Three sentenced for deer ‘poaching spree’
Photo via the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
Three St. Maries residents have been sentenced for their roles in a 2024 “poaching spree” that included the killing of seven deer, according to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
Lucas B. Mitchell and William D. Clark were charged last year with eight felony counts related to the unlawful killing of the deer. While investigating the case, Fish and Game conservation officers documented 56 wildlife violations.
In February, a Kootenai County judge ordered Mitchell to spend seven months in jail for the crimes, one month for each deer, while Clark received a sentence in April of up to four years in prison. Their hunting licenses are suspended for 10 years.
A third individual, Laura Willis, pleaded guilty to charges related to tag transfer and unlawful possession of big game. Willis was placed on unsupervised probation for one year and her hunting license is revoked for a year, according to Fish and Game.
Authorities said that Mitchell and Clark killed seven deer in November 2024, including five within a single 24-hour period, during unlawful hours and with spotlights. Three of the bucks were classified as trophy white-tailed deer.
“Mitchell and Clark went on a poaching spree in the fall of 2024,” a conservation officer with Fish and Game wrote in a report. “They had very little regard for the rules of the state of Idaho and little respect for the natural resources.”
Three of the deer were left to rot and, according to police, in one case Mitchell and Clark “dumped a whole deer off the side of a hill.”
“Fish and Game thanks the public for remaining vigilant in reporting potential wildlife crimes through the Citizens Against Poaching hotline,” the agency said in a news release. “Public involvement plays a critical role in ensuring Idaho’s fish and wildlife exists for future generations.”
Anyone who observes or has information about a wildlife crime can call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999 or submit a report online at idfg.idaho.gov/enforcement/tipline.
Information about potential wildlife crimes can also be reported to the Panhandle Regional Office at 208-769-1414.