Law Catches Up With Wasteful Nonresident Hunter

A recent case in Idaho County is a shining example of the positive contribution concerned citizens and cooperation with other state wildlife management agencies can make toward wildlife law enforcement. In this instance, a sportsmen's tip led to more than $967 in fines, 1-year license revocation, 12-month probation and a suspended jail sentence for a California man following guilty pleas related to wasteful destruction of wildlife. On November 3, 2000, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Senior Conservation Officer, Mark Rhodes was notified of a white-tailed buck that had been shot and left to waste in the Austin Ridge Lookout area. The next day, Officer Rhodes and Officer Mark Hill located the deer and discovered that it had been shot, the antlers taken and the meat left to spoil. The officers then did a thorough investigation of the area and obtained partial descriptions of vehicles, camps and people who had been hunting in the area. This information, along with research of the license-buyer database showing tag and license purchases, led to a short suspect list. In February of 2001, the primary suspect became Mr. Wilburn Lick, of Burney, California. It was also determined that although Mr. Lick possessed a valid elk tag for the area in 2000, he had never even purchased an Idaho deer tag. Officer Rhodes contacted California warden Jake Bushey, who was able to locate Mr. Lick, and verify that a fairly fresh set of whitetail deer antlers was nailed to the side of his barn. Officer Bushey conducted interviews and obtained the antlers, and a confession from Mr. Lick. On March 28, 2001, Mr. Lick appeared in Idaho County Court on charges of "Possession of game taken unlawfully" for the possession of the antlers without a valid deer tag, and "Wasteful destruction of big game" for the waste of the deer. Mr. Lick pled guilty to both counts, and received a sentence including about $967.00 in fines, costs and penalties, 1-year hunting license revocation, 12-month probation and 30 days of suspended jail time. This case emphasizes how timely, accurate reporting by sportsmen, and cooperation between different agencies, can lead to the apprehension of game violators. If you have information on fish and game violations, contact Citizens Against Poaching at 1-800-632-5999. Monetary rewards are available for information, and callers will remain anonymous.