Category: Poachers

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

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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

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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

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Montana: Six Men Sentenced in Musselshell County Poaching Case

BILLINGS – Six men from Montana and Washington have pled guilty in Musselshell County Justice Court to unlawfully killing bull elk and mule deer bucks near Roundup. They have been sentenced to a combined total of $22,890 in fines, and license revocations totaling 28 years.

The investigation began with information provided to Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) wardens by a confidential informant. After an extensive investigation, wardens found that the group of both residents and nonresidents killed several large bull elk in Hunting District 590 without the required elk permit and also killed several large mule deer without hunting licenses. The violations occurred between 2020 and 2024.

During the investigation, Montana wardens worked with wardens in Washington State who seized several mounts of unlawfully killed elk and deer. Montana wardens also seized multiple elk and deer mounts in Montana. In total, 11 mounts were seized as evidence in the investigation, and a total of 34 charges and 13 warnings were issued by FWP wardens. Read more

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Boone and Crockett Club Research Identifies Dark Figure and Conservation Cost of Poaching

September 8, 2025
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At a press conference held in Washington, DC, today, the Boone and Crockett Club announced the findings of the most comprehensive research project on poaching in this country. Using a Bayesian statistical framework, the Poach and Pay research determined that only about 4% of poaching incidents are detected. Setting a conservative estimate of what criminologists refer to as the “Dark Figure” of crimes that are undetected or unreported at 95%, the research found that the minimum conservation cost of poaching through lost fines and replacement costs for animals is $1.4 billion annually. The research also outlines the results of detailed interviews with stakeholders, typologies of poachers, barriers to prosecution of wildlife crime, and outlines specific actions that can be taken to reduce the amount of poaching in this country. The Boone and Crockett Club and partners will continue the Poach and Pay project to implement these actions with the goal of reducing the Dark Figure of poaching.

“We have long known that poaching is a major problem in the United States, but we didn’t truly understand the magnitude of the problem until this Poach and Pay research,” noted Boone and Crockett Club chief executive officer Tony A. Schoonen in his comments at the press conference. “With this defensible assessment of the Dark Figure, we can clearly describe the conservation cost of poaching and prove that poaching is not a victimless crime—not only do we lose individual wildlife, we are also losing a valuable public resource with a high cost.”

The Poach and Pay research involved extensive surveys of fish and wildlife agency law enforcement officers, hunters, landowners, and convicted poachers, as well as interviews and focus groups with prosecutors and judges. Read more

Poachers

Boone and Crockett Club Research Identifies Dark Figure and Conservation Cost of Poaching in the U.S.

Media contact: Jodi Stemler, 703-915-1386, jstemler@boone-crockett.org

Missoula, Mont. –—At a press conference held in Washington, DC, today, the Boone and Crockett Club announced the findings of the most comprehensive research project on poaching in this country. Using a Bayesian statistical framework, the Poach and Pay research determined that only about 4% of poaching incidents are detected. Setting a conservative estimate of what criminologists refer to as the “Dark Figure” of crimes that are undetected or unreported at 95%, the research found that the minimum conservation cost of poaching through lost fines and replacement costs for animals is $1.4 billion annually. The research also outlines the results of detailed interviews with stakeholders, typologies of poachers, barriers to prosecution of wildlife crime, and outlines specific actions that can be taken to reduce the amount of poaching in this country. The Boone and Crockett Club and partners will continue the Poach and Pay project to implement these actions with the goal of reducing the dark figure of poaching.

“We have long known that poaching is a major problem in the United States, but we didn’t truly understand the magnitude of the problem until this Poach and Pay research,” noted Boone and Crockett Club chief executive officer Tony A. Schoonen in his comments at the press conference. “With this defensible assessment of the Dark Figure, we can clearly describe the conservation cost of poaching and prove that poaching is not a victimless crime—not only do we lose individual wildlife, we are also losing a valuable public resource with a high cost.” Read more

Poachers

Felony Warrants Issued for Michigan Father and Son for Wildlife Violations

Warrants for the arrest of a Michigan father and son have been issued following a series of wildlife violations in Treasure County.

Ronald Schubert and his son, Chad Schubert, both of Belleville, Mich., have each been charged with felony unlawful possession of a trophy bull elk. The son also has been charged with an additional felony for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, as well as four misdemeanor charges for hunting during a closed season, failure to obtain landowner permission for hunting, waste of a game animal, and violation of a commission or department rule for failure to return to a kill site. Ronald Schubert has also been charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass to property.

The investigation into the Schuberts began with information provided to Montana game wardens by the Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office. After extensive investigation, warden Kyle Queer found that Chad Schubert allegedly killed a trophy bull elk in Hunting District 702 without a valid permit. The elk also was taken on private land without permission, killed with a rifle during the archery-only season, and most of the meat was abandoned and left to waste in the field. Further investigation showed that Ronald Schubert was present at the time and allegedly assisted with removal and transport of the head and antlers. Read more

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AZGFD Seeks Public’s Help in Poaching of Seven Elk, Two Bighorn Sheep

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is seeking information about two separate poaching incidents in Game Management Unit 1 near Big Lake in the White Mountains.

    • July 20: Three cow elk were discovered shot and left to waste near the intersection of Forest Roads 249E and 24. AZGFD officials believe the incident took place around 8:15 p.m.
    • July 27: Four more elk — three cows and one bull — were discovered shot and left to waste off State Routes 273 and 261 near the turnoff to the campground at Big Lake. AZGFD officials believe the incident took place around 9:30 p.m. In addition, two bighorn sheep rams were discovered shot and left to waste that same day. The animals were found along Forest Road 249 near Three Forks, Ariz.

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