Saint Maries man sentenced for unlawful take of seven white-tailed deer in North Idaho

idfg-tjross

Thursday, February 19, 2026 - 4:06 PM MST

Sentencing concludes case involving multiple felony wildlife violations in the Panhandle Region

On Feb. 18, a St. Maries man was sentenced for the unlawful take of seven mature white-tailed deer bucks. The second man involved in the case is scheduled for sentencing soon.

The first man received the following sentence:

$17,200 in restitution
$525 in meat processing fees
All associated court costs for his case
Seven months in county jail—one month for each deer in the case
Five years of supervised probation
Ten-year hunting license revocation

Details of the case

The two men were originally charged on June 27 with eight felony counts related to the unlawful killing of the deer. The investigation, conducted by Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers in the Panhandle Region, documented a total of 56 wildlife violations.

Antlers from alleged illegally harvested white-tailed deer in the Panhandle Region.

All seven deer were illegally killed in Nov. 2024. Five of the deer were taken within a single 24-hour period, and three of the bucks met Idaho’s legal definition of a “trophy” white-tailed deer, which carries enhanced civil penalties under state law.

All seven deer were taken outside of legal shooting hours, and meat from three of the animals was left to waste.

Fish and Game thanks the public for remaining vigilant in reporting potential wildlife crimes through the Citizens Against Poaching hotline. Public involvement plays a critical role in ensuring Idaho’s fish and wildlife exists for future generations.

Fish and Game also thanks the Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office for reviewing the case and pursuing charges consistent with the violations.

Anyone who observes or has information about a wildlife crime is encouraged to call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999 or submit a report online.

Monetary rewards may be available for individuals who provide credible, detailed information that significantly aids in identifying suspects and leads to charges being filed.