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FacebookNew York State Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) charged a Saranac, Clinton County, man with numerous counts related to killing a moose in the town of Franklin, Franklin County, following a month-long DEC investigation.
On December 4, 2019, ECOs charged Zachary Vaughn, 26, with four misdemeanors: taking of a moose; possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle; use of an artificial light in a vehicle while in possession of firearm; and hunting deer with the aid of an artificial light.
He also was charged with three additional violations not identified in an announcement sent to the press. Vaughn is scheduled to appear before the Town of Franklin Criminal Court on December 19th. He faces a maximum penalty of $9,725 in fines and up to one year imprisonment.
In the fall of 2014, two moose were killed by hunters in separate incidents in the Adirondacks.
Steven Zehr of Walpole, New Hampshire, turned himself in after shooting a moose on private land, saying he mistook the much larger animal for a whitetail deer. He paid a $125 fine, despite having already filled his deer hunting limit before taking aim at the moose.
The shooter of a moose calf killed with a shotgun or muzzleloader just weeks before in Newcomb, remains unknown.
Photo of a moose in the Adirondacks by John Warren.
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Once again nice work by the ECO’s closing this with an arrest. We can just hope that he is convicted and sentenced accordingly. Only a total dirt bag shoots a moose like that
Toss the book at them. Give them the
most punishment you can.
Thank you ECO’s.
Well done.
I hope and pray that Mr. Vaughn gets a maximum sentence for his senseless act of stupidity.
Good job!! I wonder if he was caught red-handed, so to speak, or if it was the result of a tip/complaint. I assume the former. At least he was named in the account.
Todd hit the nail on the head and “Dirt Bag” might not be a strong enough label for guys like this that give the rest of the sportsmen/women community a bad name. Hope he enjoyed his temporary thrill and gets the pleasure of wearing prison orange attire…
Recently legislation was assed, but probably not effective yet, that strengthens penalties for environmental law violations and that’s a good thing!
This is very sad.
The New Hampshire hunter shoots a moose, thinking it’s a deer, after already filling his deer tag, and only gets a $125 fine?
Something’s not right there. It sets a bad precedent.
Sadly that precedent has been going on for years.
He needs to get the full penalty to show others that illegal hunting will not be tolerated, and to also protect those who hunt legally. Hunters pay for conversation, and these kind of occurrences give hunting a bad rap.
“This is very sad.”
To think that we still feel shock or distress on yet another act of senseless violence….the killing of a moose. After all they feed us day in day out on tv, in Hollywood, the news, in sports, in the wars that some of us support. After all of the horrors and we still have a conscience. There’s hope for the human race yet!
“I was only hunting rabbits and there was this really big one, I didn’t think it might be a moose. Anyway, them moose can be dangerous and I got this big gun, — why not.”
There is no need for this , I thought these abuses to animals were felonies now ! This article says he is facing a hefty fine and four charges with four misdemeanors, maybe a year in jail, I don’t like the maybe, THROW THE BOOK AT THESE ASSHOLES so they don’t do this AGAIN !
There’s really no need for foul language on this site Penny..you made your point!
I second that emotion.
Jacking game from a vehicle has gone on as long as there have been vehicles. Poaching has gone on even longer. Why?? Many of us know or know of poachers – why don’t we turn them in? Is there some sort of Robin Hood mentality out there where poachers are “stickin’ it to the Man” and we look the other way? We act with outrage and condemnation when this stuff hits the headlines, but what does Joe Citizen do to curb these activities before they happen?
We can’t just leave it up to ECOs and the threat of penalties to curb these activities, because it doesn’t seem to be getting the job done. Often these illegal activities are taught by example. Getting away with it seems to be a badge of honor in some circles. Often when violators are apprehended, we never learn their names. We don’t see it on the news. Does this mean we really don’t care?? If we don’t care, why make it illegal??
Well said.
Has the day in court happened for these charges ?