Wyoming Game & Fish Department sent this bulletin at 10/31/2014 10:01 AM MDT
Poacher to Pay $30,240 in Fines

LARAMIE — A tip to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Stop Poaching Hotline helped wildlife investigators apprehend a Chugwater man on multiple counts of taking big game animals without licenses.

Cheyenne Game Warden David Ellsworth said the tip lead investigators to a social media site where 47-year-old John Clark had posted photos of the animals he shot, including a photo of a buck antelope that he said was his “first antelope with a bow.”

Further investigation revealed Clark, who lived in Rock River at the time, never purchased a hunting license for at least six big game animals that he killed between 2010 and 2013. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Clark’s residence that lead to the discovery of antlers and horns from the poached animals. They also discovered a pelt from a swift fox and talons from great horned owls and golden eagles.

During the investigation, Clark admitted to shooting a mule deer buck each year from 2010 to 2013, all without a license. When presented with the social media photograph of his “first antelope with a bow,” he admitted that he had also shot that buck without a license in 2012. He then confessed to taking an additional buck antelope in 2010 and another in 2012.

Clark was charged with four counts of taking mule deer without a license; two counts of taking antelope without a license; illegal possession of elk meat; and two counts of illegal possession of mule deer meat. He was also issued warnings for illegal possession of raptor parts, and for theft/removal of a Game and Fish Department “road closed” sign. The Game and Fish Department did not take action on charges of trapping without a license, illegal take of a swift fox, or an over limit of trout that was also discovered during the investigation.

Albany Circuit Court Judge Honorable Robert A. Castor ordered Clark to pay $30,240 in fines and suspended his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for 36 years. Four charges of illegal game possession were dismissed by the prosecution.

Ellsworth thanked the Wyoming Game and Fish Wildlife Forensics Laboratory for their help in identifying the species and gender of the game meat found in Clark’s possession during the investigation and the Albany County Attorney’s Office for their work on the case.

Ellsworth said this case demonstrates the importance of poaching reports from the public. “This whole investigation got started with a Stop Poaching tip. It stresses how important it is for members of the public to contact us if they have any information about possible poaching crimes,” he said.

Anyone with information on a wildlife crime can call the Stop Poaching Tip Line at 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847). Tips may also be reported online at http://wgfd.wyo.gov, or by text at TIP411. Informants can choose to remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward for information leading to an arrest.

~WGFD~

quote:

Albany Circuit Court Judge Honorable Robert A. Castor ordered Clark to pay $30,240 in fines and suspended his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for 36 years. Four charges of illegal game possession were dismissed by the prosecution.

36 years? Usually it's 36 months.

Posting photos, Face Book, and knowingly taking game without license and most likely talking more than he should have are sure signs of someone not being very smart about his hunting activities. As for the fine and time of 36 years for no hunting I would have banned him for life without legal hunting privileges. I don't particularly like some of the game laws, but what I like is not relevant in the eyes of the law.

He's 47 years old and lost his hunting rights for 36 years. That will make him 83 years old.

With all the game he admits to poaching, along with protected species, why would ANYONE give a damn whether he was EVER able to legally hunt again?

If ever a lifetime ban was justified,
this guy deserves it.

And, a little jail time.

If he is not buying a license......how can they suspend his hunting privelege for any amount of time?.....If he has the $30,000 for the fines, he probably would have purchased the licenses????....

IMO, these punishments will not do a thing for corrections.....they might as well have fined him millions.....it's the same thing...

Sounds like some federal charges are in order in relation to the owl and eagle talons. Those items could net him some very serious fines and time with the Feds. Maybe the USFWS will step in now and charge him with some federal crimes.