Convicted Deer Poachers Face Heavy Fines, Penalties

Media Contacts:
Patrick Foy, DFG Law Enforcement, (916) 651-2084
Michael Pizzuti, El Dorado Deputy District Attorney, (530) 621-6472

Three Stockton men face prison and jail terms, heavy fines, a forfeited vehicle and destroyed firearms for conspiring to kill and sell deer for profit.

In June 2011, after a three week investigation, wardens with the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) arrested Thongseuth Khounchanh, 58; Ti Sila, 51; and Bounleuna Sysenglath, 59; all from Stockton, as they returned from an all-night poaching trip in El Dorado County. El Dorado County Deputy District Attorney Michael Pizzuti prosecuted the case and presented the court with evidence regarding the egregious nature of their poaching crimes, along with the extensive costs associated with the investigation.

The investigation was prompted by an anonymous tip received in May 2011, when a caller to the DFG CalTIP line reported suspected deer poaching activity associated with Khounchanh, Sila and Sysenglath. Wardens conducted an extensive investigation that showed the suspects making multiple poaching trips per week, including killing everything from bucks to pregnant does. The poachers sold the deer meat as fast as they could get it to an established network of buyers.

On Feb. 22, 2012, visiting Placer County Judge Hon. Angus Saint-Evans found one defendant guilty of poaching-related felonies and two of poaching-related misdemeanors.

•  Thongseuth Khounchanh was convicted of felony conspiracy to possess deer for sale, in addition to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to 16 months in state prison and was ordered by the court to forfeit his vehicle.
• Ti Sila and Bounleuna Sysenglath were each convicted of three misdemeanor deer poaching-related offenses and were sentenced to 120 days in county jail, fines and penalties totaling $13,500 and three years formal supervised probation.

 All weapons used in the poaching crimes were forfeited and will be destroyed.

“It took intensive effort from wardens to stop this poaching operation,” said Assistant Chief Tony Warrington of DFG’s Law Enforcement Division. “Wardens from all over the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley, including wardens from our Special Operations Unit, Delta-Bay Enhanced Enforcement Program, warden-pilots from the air services unit and the keen noses of our warden K-9s, collaborated to put this case together.”

To recoup costs from the intensive investigation, Judge Saint-Evans ordered restitution from the three defendants in the amount of $100,270.04.

Selling any deer meat in California, whether it was taken legally under a recreational hunting license or killed illegally, is a crime. DFG encourages all Californians to report wildlife crimes to Californians Turn In Poachers and Polluters by calling the CalTIP hotline at 1-888-334-2258 (DFG-CALTIP).

Special Turkey Hunting Opportunities Offered in North Central Region

Media Contacts:
Sara Holm, DFG Wildlife Program, (530) 346-6305
Kirsten Macintyre, DFG Communications, (916) 323-8988

 

Public Contact:
North Central Region Hunter Information Line, (916) 358-2839

 

Turkey hunters awaiting the spring turkey season can visit the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) website to apply online for special hunts.

Photo courtesy of the National Wild Turkey Federation

The website lists numerous hunts statewide, including opportunities in the DFG North Central Region, which includes Plumas, Sierra, Butte, Glenn, Lake, Colusa, Yolo, Sutter, Yuba, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Sacramento, Amador, Alpine, Calaveras and San Joaquin counties.

The DFG North Central Region will offer wild turkey hunts at the following locations: Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area, Spenceville Wildlife Area, Oroville Wildlife Area, Gray Lodge Wildlife Area and the Cosumnes River Preserve. Applications and information are available online at www.dfg.ca.gov/hunting.

 

Hunters must create an account using a valid e-mail address and submit an application for their choice of hunts. Hunters may apply only once for each hunt, either as an applicant or as a guest. Submitting multiple applications will result in disqualification. Hunt application deadlines vary depending on the starting day of the hunt.

 

To apply online you will need the hunter’s name, e-mail address, mailing address, phone number, 2012 hunting license GO ID and, if applicable, information about mobility impairment and special accommodations needed.

 

Hunters will be selected by a computerized drawing for only one hunt, and only successful applicants will be notified.

 

Special hunts are provided in cooperation with many volunteer organizations. The purchase of an Upland Game Bird Stamp supports these special hunts and other programs that provide additional Upland Game Bird hunting opportunities. All upland game bird hunters, except those with Junior hunting licenses, must purchase an Upland Game Bird Stamp.

Wildlife Conservation Board Funds Environmental Improvement and Acquisition Projects

Media Contacts:
John Donnelly, Wildlife Conservation Board, (916) 445-0137
Dana Michaels, DFG Communications, (916) 322-2420

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

At its Feb. 23 quarterly meeting, the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved $17.9 million in grants funding to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout California. Some of the 13 funded projects will provide benefits to fish and wildlife species, including some endangered species, and others will provide public access opportunities to important natural resources. Several projects will also demonstrate the importance of protecting working landscapes that integrate economic, social and environmental stewardship practices beneficial to the environment, the landowner and the local community. The funds for all of these projects come from recent bond initiatives approved by the voters to help preserve and protect California’s natural resources.

Some of the funded projects include:

• A $263,000 grant to Watsonville Wetlands Watch for a cooperative project with the Department of Fish and Game (DFG), the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, the City of Watsonville and the Santa Cruz Resource Conservation District to restore approximately six acres of riparian habitat located along Struve Slough, West Struve Slough and Hanson Slough in Santa Cruz County.

• A $2.4 million grant to the Pit Resource Conservation District for a cooperative project with DFG to restore approximately 1,500 acres, protecting approximately 1,085 intact wetlands from increased head-cutting, and integrating the water delivery system to meet downstream water rights and management of seasonal wetlands on DFG’s Ash Creek Wildlife Area in Lassen and Modoc counties.

• A $1.2 million grant to the Northcoast Regional Land Trust to acquire a conservation easement over 1,622 acres of diverse native forests and riparian areas which include Port Orford cedar and Douglas fir habitat corridor linkages within the Willow Creek watershed, a salmonid stream and tributary to the Trinity River, in Humboldt County.

• A $5.5 million grant to the River Partners for a cooperative project with the California Natural Resources Agency, Department of Water Resources, U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Francisco Public Utility Commission and Tuolumne River Preservation Trust to acquire in fee approximately 1,603 acres of valley floodplain and riverine habitat for the protection of habitat for special status species including Chinook salmon, steelhead trout and riparian brush rabbits, and to provide future wildlife-oriented public use and recreational opportunities in Stanislaus County.

For more information about the WCB, please visit www.wcb.ca.gov.