buck59
01-16-2004, 07:25 AM
posted 1/16/04
Three men charged with elk poaching
By SCOTT McMILLION, Chronicle Staff Writer
Three Tennessee men have been charged with poaching elk near Gardiner and a Montana man is likely to face charges for illegally outfitting them, a warden captain in the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said Thursday.
"It comes down to money and people commercializing our wildlife," Captain Sam Shepherd said. "They paid about $3,000 apiece to come out and do this."
The men were detained and cited at Gallatin Field Wednesday, Shepherd said.
They were charged with taking animals during a closed season and hunting without licenses. After being delayed at the airport for several hours, the men posted bonds in excess of $1,000 apiece and were allowed to fly home to the Nashville area.
Charges against the alleged illegal outfitter haven't been filed yet, Shepherd said, but they likely are coming.
Since interstate transportation was involved, federal charges are "a very distinct possibility," Shepherd said.
"There's still some stuff hanging out there," he said.
The group included four hunters, but only three killed animals: two six point bulls and a five point by six point bull. The fourth man hasn't been cited at this time.
The antlers and meat have been seized, but Shepherd said he isn't sure if the bulls are big enough to invoke restitution fees of up to $10,000 apiece that apply for killing "trophy" animals.
The citations arose from a tip from a concerned citizen, Shepherd said. The elk were killed last weekend and officers "sat on the airport for the better part of a week," waiting for the men to arrive.
Five wardens ran the operation, with the help of the Gallatin County Sheriff's office and airport security personnel.
"They were a tremendous amount of help," Shepherd said.
Once the case is complete, he said, he hopes it will send a message to out of state residents and locals. Laws will be enforced, he said, and "you don't commercialize the wildlife illegally."
Three men charged with elk poaching
By SCOTT McMILLION, Chronicle Staff Writer
Three Tennessee men have been charged with poaching elk near Gardiner and a Montana man is likely to face charges for illegally outfitting them, a warden captain in the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said Thursday.
"It comes down to money and people commercializing our wildlife," Captain Sam Shepherd said. "They paid about $3,000 apiece to come out and do this."
The men were detained and cited at Gallatin Field Wednesday, Shepherd said.
They were charged with taking animals during a closed season and hunting without licenses. After being delayed at the airport for several hours, the men posted bonds in excess of $1,000 apiece and were allowed to fly home to the Nashville area.
Charges against the alleged illegal outfitter haven't been filed yet, Shepherd said, but they likely are coming.
Since interstate transportation was involved, federal charges are "a very distinct possibility," Shepherd said.
"There's still some stuff hanging out there," he said.
The group included four hunters, but only three killed animals: two six point bulls and a five point by six point bull. The fourth man hasn't been cited at this time.
The antlers and meat have been seized, but Shepherd said he isn't sure if the bulls are big enough to invoke restitution fees of up to $10,000 apiece that apply for killing "trophy" animals.
The citations arose from a tip from a concerned citizen, Shepherd said. The elk were killed last weekend and officers "sat on the airport for the better part of a week," waiting for the men to arrive.
Five wardens ran the operation, with the help of the Gallatin County Sheriff's office and airport security personnel.
"They were a tremendous amount of help," Shepherd said.
Once the case is complete, he said, he hopes it will send a message to out of state residents and locals. Laws will be enforced, he said, and "you don't commercialize the wildlife illegally."