By SGW Jay Harvey
Since the 1980s, airplane surveillance has been used extensively
in the 3rd District of SE Oklahoma to look r and curtail spotlighting.
A plane circling and watching 3500 feet can see on a good night
a distance of about 10miles, covering a vast area that several
Wardens on hill- perches can only wish to see. With a Warden on
board operating the radio to keep in touch with the ground units, aircraft use to find spotlighters is by far the best method to
wind and apprehend these night time violators.
In the fall of 2003, 3rd District Wardens didn't get their planee off the ground until late November, but the results afterwards show how effective an "eye in the sky" can be. Here is a synopsis of how the plane's results far outweigh cost:
Total Hours Flown: 58.3
Total Cost: $3898.55
1. ODWC Law Enforcement: $
1,050.00
2. ODWC Honobia and
3 Rivers WMA Fund: $ 2,126.55
3. Landowner Donations: $
622.00
$
3,898:55
| Counties Flown: Seven: Atoka, Choctaw, Latimer, LeFlore, McCurtain, Pittsburgh, Push Total Nights Flown: Nine; Total Number of Contacts: Total Number of Arrests: 64; Total Fines and Costs: $24,814.00 Confiscation's: 3 Illegal deer, |
 |
As you can see, for an investment of less than $4,000, there is the potential for a huge return, not just in fines collected but in word of mouth. Each time someone is caught with the airplane, its legend grows. I don't know how many times I've had someone come up and tell me they saw or heard our plane on nights we weren't even flying!
The use of an airplane to help us work night hunters is an
invaluable tool and asset. Its effectiveness far outweighs the
cost, and if the deterrent of our plane keeps the viola-
tors at home, then our job of protecting Oklahoma's
wildlife gets much easier. However, if a poacher does
decide to squirt out a light, I hope our eye in the sky is there