While 99 percent of Tennessee hunters are honest, we always have that one percent that does damage to the sportsman image, even though there is a significant difference between hunters and poachers. Below is an article about one of those folks (along with his entourage). The article that follows it explains an interesting agreement between states to combat traveling poachers.

Several young Lewis County residents may soon learn that a night out poaching deer is a bad idea, made even worse than normal by a decision to kill an albino deer.

“As far as I know, this is the first case that has been made concerning an albino deer since the law that made it illegal to kill them went into effect,” noted Jeff Skelton, the TWRA wildlife officer who apprehended the shooter and several of  his friends when they attempted to recover the dead deer.

The Tennessee General Assembly voted in 2001 to protect albino deer, an animal with a solid white pelt and pink eyes. It is a misdemeanor to deliberately kill or possess an albino deer, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Kill, however, is what Hohenwald resident Braden Pace apparently did a few  days ago late at night while riding around with four other Lewis County residents, including two juveniles. The deer was killed in the community of Kimmins.

“I cited Mr. Pace with five misdemeanors, including possession of the albino deer and possessing drug paraphernalia,” noted Skelton. “I also charged Justin and Woodrow Chapin with the same offenses, but Mr. Pace did the shooting. All three of them of are in their early 20s.”

Pace was also charged with shooting from the road, shooting from a motor vehicle, and shooting a deer in closed season. The two juveniles also were cited with several misdemeanors. Both are high school age.  

From time of death evidence gathered by TWRA, it appears the Pace killed the animal about 1:30 in the morning. He attempted to recover it the following day, but Skelton was waiting on him.

“Mr. Pace has been in trouble before because of poaching, so I had a heads up that something might be going on with him,” said Skelton. “We confiscated a muzzleloader rifle from him and his vehicle. All in all, it was a pretty expensive night for him and his buddies.”

Pace, the Chapin brothers, and the two juveniles are scheduled to appear in Lewis County General Sessions Court on December 5.

A New Tool In The War Against Poaching: The Wildlife Violator Compact  

Tennessee's membership in the Wildlife Violator Compact gives the state a new tool to use in the battle against poachers and other violators of Tennessee's hunting and fishing laws.

“Membership in the compact means that for the first time, we can reach out-of-state violators of Tennessee's wildlife laws,” TWRA Attorney Sheryl Holtam said. “Under terms of the compact, a wildlife violator from another state may lose his hunting and fishing privileges in their home state as well as in Tennessee for a violation of Tennessee law.”

The Wildlife Violators Compact is similar to the long-existing Driver's License Compact, which allows states to prosecute traffic violations involving out-of-state residents. If a traffic violator fails to appear for court cases or pay a citation, he is subject to the loss of his license in his home state.

“The Wildlife Violator Compact is part of a nationwide effort to cut down on the problem of poaching and to make hunters and anglers accountable for their actions wherever they may be,” Holtam said.

A national database of wildlife violator and violations is kept in Nevada. The database contains information on the violator's offense as well as his name, social security number and citation number. As our hunting lands shrink in size, this will be another important tool in bringing poachers to justice.