Elk antler poacher fined, loses hunting privileges for 3 years

Liontamer

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Apr 16, 2024 - Jackson Hole News and Guide

Just weeks before the legal antler hunt season on public lands opens May 1 for Wyoming residents and May 8 for others, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced stiff penalties against an antler poacher.
An Idaho man who illegally took elk antlers from the National Elk Refuge and Bridger-Teton National Forest and tried to sell them has been fined $6,000, banned for three years from Wyoming public lands and lost all hunting privileges worldwide for three years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a news release.
“The defendant pled guilty to a felony charge of the attempted transport and sale of more than 1,000pounds of poached antlers, valued at roughly $18,000,” the release said. “Illegally collecting and selling antlers is a violation of the federal Lacey Act, which prohibits the transportation and sale of illegally obtained wildlife. The state of Wyoming also forbids offseason antler collection from public lands west of the Continental Divide.”
In Wyoming, antler collection is prohibited until May to protect winter-weakened wildlife from the stress of human presence. Antler collection is illegal at all times on the National Elk Refuge.
Fish and Wildlife worked the poacher case with the U.S. Forest Service and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. They announced the penalties with the hope of deterring others from flouting shed antler collection rules.
“These types of violations are an ongoing problem; as the market value of antlers keeps going up, we are experiencing more theft and trespassing on the Elk Refuge,” Fish and Wildlife’s David Bonham said in the release.
 
Worldwide ban in places such as Africa?? Hahahahahahaha apparently the judge is pretty naive when it comes to how things work outside of North America.
It may be a conditional plea? If he goes hunting during that timeframe the judge can then throw the book at him. Kind of like probation.
 
Apr 16, 2024 - Jackson Hole News and Guide

Just weeks before the legal antler hunt season on public lands opens May 1 for Wyoming residents and May 8 for others, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced stiff penalties against an antler poacher.
An Idaho man who illegally took elk antlers from the National Elk Refuge and Bridger-Teton National Forest and tried to sell them has been fined $6,000, banned for three years from Wyoming public lands and lost all hunting privileges worldwide for three years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a news release.
“The defendant pled guilty to a felony charge of the attempted transport and sale of more than 1,000pounds of poached antlers, valued at roughly $18,000,” the release said. “Illegally collecting and selling antlers is a violation of the federal Lacey Act, which prohibits the transportation and sale of illegally obtained wildlife. The state of Wyoming also forbids offseason antler collection from public lands west of the Continental Divide.”
In Wyoming, antler collection is prohibited until May to protect winter-weakened wildlife from the stress of human presence. Antler collection is illegal at all times on the National Elk Refuge.
Fish and Wildlife worked the poacher case with the U.S. Forest Service and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. They announced the penalties with the hope of deterring others from flouting shed antler collection rules.
“These types of violations are an ongoing problem; as the market value of antlers keeps going up, we are experiencing more theft and trespassing on the Elk Refuge,” Fish and Wildlife’s David Bonham said in the release.
God, I can think of three Wyoming residents who are punching a hole in the drywall or beating their wife because it’s not an Utah resident! 😂😂
 
I read an article about another Douche Bag that got caught in the same area Twice. He is or was an antler dealer / dog chews . He got busted in 2016 & again in 2021 same closed areas both on Federal lands !! He had Felony & misdemeanor charges was also banned from stepping onto ANY Federal lands, then did it again !!!! Guess it's true you can't fix Stupid !!
 
I read an article about another Douche Bag that got caught in the same area Twice. He is or was an antler dealer / dog chews . He got busted in 2016 & again in 2021 same closed areas both on Federal lands !! He had Felony & misdemeanor charges was also banned from stepping onto ANY Federal lands, then did it again !!!! Guess it's true you can't fix Stupid !!
name is Joshua Anders Rae...real POS of a human. lives up in montana now and I wouldnt be surprised if he still tries ****. . Years ago he sucker punched a local in the back of the head in the alley behind a bar, left him for dead. Guy hasnt been the same since, and he got off pretty easy for what it was.
 
name is Joshua Anders Rae...real POS of a human. lives up in montana now and I wouldnt be surprised if he still tries ****. . Years ago he sucker punched a local in the back of the head in the alley behind a bar, left him for dead. Guy hasnt been the same since, and he got off pretty easy for what it was.
Sounds like he Aint to smart !! I would have thought the 2nd time he was busted they would have thrown his azz in prison. Since it was a repeat Felony offense & was on Federal property !! Hell I know guys here in Idaho that have poached animals for years & years & have NOT been caught !! Last year a couple of local Idiots finally got hammered, but I would almost guarantee that doesnt stop them from doing it again !!!
 
I read an article about another Douche Bag that got caught in the same area Twice. He is or was an antler dealer / dog chews . He got busted in 2016 & again in 2021 same closed areas both on Federal lands !! He had Felony & misdemeanor charges was also banned from stepping onto ANY Federal lands, then did it again !!!! Guess it's true you can't fix Stupid !!
Off topic, but who the hell started the marketing campaign that made antlers out to be good chew toys? I have a garage full but I'd never let my dog chew on one. Might as well let your dog chew on a rock. Probably a vet trying to drum up business to fix broken teeth.
 
