You have no idea what kind of low-life you may be running into. Our own poll here showed 50% pack heat. There is no honor in getting shot or having your head cut-off by a poacher with a machete.

It isn't your job and you are not authorized to make these determinations. Legally it doesn't sound like you had any right to accost the poacher. Kind of like trying to arrest a shop-lifter because he looks like he is going to do something. Maybe he was out for a walk(Yah right isn't legal). When you are arrested, the judge isn't going to care that the other guy looked like a poacher.

Write the details down on paper and submit them to the authorities. If you insist on saying something to the poacher, do so from a safe distance and immediately leave the area.

If you continue confronting people, sooner or later the confrontation will escalate to violence and sooner or later no matter how "bad" you think you are, the other guy will be "badder" or "quicker" or maybe just "luckier" and you will be seriously hurt.

So I take it you aren't married, don't have children, or at the very least have great life insurance?