Category: Poachers

Saint Maries, Idaho Trio Sentenced in North Idaho Deer Poaching Case

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On May 11, the final sentencing was issued for one of three individuals involved in the unlawful killing of seven mature white-tailed deer bucks in North Idaho during November 2024.

The individuals involved in the case were Will Clark, Lucas Mitchell and Laura Willis.

Sentencing for Mitchell (Feb. 2026) included:

  • $17,200 in restitution (jointly shared among three individuals)
  • $525 in processing fees (shared with Clark)
  • All associated court costs
  • Seven months in county jail
  • Five years of supervised probation
  • Ten-year hunting license revocation

Sentencing for Clark (April 2026) included:

  • $17,200 in restitution (jointly shared among three individuals)
  • $525 in processing fees (shared with Mitchell)
  • All associated court costs
  • Zero to four years in prison—currently incarcerated
  • Ten-year hunting license revocation

Sentencing for Willis (May 2026) included:

  • $6,000 in restitution (jointly shared among three individuals)
  • $150 in processing fees
  • All associated court costs
  • $200 fine
  • One year of unsupervised probation
  • One-year hunting license revocation

Details of the case Read more

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Tips Lead to Poaching Arrests in Southern Indiana (Clark/Jefferson Counties)

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Information provided by concerned citizens has led to multiple poaching and criminal charges after an extensive investigation conducted by Indiana Conservation Officers.

In December 2025, Indiana Conservation Officers received a report alleging that Woodrow Snyder, 28, of Charlestown, had been shooting multiple deer at night from a motor vehicle.

On the morning of Dec. 18, 2025, Clark County Sheriff’s Deputies and Indiana Conservation Officers responded to a complaint of shots fired. Officers conducted a traffic stop on a pickup truck driven by Snyder. Inside the truck, officers discovered multiple dead deer, and several discarded firearms were located along the roadside. Snyder’s passenger was arrested at the scene, and the vehicle was seized as evidence.

Over the following weeks, Indiana Conservation Officers executed several search warrants, collected extensive physical and digital evidence, and conducted numerous interviews with witnesses and suspects. The investigation revealed evidence indicating that Snyder, with the assistance of several accomplices, allegedly killed more than 30 white-tailed deer during the 2025 fall and winter seasons.

After officers submitted their findings, the Clark and Jefferson County prosecutor’s offices issued warrants for Snyder’s arrest. He was taken into custody on June 4, and booked into the Clark County Jail.

Snyder is facing the following charges:

• Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony)
• Illegal Sale of Wildlife (Level 6 Felony)
• Unlawful Taking of Deer (Class B Misdemeanor)
• Jacklighting (Class C Misdemeanor)
• Hunting Without a License (Class C Misdemeanor)
• Hunting with the Aid of a Motor Vehicle (Class C Misdemeanor)
• Hunting Without Consent of a Landowner (Class C Misdemeanor) Read more

Poachers

Pondera County, Montana Man Sentenced for Poaching Trophy Deer

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Photo courtesy of Montana. Fish, Wildlife and Parks

A Pondera County man has been sentenced to fines and license revocation for poaching a trophy white-tailed buck in 2025.

Tony Zimbelman, age 23, initially claimed to have shot the deer with archery equipment during archery season. Acting on a tip from a concerned citizen, Montana game wardens contacted Zimbelman who admitted to shooting the deer with a rifle on the day before the archery season opened in September 2025. The deer was a large buck with a Boone & Crockett score of 182.

On March 23, 2026, Zimbelman reached a plea agreement in Montana Ninth Judicial Court for Misdemeanor Unlawful Possession of Wildlife, and was sentenced to six months in jail, suspended, along with fines and restitution totaling $3,000. His hunting, fishing and trapping privileges were also revoked for two years.

“This case came about because of an initial tip from a concerned sportsman, and the assistance and support from people like that are incredibly valuable to us,” said game warden sergeant Mike Krings who led the investigation. “Private citizens act as extra eyes and ears in the field for game wardens and help us preserve fair chase opportunities for the vast majority of Montana hunters who do things the right way.” Read more

Poachers

DNR Seeks Tips About Dead Eagles in Delta County

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Michigan DNR conservation officers are requesting assistance with any information regarding five deceased eagles that were located in Delta County’s Garden Peninsula April 3-17. Anyone with information is asked to contact the DNR’s Report All Poaching Hotline by calling or texting 800-292-7800. Tipsters may remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials are hoping someone can shed light on a recent series of deceased eagles in the Upper Peninsula’s Garden Peninsula – a piece of land that extends south from Delta County and is bordered by Big Bay de Noc to the west and Lake Michigan to the east.

Five bald eagles were found dead in a single area between April 3 and April 17.

“The DNR is requesting tips from the public to help solve this ongoing investigation,” said 1st Lt. Mark Zitnik, DNR Law Enforcement supervisor in Newberry. “We can confirm that the eagles did not die from natural causes, predators or vehicle collisions.”

Tipsters who provide information leading to the arrest and prosecution of any individuals may be eligible for a cash reward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the DNR’s Report All Poaching Hotline by calling or texting 800-292-7800. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Eagles are a state and federally protected species. In addition to court costs, state penalties include:

  • 90-day misdemeanor.
  • Fines ranging from $100 to $1,000 per eagle.
  • Reimbursement of $1,500 per eagle.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local tribes are assisting the DNR with this investigation. Read more

Poachers, Wildlife

Michigan Jury finds Macomb County man guilty of fishing on revoked license

Lake St. Clair ice fishingA Macomb County man with a history of Michigan Department of Natural Resources violations will spend 30-180 days in jail after being found guilty of two license violations.

