Pennsylvania has a poaching problem, one fueled by criminals roaming the Commonwealth’s fields and forests carrying spotlights and firearms under cover of darkness. These outlaws represent a challenge to the law enforcement community, specifically the game wardens employed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission who are charged with protecting Pennsylvania’s vast wildlife resources while on patrol, primarily in the more rural regions of the state.
If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to ride along with a game warden on night patrol, wonder no more thanks to a recently published book penned by my friend and outdoor writer colleague Tim Flanigan. Flanigan is a retired game warden with some 30 years of experience under his belt, time spent patrolling the wilds of central Pennsylvania in and around Bedford County. The book, “Night Killers – Blood Lusting Poachers,” focuses on some of the more harrowing and often life and death encounters that Flanigan and his deputies experienced on a regular basis out there in the remote woodlands of the state, usually late at night.
Over the past 35 years I’ve enjoyed Flanigan’s company at the annual conferences of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association. That’s where he would share hair-raising tales of the criminal activities he confronted out in the field. I’m happy that he decided to document some of the more outrageous examples in this comprehensive 18-chapter volume.
The flavor of the book is suggested in the forward where Flanigan writes “When darkness falls, the curtain rises on a sinister world of alcohol-fueled, drug-influenced poachers armed with high-powered rifles, shotguns, handguns, crossbows, clubs and knives, consumed with the desire and intent to kill something.” Flanigan adds, “Night killers are bloodthirsty, greedy killers who have no regard for wildlife or conservation and little regard for public safety.”
These folks also have no respect for the men and women who wear the uniform of officers whose shifting titles over the years include Pennsylvania Game Protector, Wildlife Conservation Officer, and, once again, Game Warden. Flanigan reports that in his 30-year career, “I’ve been shot at, held at gunpoint, clubbed, punched, kicked, choked, hit with motor vehicles, and had my family and property repeatedly threatened. My official vehicle has been vandalized, tires slashed, blocked from progress, intentionally run into, and decorated with deer heads and blood.” Plenty of Flanigan’s close calls are detailed in the book, now rated the number one on Amazon in the hunting category.
Speaking with Flanigan at a recent conference of the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers Association, I learned one reason why the Commonwealth’s fields and forests are so often rampant with nighttime poachers. “None of the seven other states that touch Pennsylvania’s borders allow spotlighting deer at night,” said Flanigan, “but Pennsylvania permits spotlighting that’s legal until 11:00 p.m. at night. That encourages would be out-of-state poachers to cross the border from Maryland, West Virginia, and elsewhere, to poach Pennsylvania whitetails under cover of darkness. Spotlighting being legal here creates a factor that makes our game wardens work even harder.”
Flanigan also noted that most of the poaching activity he encountered in his 30 years of service took place in the wee hours of the night, often around three or four in the morning. “These poachers like to go out late at night in the worst weather possible because they figure the game wardens won’t be on patrol when the weather is lousy. Of course, bad weather never stopped me.”
Flanigan noted a lack of state police backup or assistance in the remote areas he patrolled. He also expressed frustration with how many of his cases were prosecuted when the folks he had arrested (with plenty of evidence) were too often released by lenient judges or given light sentences even for major violations including assaults on game wardens themselves. In some cases the arrested poachers were politically well connected, causing the judges to impose minimum fines or throw the cases out altogether.
Despite that, Flanigan’s fierce dedication to his profession and the measureless, hard-nosed efforts he took to enforce the game laws and arrest lawbreakers earned him a widespread reputation. His relentless, no-holds-barred pursuit of outlaws throughout the region soon fueled a torrent of death threats along with plenty of close calls while afield. When a local defense attorney congratulated Flanigan on his retirement, he said, “I can’t believe you made it. I never thought you’d live to retire. Nearly everyone I dealt with through the years swore that they were going to kill you.”
Flanigan’s response? “Some of them tried.” A number of those attempts to end Flanigan’s life are detailed in “Night Killers.” Early in the book, Flanigan describes one of those close calls. “Recognizing the threat, I quickly took cover behind my vehicle’s left fender and leveled my .357 Smith & Wesson revolver across its hood. As the driver slowly rose, exposing his head and most of the rifle came into view, I shouted ‘Put the rifle down,’ as loudly and forcefully as I could.
“He ignored my repeated commands. Determined not to shoot until he leveled the rifle’s sights on me, I continued to order him to put the gun down and his hands up. It isn’t enough to know how to apply deadly force; you must know when. This confrontation teetered on the narrow edge of that decision.” How does this tense, dangerous encounter play out? You’ll find out when you read the book.
Since his retirement Flanigan has successfully pursued a far less risky and death-defying occupation as an award-winning outdoor writer and wildlife photographer. He and his wife Debbie’s business, NatureExposure, specializes in high quality photographs of wildlife and nature. His photographs have graced the covers and pages of countless statewide, regional, and national magazines.
An avid sportsman, Flanigan’s passion for hunting upland game, specifically grouse and woodcock, inspired the publication of an awesome book filled with gorgeous color photos of ruffed grouse and American woodcock. The large format volume, “Grouse and Woodcock: The Birds of My Life,” has garnered multiple awards and remains available through WildRiverPress.com. If you appreciate excellent wildlife photography, you should check it out.
But if you’re one of those folks who enjoys true crime stories, you’ll love “Night Killers – Blood Lusting Poachers.” It’s a real page turner available from Amazon books online at Amazon.com. for $14.95 in paperback, $21.95 hardcover.
For more about Tim Flanigan check out his website at NatureExposure.com or contact him via NatureExposure@Outlook.com.
Tom Tatum is the outdoors columnist for the MediaNews Group. You can reach him at tatumt2@yahoo.com.
Source: Berkshire mont