field. . . .”
But they recovered quickly with, “[Trespassing] hunters are truly missing the point. This is about airline safety. . . .
“All it takes is one incident. If a slug hit a 737 on the airfield, that wouldn’t be a good thing, but that could easily happen with one small mistake.”
How about Airport and Game officials get together and organize a bow hunt? That probably makes good sense though!LOL
Posted by: GREG | December 05, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Exactly what I was thinking Greg.
And of course I would like to ask a question of some hunters.
Why do some guys think they can obtain trophies in such ways? Not to even mention the thought of taking a rifle on airport grounds!
I can totally understand thinking wow, you know, nobody hunts there; there have got to be some great bucks. But that's it.
It would not be a trophy if you cheat to get it. Furthermore, not enough people respect our trophies as it is, they sure won't respect one taken by poaching, so that leaves a person poaching, then lying about it later.
I wish we could weed out hunters like that. I wonder how long they will lose their licenses; if at all.
Posted by: Tommy | December 05, 2007 at 10:49 AM
If i killed a deer in that manner I would never be able to look at it or myself again.
Posted by: GREG | December 05, 2007 at 10:54 AM
Good idea Greg! How about the airport and game officials charging $200 per person for a two day hunt and then donate the money to a conservation group and even donate some of the meat to a hunters for the hungry group, then invite the news and get some positive press for our sport for a change. 50 hunters @ $200 ahead is ten grand, two hunts would be 20 G.
Posted by: ZACK | December 05, 2007 at 10:57 AM
If airline safety is really the concern, it would make sense to reduce the size of the herd, so there would be fewer animals to wander unto active runways.
Posted by: GTT | December 05, 2007 at 10:59 AM
Open the gate...chase them out...close the gate...end of story.
Posted by: another voice | December 05, 2007 at 11:33 AM
You obviously have not seen how high deer can jump. Nor did you read the entire article. They have run them off. They come back because the area is so perfect.
At least read the article before you post.
Posted by: | December 05, 2007 at 11:42 AM
I am from Pittsburgh, and i know first hand the problems that the airport faces with deer. I agree with some of the others about an organized hunt. I no at the Allegheny Airport in West Mifflin they have organized hunts to control the population. It seems to be a pretty effective way to manage the deer.
Posted by: Jimmy | December 05, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Sounds like a controlled bow hunt is in order. As an FAA designated engineering representative, I could never endorse discharging any type of firearm within the safety zone of airport property. There is a real safety reason for that fenced area.
I know a hunter that took a huge buck from a rather large greenbelt between a freeway and a mall. He did sneak in there and use a bow, so I'm pretty sure he put no one at risk. He might have violated some city ordinance by shooting a bow in the city. Some cities have such laws. Where my son lives, it is illegal to shoot a BB gun, even in your back yard. I like to fire my '06 and shoot clays in my back yard. :-)
Posted by: WA Mtnhunter | December 05, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Umm, WaMtnhunter, what's your hunter friends name? Because I am pretty sure that if you have to sneak into an area within city limits and then you kill a deer, it's poaching. That's illegal if you didn't get that. May have broken a law by shooting a bow in city limits?? I'd be a little more worried about the poaching deer inside city limits law. And what '06 are you talking about firing in your backyard? A 30-06? Because if your firing a 30-06 in something you consider a "backyard" you are an idiot. I hope that your being facetious.
Posted by: Chris | December 05, 2007 at 01:37 PM
Chris
I think where he lives there is no law governing hunting in the city limits, just discharge of certain weapons. Which type I am not sure. Where I live, hunting is NOT prohibited in the city limits of the town nearby, but there are firearms restrictions in place that make good sense. There is a difference here. Poaching is a violation of game laws. Violation of a firearm law is altogether a different matter.
I don't live in the city limits nor in a firearm restriction zone nor a noise ordinance zone. My "backyard" (tongue in cheek)is several acres with a proper bullet trap/backstop with over 900 acres of uninhabited private forested property behind it. I also never shoot lead shot on the property, only non-toxic steel shot.
I have been accused of being facetious at times and accused of being an idiot, mostly by my wife.
Guilty of the former, but not the latter.
I am not defending the hunter I mentioned. If he is a poacher in your opinion, I have no argument, just relating the facts as I know them, which may be all wet. And why would you care what his name is? Gonna report him if I give it to you? Come now.
Posted by: WA Mtnhunter | December 05, 2007 at 02:30 PM
This kinda to Greg & Tommy,
I hunted with a guy, for a short while, that would have been one of those that would climb the fence to get in! And, he would brag about his kill.
Some folks is dist idjuts!!
First time I hunted with him and he pulled one of his "kill at any cost" stunts, I ditched him. I have checked my scruples at the door a time or two and done some things I'm not all that proud of, but when it began to eat on me, I picked them (scruples) back up and never set them down again. This guy sold his for the going "OBO" rate and constantly bragged about poaching and trespassing!
There are people out there that will do anything!
Bubba
Posted by: Bubba | December 06, 2007 at 06:34 AM
Not proud of it but I have done some outlawin back in the day. Even have some fond memories of out doin the local Warden! I have however seen the errors of my ways. I am probably the worst about the laws now bein reformed and all. i have not broken a game or fish law,knowingly, in 25 years.
Posted by: GREG | December 06, 2007 at 08:38 AM
Also I her ya Bubba cant even be in the same room as an outlaw any more. unless its a court room!LOL
Posted by: GREG | December 06, 2007 at 08:42 AM
Everyone makes mistakes, its the ones that consider their's trophies that should alarm us the most.
Posted by: Tommy | December 06, 2007 at 09:04 AM
Bill Heavy has a great article in the Feb. 07 issue called "Morons Among Us". I think ist goes with this conversation pretty well.
Posted by: GREG | December 06, 2007 at 09:13 AM
I understand the need for safety due to the proximity of a large metropolitan airport, and I agree that the law is the law. 9,000 acres however calculates to be a shade over 14 square miles. Just how much of a buffer does the airport think it needs? I think a bow hunt at the least would be reasonable since the deer are somewhat of a nuisance. Just my 2 cents.
Posted by: John R | December 07, 2007 at 12:07 AM
After thinking a bit, I wonder of one problem with the animals. Do many airports not have fuel run-offs from the runways, and do many jets not disperse fuel before landing in these buffers?
Wouldn't this really hurt the purity of the streams, and thus the wildlife in the immediate area?
Posted by: Tommy | December 07, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Good question!
Posted by: John R | December 07, 2007 at 06:43 PM
Good question?
Aviation fuel (jet fuel) is glorified kerosene. At the cost of fuel, none is dumped unless in emergency situation! If airlines follow EPA guidelines, no off ground dumping of anything is allowed except in emergency situations. (I would think!?)
Bubba
Posted by: Bubba | December 10, 2007 at 10:55 AM
Good answer Bubba :-)
Posted by: John R | December 10, 2007 at 11:25 PM
Thats good to know WA MtnHunter. Are there really that many cities that allow hunting?? I am not aware of any and that is why I ask.
Posted by: Chris | December 12, 2007 at 11:04 AM