Wildlife violations can't be easily dismissed

A Coeur d’Alene man was recently sentenced for the unlawful take of multiple big game animals in the Panhandle Region. We were glad to see he paid a steep price for his unacceptable actions.

Here’s what he received during his day in court:

• $6,750 in restitution plus various fines and court costs

• Up to 5 years in prison (suspended)

• 60 days in county jail to be served immediately

• 4 years of supervised felony probation

• 17-year hunting license revocation

• 200 hours of community service

All animals were taken at night with the aid of artificial light.

While we wish it were, this was not an isolated incident.

Last month, a St. Maries man was sentenced for the unlawful take of seven mature white-tailed deer bucks. A second man involved in the case is scheduled for sentencing soon.

The first man received the following sentence:

• $17,200 in restitution

• $525 in meat processing fees

• All associated court costs for his case

• Seven months in county jail — one month for each deer in the case

• Two years fixed and three years indeterminate incarceration for each of the two felony convictions (suspended and placed on probation)

• Five years of supervised probation

• Ten-year hunting license revocation

The two men were originally charged June 27 with eight felony counts related to the unlawful killing of the deer. The investigation, conducted by Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers in the Panhandle Region, documented a total of 56 wildlife violations. That’s right. Fifty-six.

The punishments handed down might sound like a lot, but they are not. In both cases, severe penalties were in order.

 Idaho’s wildlife, as we have said before, is part of what makes this state such a great place to live. Hunting is what so many in Idaho enjoy. It’s not about having fun. It’s about putting food on the table. Done properly, hunting promises to be around for generations to come. The vast majority of Idaho’s hunters follow the rules.

But when someone does something as selfish and foolish as this man, it can ruin it for everyone. In fact, if such behavior was tolerated, it probably would.

As Idaho Fish and Game says, public involvement plays a critical role in ensuring Idaho’s fish and wildlife exists for future generations.

That’s why we encourage the public to report potential wildlife crimes through the Citizens Against Poaching hotline. The investigation into the unlawful taking of the elk in this case was aided by a call from a member of the public to the CAP hotline. 

Anyone who observes or has information about a wildlife crime is encouraged to call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999 or submit a report online.