We caught two

Tombstonejim · November 19, 2009, 11:07 AM

By Derek Jordan
Herald/Review
SIERRA VISTA — A Willcox man has had his Arizona hunting license revoked for life and was fined thousands of dollars after a monthslong investigation by the Arizona Game and Fish Department revealed he had been killing wildlife illegally and on private property.

Jared A. Youngs, 22, was fined $6,000 by the department, which in October also revoked his ability to ever legally hunt or fish in the state again.

Another man, Josh L. Ferrigna, 24, also of Willcox, identified by the department as Youngs’ “accomplice,” was fined $1,500 and had his hunting license revoked for 15 years.

A six-month investigation into the two men began in March 2008 after officials discovered the carcass of a decapitated mule deer, said Mark Hart, public information officer for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

“Based on the state of the remains found, there had been no attempt to use the animals as game meat,” Hart said. “They were simply looking for trophies.”

According to Hart, the investigation and interviews with Youngs and Ferrigna revealed the two men would travel to private property at night and shine powerful headlights at the deer to immobilize them before killing them.

“That’s an easy way to kill a deer. It’s not sporting. It’s certainly not hunting,” he said.

Investigators obtained search warrants and were able to uncover evidence at two Willcox residences, including antlers, linking the men to the acts, he said.

According to Hart, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission was only recently given the authority to revoke a hunting license for life, which it reserves the punishment for only the worst offenses.

“This was a case in the extreme and merited the most severe penalty,” he said.

Authorities said the men killed five mule deer in this manner, four bucks and one doe.

In a Wednesday news release, Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Manager John Bacorn shed some light as to the motive of the two men.

“During interviews, these individuals were asked why they had engaged in this type of activity, and their responses were they just got caught up in the excitement and the adrenaline rush,” Bacorn said.

The men received a total of 22 citations and were fined more than $12,000 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, according to state authorities.

The charges they are faced with include knowingly taking wildlife during a closed season, possessing unlawfully taken wildlife, taking wildlife without a license, taking wildlife with artificial light, taking wildlife with the aid of a vehicle, waste of game meat and trespassing on private property while taking wildlife.

thallub · November 19, 2009, 11:13 AM

Glad that they caught the perps. That was some expensive antlers.

davlandrum · November 19, 2009, 12:36 PM

Nice thing is with the reciprocity agreements in many states, they can't just pack up and move somewhere else to hunt.

Daryl · November 19, 2009, 03:40 PM

From the charges, it doesn't sound like they were into legal hunting anyway.

But the charges will be worse if they do it again on a revoked license.

I guess I need to read the SV Herald Disgrace more often. I live in Sierra Vista, and this is the first I've heard of it. Wilcox (where the poachers live) is about an hour away.

I can only say, "Good job!" to the Az G&F Dept on their investigation.

Daryl

simonkenton · November 19, 2009, 04:32 PM

Good deal! Hang 'em High!

Tombstonejim do you work for Game and Fish?

Christchild · November 19, 2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Good deal! Hang 'em High!

At's a Roger! All that and they weren't even eatin' 'em. Wow. We crossed a few lines as kids, but ALWAYS ate what we killed. That was the whole point!

Tombstonejim · November 19, 2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Tombstonejim do you work for Game and Fish?

Nope Just a generic we for the good guys.

Fat White Boy · November 20, 2009, 01:14 AM

I used to buy apples out by Wilcox. There is some great hunting out there. The workers used to plant watermelons in the rows between the apple trees. I woke up one morning and saw two 8 point Muleys(that's Western points, 8 a side) and a dozen javelinas in the orchard...Glad they got the bastids...

jgcoastie · November 20, 2009, 02:11 AM

Kudos to AZ DF&G!!!

trooper3385 · November 20, 2009, 02:46 AM

More states need to get stricker on there game laws like this. Never heard of hunting licenses being revoked for life, or even 15 yrs for that matter. I hope more states catch on.

bamaranger · November 20, 2009, 03:33 AM

Chalk up two for the good guys.

I believe much of the outlaw hunting is a lifestyle thing and can only be deterred by jail time and property forfeiture. Unfortunately, getting a prosecutor and a judge to go that route, is probably rare.

Compare it to DUI type offenses. Till multiple DUI penalties were enhanced, DuI convictions and DL suspensions did not really deter drunk drivers. With loss of vehicle and felony status for X number DUI's, I think we're starting to see a diff.

Seize the truck, the ATV, the firearms (on an offender now,don't get jumpy) and you may get peoples attention.

The scope of wildlife/resource offenses is staggering. Not seeing as many deer on your lease or in your area? Yeah, it could be disease, or a habitat/cover change, but I'll bet you've got an outlaw problem first.

shortwave · November 21, 2009, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Not seeing as many deer on your lease or in your area? Yeah, it could be desease or a habitat/cover change , but I`ll bet you got a outlaw problem first.

Can`t agree with any statement made on here any greater than I agree with this one. With the amount of bucks found in this area during bow season with holes blown in them,racks cut off and carcass left for the buzzards:barf: its not a wonder why the quality bucks have gotten few and far between here. Sad part about it is its being done by a certain few that live close by. Most of us are tired of it but till we get concrete evidence nothing much will change. Poaching all the big breeder bucks out of the herd will sure put a hurtin on things. Catch`em and take all they got!

