Citizens help catch poachers

By GREG JOHNSON

Special to the Herald

Recent tips from alert sportsmen and vigilant citizens have resulted in charges being filed in a number of poaching incidents over the last three weeks. In late October, a concerned citizen reported that a large bull elk had been killed in the Crossport area and that the suspect, Kyle C. Dirks, 20, of Bonners Ferry had killed the elk without the proper tag.

A subsequent investigation by local Fish and Game Officers resulted in a search warrant being served at the Dirks residence near Crossport and seizure of meat and antlers from the elk. Kyle Dirks was charged with taking the elk without the proper tag and with wasting the meat from the elk.

In mid-October a sportsman reported finding a doe mule deer that had been illegally shot near Copper ridge. The sportsman provided Fish and Game Officers with a vehicle and suspect description but was not able to get a license plate number from the vehicle.

A few days later, another sportsman found the remains of a small Mule deer buck that had been shot during closed season in the same vicinity. The second sportsman also provided officers with a vehicle and suspect description but was also unable to get a license plate number. A subsequent search of DMV records for vehicles registered in Boundary County matching the descriptions provided by the alert sportsman eventually led Fish and Game officers to the Eastport residence of Gordon L. Girardin where they found the remains of four allegedly illegally killed deer. Girardin, 50, was subsequently charged with taking a white-tailed doe deer with a rifle during an archery-only season, taking a mule deer doe during closed season, possessing an unlawfully taken mule deer buck, failing to validate his deer tag and for exceeding the limit for deer. Additionally, two other men were charged with hunting violations in the case.

Frank R. Girardin, 21, of Eastport was charged with taking a mule deer buck during closed season and with hunting deer without a license. Gordon L. Girardin, Jr., 22, also of Eastport was charged with transferring his deer tag to a deer killed by Gordon Girardin, Sr.

In the latest case, Randall R. Dowell, 21, and Michael E. Phillips, 20, both from Moyie Springs, have been charged with hunting violation involving a spotlighting incident which occurred in the Curly creek vicinity Sunday evening and with unlawfully taking two deer and an elk. The successful conclusion of this investigation was the result of a concerned citizen reporting shots fired after dark near the Curly Creek fire hall. The citizen was able to provide officers with a vehicle description and license plate number. The subsequent investigation led Fish and Game officers to Phillips' and Dowell's residence in Moyie Springs where they allegedly discovered the illegally taken deer and elk. In this case, Dowell has been charged with failing to tag a deer, exceeding the limit for deer and hunting deer with the aid of artificial light. Phillips was charged with taking a bull elk during closed season.

Reports from concerned citizens and sportsmen is vital in stopping poachers. Anyone who witnesses a wildlife violation is encouraged to report the incident by contacting their local Fish and Game Officer (In Boundary County ,Conservation Officer Greg Johnson at 267-7629 or Conservation Officer Brian Johnson at 267-4085), their local sheriffs office or by calling the Citizens against poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999. Callers may remain anonymous.