July 28, 2007

Sparks deer poacher forfeits rifle, $5,000 ATV



Sparks deer poacher forfeits rifle, $5,000 ATV RENO, Nev. (AP) - A Sparks man has been fined $1,000 and ordered to forfeit the ATV and rifle he used to illegally kill a mule deer without a license last fall.

Miguel A. Larios-Campos, 36, was sentenced in Reno District Court on Thursday on the gross misdemeanor of poaching. The quad runner he used while shooting the doe in northern Washoe County last Oct. 21 was valued at $5,000, authorities said in a statement Friday.

Game Warden Randy Lusetti, a game warden for the Nevada Division of Wildlife, said he discovered the crime while he was on patrol and came across Larios-Campos in his camp. After observing some suspicious behavior, he initiated an investigation and found the carcass.

Larios-Campos had a hunting license, but no deer tag of any kind, Lusetti said. He claimed to be chukar hunting when he ran across the doe and decided to kill the animal, he said.

"Our game wardens are very effective when they are out on patrol," said Rob Buonamici, chief game warden at NDOW.

"We have so much ground to cover, if we had a larger work force we could discover many more of these types of crimes. This case is a real success story for having officers patrolling in the right place at the right time," he said.

Concerned sportsmen are encouraged to report wildlife violations to NDOW's Operation Game Thief at 800-992-3030.

Thanks Kathi, Always good to see a Poacher get what he really deserves.

Good job Nevada game wardens.

Sounds like this guy got what he deserved.

MG