37, of Washington Township, was sentenced March 10 in St. Clair County’s 72nd District Court for fishing without a license and fishing while licenses were revoked.

The penalty was increased to a habitual offender, due to Dermyer’s previous DNR violations within the past five years, which include:

  • Possessing an overlimit of perch.
  • Taking deer without a license.
  • Failure to possess an unused kill tag while deer hunting.
  • Possessing/transporting deer without an attached/validated kill tag.
  • Failure to attach a validated (deer) kill tag.

“Habitual offenders are not only stealing resources, but they also create a bad name for the law-abiding majority of hunters and anglers,” said Chief Brandon Kieft, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “The DNR appreciates the support from the St. Clair County court system in recognizing Mr. Dermyer’s repeated history of DNR offenses.”

In December, a Michigan DNR conservation officer contacted Dermyer while he was ice fishing on Lake St. Clair. Dermyer was unable to present a valid fishing license due to his fishing (and hunting) license being revoked until Jan. 1.

Dermyer received two citations — fishing without a license and fishing while ineligible for licenses — which were submitted to the St. Clair County prosecutor.

The DNR offered a plea deal to drop one of the charges, which Dermyer declined. He advanced to court in February, where a jury found him guilty of both charges.

Dermyer’s sentence included the following additional penalties:

  • $2,980 in court costs and fines.
  • $20 reimbursement to the State of Michigan for conservation fees.
  • Revoked fishing license for an additional seven years.

Michigan’s new fishing license and regulation season begins Wednesday, April 1. The 2026 fishing licenses are available for purchase now and are valid through March 31, 2027. Get more information about licenses, regulations, locations to fish and more at Michigan.gov/Fishing.

Fishing, Poachers

Montana: Reward Increased to $31K for Information on Wolf Killed Out of Season

GARDINER – The monetary reward has increased for information on a wolf that was killed illegally near Gardiner last month.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks initially offered a $1,000 reward for information. The Large Carnivore Fund and Wolves of the Rockies together have offered an additional $30,000.

The investigation began when officials received a mortality signal from a collared wolf in the Jardine area. They found the collar had been cut off and thrown into a tree, but they did not find a wolf carcass.

This area is in wolf management unit 313, which closed to wolf hunting on Nov. 16. However, game wardens believe the collared wolf was killed around 10 p.m. on Dec. 25. No further details are available.

Anyone with possible information is encouraged to visit tipmont.mt.gov to provide details.

Poachers

Multiple People Convicted of Wildlife Crimes in Southwest Wyoming

An 8-year investigation recently wrapped up in Sweetwater County on Sep. 26 when Sean Thomas of Farson was sentenced on multiple wildlife charges. The charges stemmed from an investigation into making false statements to procure Wyoming resident licenses, and the illegal take of black bears, pronghorn, deer, elk and other wildlife in southwest Wyoming when Thomas and his family moved to Wyoming in 2014.

Wyoming Game Wardens initially learned of illegal activity committed by Thomas, operating under Great Basin Outfitters, and his family in 2017 while investigating unrelated wildlife crimes. The investigation began in earnest from 2018 and continued through July 15, 2021 when Wyoming Game Wardens working with their counterparts in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Utah executed search warrants and interviewed numerous individuals associated with committing wildlife crimes in Wyoming.

Following the execution of search warrants in July 2021, game wardens continued their investigation and uncovered dozens of wildlife crimes committed by Thomas, members of his family, Michael Jordan and his sons from Stillwater, Minnesota and friends of Thomas from Utah. Following are those who were charged and convicted of wildlife crimes in Wyoming: Read more

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North Dakota Man Charged with Poaching Elk in Fergus County

A North Dakota man has been charged in Fergus County District Court with a series of wildlife violations centering around the killing of two bull elk in November 2024.

The man is accused of multiple misdemeanor and felony charges after an investigation by Montana game wardens showed that he allegedly killed two bull elk in Hunting District 417 without possessing a proper permit. He later hid and abandoned one elk carcass after being questioned by game wardens, and he was unable to retrieve the carcass of another bull elk after killing it on private land. He is also accused of driving off-road on state land.

No further details about the investigation are available at this time.

Potential penalties for the violations include more than $60,000 in fines and restitution, jail time, and loss of privileges to hunt, fish and trap. Persons accused of a crime are presumed to be innocent until their guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt.

Anyone with possible information about crimes against fish, wildlife or state land resources is encouraged to visit tipmont.mt.gov or to contact a game warden in your area directly. You may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Poachers

Whitetails Unlimited Offers Whitetail Watch Signs

Whitetail Watch is an anti-poaching initiative created by Whitetails Unlimited to improve hunter/landowner relations and reduce the crime of poaching. To curb this illegal activity, participating landowners will post Whitetail Watch signs on their property. These signs will serve as visible reminders to poachers that citizens are on the watch and suspicious activity will be reported to the wildlife law enforcement.

Whitetail Watch property signs are made from PVC, measuring 11.25 inches on a side, and are white with red and black printing. Decals matching the sign, measuring 3.5 inches on a side, are also available. The signs and decals are suitable for use anywhere in the United States.

The recommended posting distance for Whitetail Watch signs is one sign for every 300 feet of road frontage or four signs per 40 acres.

To order complimentary Whitetail Watch signs or decals, please call Whitetails Unlimited National Headquarters at 920.743.6777 or send an email to nh@whitetailsunlimited.com. Read more

Hunting, Poachers
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