Remingtonvadeer · November 28, 2009, 09:49 PM

GLAD they caught the SOB's! People like that put bad names for hunters!

November 19, 2009, 11:07 AM	#1
Tombstonejim Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2007 Location: Tombstone Az Posts: 192	We caught two By Derek Jordan Herald/Review SIERRA VISTA — A Willcox man has had his Arizona hunting license revoked for life and was fined thousands of dollars after a monthslong investigation by the Arizona Game and Fish Department revealed he had been killing wildlife illegally and on private property. Jared A. Youngs, 22, was fined $6,000 by the department, which in October also revoked his ability to ever legally hunt or fish in the state again. Another man, Josh L. Ferrigna, 24, also of Willcox, identified by the department as Youngs’ “accomplice,” was fined $1,500 and had his hunting license revoked for 15 years. A six-month investigation into the two men began in March 2008 after officials discovered the carcass of a decapitated mule deer, said Mark Hart, public information officer for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Based on the state of the remains found, there had been no attempt to use the animals as game meat,” Hart said. “They were simply looking for trophies.” According to Hart, the investigation and interviews with Youngs and Ferrigna revealed the two men would travel to private property at night and shine powerful headlights at the deer to immobilize them before killing them. “That’s an easy way to kill a deer. It’s not sporting. It’s certainly not hunting,” he said. Investigators obtained search warrants and were able to uncover evidence at two Willcox residences, including antlers, linking the men to the acts, he said. According to Hart, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission was only recently given the authority to revoke a hunting license for life, which it reserves the punishment for only the worst offenses. “This was a case in the extreme and merited the most severe penalty,” he said. Authorities said the men killed five mule deer in this manner, four bucks and one doe. In a Wednesday news release, Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Manager John Bacorn shed some light as to the motive of the two men. “During interviews, these individuals were asked why they had engaged in this type of activity, and their responses were they just got caught up in the excitement and the adrenaline rush,” Bacorn said. The men received a total of 22 citations and were fined more than $12,000 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, according to state authorities. The charges they are faced with include knowingly taking wildlife during a closed season, possessing unlawfully taken wildlife, taking wildlife without a license, taking wildlife with artificial light, taking wildlife with the aid of a vehicle, waste of game meat and trespassing on private property while taking wildlife.

November 19, 2009, 12:36 PM	#3
davlandrum Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Lane County Oregon Posts: 2,546	Nice thing is with the reciprocity agreements in many states, they can't just pack up and move somewhere else to hunt. __________________ U.S Army, Retired Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do. -Potter Stewart

November 20, 2009, 02:11 AM	#9
jgcoastie Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Location: Now: Michigan, Previously: Alaska, California, North Carolina, Mississippi Posts: 2,093	Kudos to AZ DF&G!!! __________________ "To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them." -Richard Henry Lee, Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress, initiator of the Declaration of Independence, and member of the first Senate, which passed the Bill of Rights.

November 20, 2009, 03:33 AM	#11
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 3,633	jail'em Chalk up two for the good guys. I believe much of the outlaw hunting is a lifestyle thing and can only be deterred by jail time and property forfeiture. Unfortunately, getting a prosecutor and a judge to go that route, is probably rare. Compare it to DUI type offenses. Till multiple DUI penalties were enhanced, DuI convictions and DL suspensions did not really deter drunk drivers. With loss of vehicle and felony status for X number DUI's, I think we're starting to see a diff. Seize the truck, the ATV, the firearms (on an offender now,don't get jumpy) and you may get peoples attention. The scope of wildlife/resource offenses is staggering. Not seeing as many deer on your lease or in your area? Yeah, it could be disease, or a habitat/cover change, but I'll bet you've got an outlaw problem first.

November 19, 2009, 11:13 AM	#2
thallub Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: South Western OK Posts: 1,747	Glad that they caught the perps. That was some expensive antlers.

November 19, 2009, 03:40 PM	#4
Daryl Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Posts: 2,350	From the charges, it doesn't sound like they were into legal hunting anyway. But the charges will be worse if they do it again on a revoked license. I guess I need to read the SV Herald Disgrace more often. I live in Sierra Vista, and this is the first I've heard of it. Wilcox (where the poachers live) is about an hour away. I can only say, "Good job!" to the Az G&F Dept on their investigation. Daryl

November 19, 2009, 04:32 PM	#5
simonkenton Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2008 Posts: 891	Good deal! Hang 'em High! Tombstonejim do you work for Game and Fish?

November 20, 2009, 01:14 AM	#8
Fat White Boy Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2005 Posts: 1,276	I used to buy apples out by Wilcox. There is some great hunting out there. The workers used to plant watermelons in the rows between the apple trees. I woke up one morning and saw two 8 point Muleys(that's Western points, 8 a side) and a dozen javelinas in the orchard...Glad they got the bastids...

November 20, 2009, 02:46 AM	#10
trooper3385 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2005 Location: South Texas Posts: 793	More states need to get stricker on there game laws like this. Never heard of hunting licenses being revoked for life, or even 15 yrs for that matter. I hope more states catch on.

November 28, 2009, 09:49 PM	#13
Remingtonvadeer Junior member Join Date: November 24, 2009 Posts: 38	GLAD they caught the SOB's! People like that put bad names for hunters!