I read an article about another Douche Bag that got caught in the same area Twice. He is or was an antler dealer / dog chews . He got busted in 2016 & again in 2021 same closed areas both on Federal lands !! He had Felony & misdemeanor charges was also banned from stepping onto ANY Federal lands, then did it again !!!! Guess it's true you can't fix Stupid !!

 
Off topic, but who the hell started the marketing campaign that made antlers out to be good chew toys? I have a garage full but I'd never let my dog chew on one. Might as well let your dog chew on a rock. Probably a vet trying to drum up business to fix broken teeth.
My dawgs eat them like fat kids with candy !! Doesn't matter what condition they are in.. But they do like deer antlers over elk
 
An Idaho man who illegally took elk antlers from the National Elk Refuge and Bridger-Teton National Forest and tried to sell them has been fined $6,000, banned for three years from Wyoming public lands and lost all hunting privileges worldwide for three years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a news release.

I’m guessing his probation is 36 months, and these are simply terms of probation. It’s not like the interstate compact bans, but just a judge saying while you’re on probation, these are the terms. Violate, and I’ll send you to prison. I like it!
 
Does it really matter that he picked these up? If he did not pick them up someone else would have picked them up. In the end is this really a big deal? I know he broke some rules but what is the harm? The antlers were going to be picked up and sold one way or another. Rules are meant to be broken: non-resident wilderness rule, resident only shed hunting season rule; etc.

I am not sure if I am serious or not?
 
Does it really matter that he picked these up? If he did not pick them up someone else would have picked them up. In the end is this really a big deal? I know he broke some rules but what is the harm? The antlers were going to be picked up and sold one way or another. Rules are meant to be broken: non-resident wilderness rule, resident only shed hunting season rule; etc.

I am not sure if I am serious or not?
He picked a lot of them up off the refuge mainly. Which nobody is allowed to aside from the boy scouts who then auction them off to mainly pay for the upkeep of the refuge. But yea sure, come on out to Yellowstone and go grab some horns and see how the Feds treat ya
 
Does it really matter that he picked these up? If he did not pick them up someone else would have picked them up. In the end is this really a big deal? I know he broke some rules but what is the harm? The antlers were going to be picked up and sold one way or another. Rules are meant to be broken: non-resident wilderness rule, resident only shed hunting season rule; etc.

I am not sure if I am serious or not?
You the brother of this shed poacher? There is a reason shed dates are in place. We can’t just manage wildlife anymore. We have to manage people that have trouble managing themselves. Give animals the space they need to live without the added stress of humans pushing them to extinction.
 
You the brother of this shed poacher? There is a reason shed dates are in place. We can’t just manage wildlife anymore. We have to manage people that have trouble managing themselves. Give animals the space they need to live without the added stress of humans pushing them to extinction.
Understand what you are saying. But what about the dog walkers, snowmobiles, hikers, mountain bikers, photographers, etc. how you keeping them off the wintering grounds.
 
Understand what you are saying. But what about the dog walkers, snowmobiles, hikers, mountain bikers, photographers, etc. how you keeping them off the wintering grounds.
Understand what I said….”We have to manage people that cannot manage themselves”. Eventually, there will be regulations for everything you want to do outside of your home because of the few ignorant people who see no value in ethical behavior.
 
Soooo....This dude Sells $18,000 worth of sheds.
He get's fined $6,000, He pockets $12,000, and has to take a break for three years? That's the penalty?

....And they wonder why there are so many repeat offenders out there.
 
Sounds like he Aint to smart !! I would have thought the 2nd time he was busted they would have thrown his azz in prison. Since it was a repeat Felony offense & was on Federal property !! Hell I know guys here in Idaho that have poached animals for years & years & have NOT been caught !! Last year a couple of local Idiots finally got hammered, but I would almost guarantee that doesnt stop them from doing it again !!!
"I know guys here in Idaho that have poached animals for years & years & have NOT been caught"

OldHornHunter,
Did you ever think maybe you should do something about that?
 
"I know guys here in Idaho that have poached animals for years & years & have NOT been caught"

OldHornHunter,
Did you ever think maybe you should do something about that?
HA HA I have called F&G many times on these guys and like I have said over & over Idaho Fish & NO Game are Worthless !!! They did finally nabbed one group of them in 2022 over in Eastern Idaho {google Idaho poachers } but I guarantee you they are still doing the same stuff !! The other group has been turned in repeatedly and have yet to be Busted.
 
Soooo....This dude Sells $18,000 worth of sheds.
He get's fined $6,000, He pockets $12,000, and has to take a break for three years? That's the penalty?

....And they wonder why there are so many repeat offenders out there.
He didnt get to sell the horns, they were recovered by the investigation, and taken. This spring the majority of the horns and dead heads were distributed on the forest area outside the refuge for shed hunters to pick up.

But yes, those who break the law dont stop. Just a different breed of POS
 
Does it really matter that he picked these up? If he did not pick them up someone else would have picked them up. In the end is this really a big deal? I know he broke some rules but what is the harm? The antlers were going to be picked up and sold one way or another. Rules are meant to be broken: non-resident wilderness rule, resident only shed hunting season rule; etc.

I am not sure if I am serious or not?
 

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