Wyoming Hunter Fined $10,000 for Mistaking a Grizzly for a Black Bear

Joined
Dec 12, 2012
Messages
1,837
Location
Casper, Wyoming
This is the sad thing about the justice system. Yes he was honest and yes he made a mistake but not a $10k one. This will deter some honesty but also deter bear hunting. I hope the father and son continue to hunt but I also understand if they don’t. I know if that happened to me, I would have to sell all my hunting gear and my truck to pay that off so I would be taking up a new hobby. Just going to put this article here…. Notice what they do when it’s one of their own.
 

Htm84

WKR
Joined
Jun 16, 2019
Messages
348
This is the sad thing about the justice system. Yes he was honest and yes he made a mistake but not a $10k one. This will deter some honesty but also deter bear hunting. I hope the father and son continue to hunt but I also understand if they don’t. I know if that happened to me, I would have to sell all my hunting gear and my truck to pay that off so I would be taking up a new hobby. Just going to put this article here…. Notice what they do when it’s one of their own.
crazy. He got the same fine almost ten years earlier. So adjusting for inflation they went easy on this guy and his son


While hunting black bears in the Cody region that year, Ellsbury mistakenly shot a grizzly after observing the animal and being convinced that it was a black bear.

Ellsbury pleaded guilty and, like Joel, was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the state for the grizzly’s death


Edit to add the whole article.

 
Joined
Dec 12, 2012
Messages
1,837
Location
Casper, Wyoming
crazy. He got the same fine almost ten years earlier. So adjusting for inflation they went easy on this guy and his son


While hunting black bears in the Cody region that year, Ellsbury mistakenly shot a grizzly after observing the animal and being convinced that it was a black bear.

Ellsbury pleaded guilty and, like Joel, was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the state for the grizzly’s death


Edit to add the whole article.

Thanks for adding that article. I just went to the local paper. Ha. It is interesting and that’s where I was going. It was roughly the same fine and that was to someone on their payroll. Not sure if it said it in that article but he was actually a bear biologist.
 

Northwet

FNG
Joined
Apr 6, 2021
Messages
7
Location
Wyoming
I live in Wyoming. This will deter me from hunting bears in areas with grizzlies due to the potential for mistaken ID. If even a large carnivore (including bear) specialist for the state can make a mistaken ID, surely I could. Conveniently the closest bear areas to me don't have grizzlies anyway.

I agree $10k seems excessive for a first time accidental violation when so many repeat/intentional offenders, both of hunting and non-hunting nature, receive lesser punishment.

Back when I lived in Washington I was more willing to take the tiny chance of mistaken ID given the much lower density of grizzlies, though would have erred on the side of caution if I had even the slightest doubt. Heck, back there they let vagrants wander once nice suburbs shooting up in front of houses that cost several hundred thousand dollars.
 

pugwylde

FNG
Joined
Jun 17, 2023
Messages
62
Any chance that 10k is going to education for first time hunters to tell the difference? I did enjoy how the game warden immediately identified the bear as a grizzly from the dished head and straight claws. The head, probably, but claws would not be top on my list of items to check in the glass before taking the shot. Maybe the hump, or the ears?

I've seen some pictures of dark grizzlies and I feel like I'd be hard pressed to tell the difference in the heat of the moment. Tough break.
 
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