On November 15th, 2015 Senior Conservation Officer Lauren Lane was contacted by an employee from Matt’s Custom Meats in St. Anthony regarding two suspicious deer that had been brought in for processing.
The following investigation uncovered a number of Idaho Code violations that had taken place over multiple years. As a result of interviews and a cell phone search warrant, officers discovered the suspect Eliseo Ramirez-Angeles had unlawfully taken at least four mule deer and two elk from the Big Hole Mountains near Rexburg and the Sand Creek Desert just outside of St. Anthony.
In November of 2014 the suspect shot a mule deer buck without a tag, and in 2015, the suspect shot two mule deer bucks and one mule deer doe without tags. Additionally, the suspect shot a bull elk without a tag in 2015, and a cow elk in 2011 without a tag during the closed season.
Ramirez-Angeles was charged with a felony in Fremont County for unlawfully possessing four mule deer, and two misdemeanors in Madison County for unlawfully possessing two elk.
On April 26th, 2016 the suspect pled guilty to felony charges in Fremont County for unlawfully taking three mule deer in 2015. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment suspended, with four years felony probation. Terms of probation include a $1000 criminal fine plus court fees, $2800 in civil penalties, 100 hours community service, 42 days in the county jail, and a license revocation for hunting, fishing, and trapping for ten years. Due to the Wildlife Violator Compact (WVC), the license revocation will also be upheld in thirty-nine other WVC member states. The WVC “Provides for the reciprocal recognition of the suspension of license privileges by participating states. The reciprocal recognition of suspensions is intended to address the problems associated with the mobility of many violators” (IDFG). Charges in Madison County were dismissed.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game employs just over 100 officers to patrol the entire state of Idaho. An average patrol area contains over 1,000 square miles of mountains, rivers, forest, and desert. As a result, officers rely heavily on the public to call if any suspicious activity is observed. We appreciate any help we receive from the public because every call counts.