Poacher

[trackster]

Poacher convicted for illegal elk hunting in Wyoming

In a significant victory against wildlife poaching Kevin Ackerlund from Cody, Wyoming, was convicted for illegally hunting and killing two bull elk in Park County, Wyoming on July 17.

www.codyenterprise.com

 

[BTLowry]

Guess he now has a criminal record but $6220 in "fines and restitution" is a joke.

Probably cost more than that to try the case

$60K would send a better message to him and others

 

[RyanT26]

There’s no message to send. The guy should’ve stated he’s an influencer and makes his living off hunting content and did 47 extensions on the trial and it would’ve got plead down to something super minor with less fines.

 

[Brijake]

Obviously we don't know the whole story but it sure seems like a slap on the wrist. Until there is a heavy deterrent, this will and does keep happening. $6,220, wonder how they came up with that number. Had to have cost more than that for the investigation much less what they thought the bull was worth.

 

[MallardSX2]

The amount of "wandering" people do is amazing. Also, multiple times, I have heard hunter's mention
how the "elk don't know where the general season boundary lines are".....

 

[trackster]

Sad part is this was on a limited entry 54-1 late tag.....lot of people wanting to pull that tag once in there life

 

[Dave0317]

Law and courts are a weird thing. It seems like a low penalty, especially considering the investigative tools used. They imply blood samples were compared at a crime lab. Not cheap. Man hours for the multiple officers/detectives involved adds up quickly. Likely could have or should have been over $10k between the value of the animals and the costs to investigate.

But then, we also see people get a few days in jail and maybe a year of probation for drive by shootings and car jackings near where I live.

 

[LongWayAround]

I would like to know what was the "poor condition" of the first bull.

 

[KenLee]

Guess he now has a criminal record but $6220 in "fines and restitution" is a joke.

Probably cost more than that to try the case

$60K would send a better message to him and others

20k , 3 months actually served in jail and 10 yrs loss of license

 

[omicron1792]

No idea on this case but I bet he spent a pretty penny on his lawyers too

 

[Sako76]

Was there any explanation on why he left the first bull other than “in poor condition”?

 

[mtwarden]

I don’t think Wyoming has a felony wildlife statute. In Montana he could (could, not necessarily would) have been charged with a felony for taking two illegal bulls.

It doesn’t stop poaching, but getting dinged with a felony probably slows it a bit.

 

[Don Fischer]

Guess he now has a criminal record but $6220 in "fines and restitution" is a joke.

Probably cost more than that to try the case

$60K would send a better message to him and others

No it wouldn't. Nice prison time would be better.
poachers do it because they don't believe they'll get caught!

 

[Dexter Grayson]

$6k to shoot a big bull on a coveted tag? Sign me up!

 

[Npike4040]

$6k to shoot a big bull on a coveted tag? Sign me up!

and thats just if you get caught!

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Just need Wyoming residents to get upset and vocal about the penalties. Colorado had lax penalties until after "Samson" a resident bull in Estes Park got poached. He basically got a slap on the wrist. Community got vocal and now fines are fairly stout.