Reward Tripled on Thanksgiving Poacher

Citizens Against Poaching has tripled its reward for information on a Thanksgiving Day deer poaching in the Long Gulch area of Unit 39, making it worth $750 for someone to provide enough information to issue a citation. Conservation officer Bob Sellers has already cited "Terry," one of two suspects in the incident, which was first reported in the Idaho Statesman Dec. 6. An archery hunter was stalking a four-point mule deer in an archery-only hunt when he saw two men on bright yellow ATVs stop on a nearby ridge. One of the men shot the buck with a rifle, according to officer Sellers. After the men shot the buck, the archer approached them. He told Sellers they identified themselves as "Josh" and "Terry." The archer said the men said they shot the deer earlier with a bow, then killed it with a rifle. This is illegal in an archery-only hunt, according to F&G regulations. The archer, who was not identified in Sellers« report, took pictures of the buck, but the men did not want to be photographed. The archer later took photos of the men from a distance and gave those photos to F&G. The buck had four points on each side and about a 29-inch antler spread, Sellers said. Both hunters were riding bright yellow ATVs with gun scabbards. Sellers said they were riding in an area closed to off-trail ATV use. The men could face fines of up to $1,000 and civil penalties of up to $2,000 because it was a trophy mule deer. They could also face increased penalties, including a lifetime revocation of hunting rights, because the buck was shot with a rifle during an archery-only hunting season. Anyone with information on this incident can report it anonymously on the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999. A reward is paid when there is enough information to issue a citation, conviction is not necessary. Sellers can be contacted at 587-1644. The number for the Southwest Region Fish and Game office is 465-8465.