Waste And An Intent To Profit From Wildlife End In A Loss Of Hunting Privileges For Life

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Shortly after the 1999 hunting season, FWP warden Karl Brooks received an anonymous tip about a big horn ram shot illegally in Hunting District 121.   The informant said an individual had successfully drawn an either sex big horn sheep tag.   During the hunt, this individual allegedly shot two big horn rams, leaving the first ram to waste.   Possible witnesses were provided, as was an approximate location of the dead ram.

Brooks and warden Chris Ralph began investigating and interviewing witnesses.   One witness said he had used his horse to help the individual pack out a big horn ram. The suspect had first shot a half curl ram and, in the process of retrieving it, shot a second full curl ram.   The witness had a general idea of where the first ram was on Berray Mountain and took wardens to the area where they found the half curl ram, as suspected.   The meat was a total loss and only the head; horns and hide were collected as evidence.

When questioned, the suspect admitted to killing two rams and to leaving the first to waste.   The second, full curl ram was confiscated at that point.   Only later did the wardens learn that the poacher had intended to sell the second ram head.

The judge in this case, a hunter himself, sentenced the poacher to $6,000 in fines and $30,000 in restitution and revoked his privilege to hunt for the rest of his life.