There aren’t many things that irritate an Outdoor News Editor more than poor sportsmanship in the sporting community. Today, the Iowa Department Of Natural Resources announced that it issued a Citation under Iowa Code section 481A.38 to a Greene County Sheriff Deputy.
This case happened as many who drive in rural areas can understand. In an instant, a deer darts across the road. The driver breaks and attempts to avoid the hit, but it’s too late. You pull over and check the damage to your car. As in most helpful communities, someone stops to make sure you’re ok. What happened next is what large scandal stories are made out of if you don’t call to check the details of a story that looks really bad on it’s face. Details are what make the difference between protest plagued scandals, and a regular apple bushel inspection.
The story essentially came to us as follows:
The motorist decided she didn’t want to salvage the deer. The motorist who stopped to assist did though. Under Iowa law, if the driver who struck the animal declines, ANY bystander may. Deputy Kirk Hammer refused to issue a salvage tag to the bystander as is his right under the law. Discouraged, the bystander left the scene to go on about his day.
Later that very day, the bystander drove past the scene of the deer strike and made a startling discovery. The deputy who denied him a salvage tag was out sawing the antlers off the deer. In uniform, and in broad daylight no less leaving the deer to waste.
The bystander reported the Deputy to wildlife crimes investigators at the Iowa DNR. DNR Conservation Officer Nathan Haupert questioned Deputy Hammer about his conduct. The Deputy confessed to his conduct. CO Haupert followed the offender to his residence where he seized the illegally harvested antlers and issued a citation for $194.
After reading that, you’d be horrified and rushing to your jewelry box in search of a strand of pearls to clutch. I probably could have published that story. I would have gotten a few thousand page views from people so willing to rush to make a judgement. A perfect candidate for red meat journalism. Make a shocking claim, and feign outrage in it’s reporting. The only person to benefit from that kind of reporting is the one casing ad checks.
As our readers know, we have serious issues with that kind of reporting. I was fully prepared to write that kind of article if deserved, but I had to get the Sheriff’s side first. It’s those nagging details. We’re talking about a part of the country where hunting law knowledge is as common as side street parking rules in cities. So, I flushed my viral article dreams, and requested an interview with the Sheriff.
I spoke by phone with Sheriff Williams this afternoon. He was polite and mildly surprised I, or anyone, was taking the time to tell a fair story. We discussed the incident and cleared up a few initial reporting errors that were spreading through media outlets.
Most importantly, the Deputy while wrong for returning to harvest antlers DID offer the Salvage Tag to the bystander. We discussed how clearing up this detail was important to stop even a hint of mistrust. The deputy messed up later by going back, but did his duty under the law at the scene by offering the salvage tag.
Sheriff Williams offered freely and willingly without my suggestion or request to send me the full bodycam footage. I appropriately and politely declined of course. Anyone that willing to provide transparency need not be forced to prove it through challenge.
Sheriff Williams told me the Deputy is no longer with the department.
While we primarily report on Outdoor News, this story touches on some issues deeply troubling to many Americans. The way we choose to follow up on a story lead can make all the difference in how it’s reported. If I had blindly taken the word of a single source, this article would be about police corruption. Instead, we’re reporting on a good Sheriff who saw an issue and took immediate steps to fix it. Considering what it costs to hire and train a Deputy, the Sheriff could have dismissed the issue, but he stood tall for justice in his community.
If you strike a deer, you must report it. It’s an accident after all. Reporting your deer strike is important because it provides validation to your insurance claim. The responding officer inspects for traces of animal hair or blood to validate the driver’s account of the accident. Not every state offers a salvage tag for vehicle deer strikes. It doesn’t hurt to ask. If you do decline, most agencies call a local food processor to salvage the animal and distribute it to local needy families.
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