However, some middle ground probably should be found.

As much as people like to yell about putting deer poachers in prison, which a lot of people say, or making fines $10,000 for spotlighting, those things never will happen.

First, the prisons are overcrowded. Prisons and jail are two different things, too. It's wholly unrealistic to even think that someone would be put into prison for wildlife violations, unless they're incredibly egregious. It's done now and again but overall, it's not going to happen.

As for fines, raising a fine to $10,000 or so for shooting a deer at night would be akin to making a speeding ticket $1,500. Would it stop the violators? No. Plus, it would be challegened in court as a violation of the Eighth Amendment as an imposition of an excessive fine.

The Supreme Court recently ruled for a man whose $42,000+ Land Rover was confiscated by law enforcement after it supposedly found about $300 of drugs. He argued that their punishment -- claiming his vehicle, among other fines -- was excessive. After years of appeals, the Supreme Court heard the case and agreed with him.

So while today's current fines for wildlife violations are pretty piddly-ass amounts, even with any court costs added, putting them into the Rage Mob Knee-Jerk Reaction category of prison or five-figure amounts is unreasonable.

However, some middle ground probably should be found.

I once saw a guy in a federal prison in Tallahassee whose crime was killing a bald eagle. Just thought I would make that contribution to the thread. Carry on.