Legal Definitions - poaching

Poaching refers to the illegal act of hunting, catching, or killing wild animals or fish on land or waters that belong to another person or entity, without their explicit permission or legal right to do so.

• Example 1: A group of individuals enters a large private ranch, clearly marked with "No Trespassing" signs, and shoots several deer during the night. They do not have permission from the ranch owner to be on the property or to hunt there.

  Explanation: This illustrates poaching because the individuals illegally took game (deer) from land that belonged to someone else (the private ranch) without authorization.

• Example 2: A person casts fishing lines into a pond located entirely within the boundaries of a private estate, even though they know it is private property and they have not been granted access by the estate owner. They catch several fish.

  Explanation: This is an example of poaching because the individual illegally took fish from waters situated on another's private land without permission.

• Example 3: An individual uses a net to capture a protected species of bird within a nature preserve owned and managed by a conservation organization. The preserve has clear rules prohibiting the capture or disturbance of any wildlife.

  Explanation: This demonstrates poaching because the individual illegally took game (a protected bird) from land managed by another entity (the conservation organization) without permission, violating the preserve's regulations.