We will be having a meeting on June 10th, at the Eagles, at 7 pm.
The club will not be providing a free meal before the meeting, but the Eagles will be serving baskets. Please come out and support the Eagles.
Perry asks that all board members attend the meeting.
Criminal charges are expected to be filed against six Barnes County men for their involvement in the illegal taking of big game and other wildlife-related violations in recent months throughout the county, which allegedly includes the poaching of a number of whitetail deer. Combined, the complaints against the individuals are anticipated to allege 41 criminal charges in North Dakota’s Southeast Judicial District Court.
At the center of the group of six alleged poachers and abettors is Jakob Ashline, 23, of rural Valley City, who is facing 21 total counts including: violation of protection of big game animals, using artificial light in the taking of big game, violation of resident licensing requirements, tampering with evidence, providing false information to law enforcement, hunting big game without an appropriate big game license and violation of North Dakota’s big game proclamation.
“The total number [of deer at issue] I don’t have, a lot of people are looking for that,” said Tonya Duffy, Barnes County State’s Attorney, “the problem is there is a lot of deer and you can only prove so much, so I’m charging him with everything I can prove, which is six deer,” she concluded in relation to the charges expected against Ashline.
Ashline currently is serving a sentence of 200 days in the Burleigh County Jail for an incident in September 2019 in which he allegedly told arresting Bismarck police officers “if I ever find you, I promise I’ll kill you.” Ashline was charged in the September incident with misdemeanor terrorizing, refusal to halt and simple assault, and ultimately pled guilty on February 26, 2020 to misdemeanor charges of menacing, refusal to halt, disorderly conduct and preventing arrest.
Connecting Ashline to a number of other individuals involved in the alleged poaching ring is Ryan Rudolph, 19, of western Barnes County, who will likely face five criminal counts including violating protection of big game animals, tampering with evidence and providing false information to law enforcement.
Payne Drake, 21, of Valley City is expected to be charged with nine counts including aiding in concealment of big game unlawfully taken or possessed and tampering with evidence. Calvin Bjornson, 20, of rural Valley City is expected to be charged with three counts including failure to properly tag big game and aiding in concealment of game unlawfully taken.
In connection to the first four men, Tyler Anderson, 23, and Taylor Hejtmanek, 20, both of Valley City, will likely be charged with three counts each including refusal to halt, hunting with artificial light and illegal use of a rifle or handgun in the taking of raccoon or beaver.
“These are actions of slobs and poachers, not hunters; they take away opportunities from many people young and old to lawfully harvest an animal, and here they were needlessly slaughtered and went to waste,” commented Perry Kapaun, President of the Barnes County Wildlife Federation, on the pending allegations, “it’s a bad deal, it goes against everything that outdoorsmen and women and BCWF stand for,” Kapaun added, remaining hopeful for a resolution which goes to the fullest extent of the law.
Members of the public can report suspected wildlife, hunting and angling violations throughout the state by calling the North Dakota Game & Fish Department’s Report All Poachers (RAP) line at (800)472-2121. Rewards are offered for information which leads to a conviction and callers are given the option of remaining anonymous.
Barnes County Wildlife Club President Perry Kapaun presenting a check to the Barnes County Food Pantry. BCW and North Dakota Wildlife Federation donated money that would have been used to cover the food portion of the Big Spender Ticket to the food pantry.
There will be no May meeting
Big Spender Banquet & Raffle- The banquet portion has been cancelled. A substantial donation was made to the Barnes County Food Pantry with money that was to be used to cover the meal on the ticket. The drawing will be held on May 16th and will be streamed on the wildlife club’s Facebook page.
Pheasant Chicks- If you ordered pheasant chicks they will be delivered to Dakota Plains at 5pm on 5/28.
Next Meeting…To Be Determined……
Big Spender Banquet- Postponed until May 16th
Picnic Shelters- Matt Maresh spoke with the Votech Center about having some picnic shelters built for BCW to put at Moon Lake and Faust Park. We plan to put a shelter up at Moon Lake first and Faust Park the following year.
Summer Derby- The derby is scheduled for June 13th and 14th. Entry forms were mailed out to everyone that fished last year, please get these mailed back in to secure your place. If you didn’t fish the derby last year, but would like to this year contact Perry or email barneswildlife@gmail.com for an application.
Pheasant Chicks- The club will be ordering pheasant chicks again, If you are interested contact Perry 490-1797.
Perch Rings- We are planning to put out perch rings on Ashtabula again this year. If you have any garland you are looking to get rid of we could use some more for the rings.
BCN Trap Team- BCW donated $1,000 to the Barnes County North trap club team again this year.
Next Meeting…Wednesday, March 11…Valley City Eagles Club…Free burgers for paid members at 6 PM…Meeting at 7 PM
BCW Predator Hunt- The hunt took place on 2/1, there were 13 teams, totaling 29 hunters. 7coyotes were shot. 1st Place Team Eugene Sandness, Keith Hample, Rob Sandness shot 3coyotes. 2nd Place Team Dustin Krueger, Austin Gahner, Nick Olson shot 2 coyotes. 3rd Place Team Nathan Rausch, Randy Bostrom, Mary Rausch 1 coyote. 4th Place Team Brayden Johnson, Zayne Brunette, Devin Schuldheisz shot 1 coyote.
Winter Show Booth- We are having a booth at the winter show again this year. The booth will be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. If you haven’t had a chance to renew your membership stop by the booth to renew it.
Big Spender Banquet- The banquet and raffle will be April 4th. This year there are 10 Henry Rifles on the ticket in place of the Redlin Prints. There isn’t many tickets left, contact Perry if you are interested in a ticket.
Picnic Shelters- Matt Maresh spoke with the Votech Center about having some picnic shelters built for BCW to put at Moon Lake and Faust Park.
Summer Derby- The derby is June 13th and 14th. Entry forms were mailed out to everyone that fished last year, please get these mailed back in to secure your place. If you didn’t fish the derby last year, but would like to this year contact Perry or email barneswildlife@gmail.com for an application.
Scholarships – The BCW Scholarship Applications are on the website and Facebook page.The deadline is April 1st
Trap Team- TJ said they are hoping to get between 55-60 shooters this year.
Habitat Hunt Harvest- BCW is a sponsor of the event. The event is for women landowners on3/5. There is a poster on our website and Facebook page.
The hunt took place on 2/1.
1st Place Team Eugene Sandness, Keith Hample, Rob Sandness shot 3 coyotes. 2nd Place Team Dustin Krueger, Austin Gahner, Nick Olson shot 2 coyotes. 3rd Place Team Nathan Rausch, Randy Bostrom, Mary Rausch 1 coyote. 4th Place Team Brayden Johnson, Zayne Brunette, Devin Schuldheisz shot 1 coyote. Hunt Gun Winner Austin Gahner
There was 13 teams, totaling 29 hunters. 7 coyotes were shot.
