Reports Lead to Poaching Charges

By Greg Johnson, Conservation Officer, Bonners Ferry. Recent tips from alert sportsmen and vigilant citizens have resulted in charges being filed in a number of poaching incidents over the last 3 weeks, according to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG). In late October, a concerned citizen reported that a large bull elk had been killed in the Crossport area and that the suspect, Kyle C. Dirks (20), of Bonners Ferry had killed the elk without the proper tag. A subsequent investigation by local Fish and Game Officers resulted in a search warrant being served at the Dirks residence near Crossport and seizure of meat and antlers from the elk. Kyle Dirks was charged with taking the elk without the proper tag and with wasting the meat from the elk. In mid October, a sportsman reported finding a doe mule deer that had been illegally shot near Copper ridge. The sportsman provided IDFG with a vehicle and suspect description but was not able to get a license plate number from the vehicle. A few days later, another sportsman found the remains of a small mule deer buck that had been shot during closed season in the same vicinity. The second sportsman also provided officers with a vehicle and suspect description but was also unable to get a license plate number. A subsequent search of records for vehicles registered in Boundary County that matched the descriptions eventually led IDFG officers to the Eastport residence of Gordon L. Girardin where they found the remains of four illegally killed deer. Gordon L. Girardin, age 50, was charged with taking a white-tailed doe deer with a rifle during an archery-only season, taking a mule deer doe during closed season, possessing an unlawfully taken mule deer buck, failing to validate his deer tag and for exceeding the limit for deer. Two other men were charged with hunting violations in the case. Frank R. Girardin, 21 years of age from Eastport was charged with taking a mule deer buck during closed season and with hunting deer without a license. Gordon L. Girardin Jr, 22 of Eastport was charged with transferring his deer tag to a deer killed by Gordon Girardin Sr. In another case, two Moyie Springs men, Randall R. Dowell (21) and Michael E. Phillips (20), have been charged with hunting violations involving a spotlighting incident which occurred in the Curly Creek vicinity in early November. They were charged with unlawfully taking two deer and an elk. The successful conclusion of this investigation was the result of a concerned citizen's report of shots fired after dark near the Curly Creek fire hall. The citizen was able to provide officers with a vehicle description and license plate number. The subsequent investigation led Fish and Game officers to Phillip's and Dowell's residence in Moyie Springs where they discovered the illegally taken deer and elk. In this case, Randall R. Dowell has been charged with failing to tag a deer, exceeding the limit for deer and hunting deer with the aid of artificial light. Michael E. Phillips was charged with taking a bull elk during closed season. Reports from concerned citizens and sportsmen are vital in stopping poachers. Anyone who witnesses a wildlife violation is encouraged to report the incident by contacting their local Fish and Game Officer , the local sheriff's office, or calling the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999. Callers may remain anonymous.