Final answer:
Officers can seize property related to a crime through asset forfeiture, which can be civil or criminal. Civil forfeiture does not require a conviction, so the officers can take Bob's poaching gear even if he is not convicted.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability for law enforcement to seize property related to a crime is known as asset forfeiture. There are two types of asset forfeiture: criminal and civil. Criminal forfeiture requires a conviction of the individual before their assets can be seized permanently, while civil forfeiture can occur even if the individual is never convicted. In the case of suspected poaching, if the laws in the jurisdiction where Bob is arrested allow for civil forfeiture, then the officer may indeed be able to take Bob's gear related to the alleged poaching activity, even without a conviction.