SC poachers in IA

[sprigdog]

anyone know these poachers? shit like this makes it tough to enjoy an OOS state hunt.


DNR News > Recent Releases

South Carolina Deer Poachers Plead Guilty
Posted: January 18, 2008

DES MOINES, Iowa – Two South Carolina men pleaded guilty to poaching deer today and were fined $2,137, ordered to pay $24,000 in liquidated damages and forfeited more than $5,000 worth of equipment. Liquidated damages in Iowa are based on the value of the deer racks.

Michael Sillanpaa, Jr., 38, of Summerville, S.C., and David Gordon, 38, of Goose Creek, S.C., were arrested for poaching deer after Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation officers executed a search warrant at 1 a.m., Nov. 10, at a Des Moines area hotel. Officers also searched a local residence and their vehicle. The DNR seized two shotguns, two crossbows, a rifle and other equipment as well as the deer.

“We never would have known about this if it was not for a concerned citizen who picked up the phone and called in a tip,” said DNR Conservation Officer Brandon Bergquist.

Sillanpaa and Gordon came to Iowa in late October, bought a small game license and paid the habitat fee so, if questioned they would have a reason to be out in the woods.

Officers immediately began surveillance of the men, even viewing them purchase a $1,060 crossbow from a local sporting goods store. Officers followed as Sillanpaa and Gordon spent their time driving all day through Big Creek State Park and Springbrook State Park, until they found something they wanted to kill, said Conservation Officer Jeff Swearngin.

The men killed both deer by shooting crossbows from their vehicle during the day then returned at night to cut off the head. The men shot two buck deer; one scoring 148 and the other scoring 135. Game wardens in South Carolina seized three shoulder mounts and two sets of antlers from Iowa poached deer and shipped them back to Iowa. According to South Carolina wardens, Sillanpaa has a history of poaching in South Carolina.

“These guys were so good at poaching that without the tip, we would never have known about it,” Swearngin said. They had been poaching deer in Iowa since at least 1998.

Deer poaching is occurring all over Iowa from about middle October through January and is at epic levels, said Bergquist. “Iowa’s trophy buck resource draws the best poachers from all over the country,” he said. “Taking these guys out is nice, but there are hundreds more out there just like them.”

Swearngin and Bergquist were assisted by Iowa conservation officers Craig Lonneman, Craig Cutts, Allen Crouse, Jason Sandholt, Craig Roberg and Mike Ryan. Federal Agent Justin Mayes also assisted with the case.

For more information, contact Officer Jeff Swearngin at 515-238-4849 or Officer Brandon Bergquist at 515-238-5006.

[Duck'n N Buck'n]

Sucks to be them. But they deserve every bit of the punishment that is handed down to them.

[LabLuvR]

Looks like the lowcountry boys are picking up where the Scumpta crowd left off.

[Ring King]

Michael Sillanpaa, Jr is one of the best damn poachers that SC will probably ever know. Alcoa busted him a few years ago after he was pulling this same stuff there where DM1 works. I'm sure he could tell stories for days on this one.

DNR came to the taxidermy shop where I worked and confiscated the deer heads that he had taken back then. He was doing the same thing, cutting the heads off and leaving the bodies, as well as stealing tree stands, and trail cams. It's amazing to me that this guy isn't in prison.

I've got a cousin down in lower Alabama that years ago managed to get a life sentence for doing something similar down there. He shot a trophy deer in a pen and then cut a hole to get him out. There were a few does that escaped as well. He got charged for the value of the deer he shot plus the escaped does. The total value plus some of the other crimes involved were enough to warrant a life sentence somehow. The story was printed in BuckMasters magazine a long time ago.

Seems like Mike needs a little of the same medicine. I'm sure a lot of the guys on here know him and the crowd that he used to hang with. I've had more than a few run ins with them!

[romeocadet08]

I have had numerous run-ins with the other dumb ass, David Gordon. He is a real piece of work.