Three men from Arkansas who illegally killed two deer in late October in southwest Colorado have paid more than $20,000 in fines for the offense to the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW).
The men also have been assessed 15 penalty points against their hunting privileges in Colorado. If they accumulate 20 points or more within five years they will lose their license privileges in Colorado.
"These are major fines that show that wildlife crime doesn't pay," said Patt Dorsey, area wildlife manager in the Durango area.
The men violated Colorado's "Samson Law" which imposes heavy penalties for illegally killing trophy-class animals. Depending on the species, the fines range from $4,000 to $25,000. The fine for deer in the Samson category is $10,000.
The men, who admitted guilt after an investigation by a DOW wildlife officer, were hunting near Vallecito Reservoir about 30 miles northeast of Durango. The identity of the men and the charges are:
-- Frank Kelly, 60, Springdale, Arkansas; unlawful take of a mule deer plus a Samson surcharge.
-- Lonnie Blakemore, 66, Farmington, Arkansas; unlawful take of a mule deer plus a Samson surcharge.
-- Gerald Harp, 65, Springdale Arkansas; unlawful transfer of a license.
To settle the charges for all the men, Kelly paid the entire fine of $22,192 after being questioned by DOW District Wildlife Manager, Cary Carron. The animals were killed during Colorado's second rifle season during which deer and elk can be hunted.
During routine patrol on Oct. 24, Carron received a tip about two large buck deer that might have been taken illegally near an area known as Freeman Park above Vallecito Reservoir.
Carron located hunters in that area and questioned them. According to the incident report, one man acted very nervous. Carron, a veteran wildlife officer with more than 20 years experience, left the area but contacted the hunters again later to ask more questions.
Eventually, Kelly told Carron the full story.
Kelly said that Blakemore had killed a small buck on Oct. 23. Later that afternoon Blakemore saw a large buck and shot it, even though he'd already filled his license. Blakemore's action was illegal.
In an attempt to cover up the kill, Kelly agreed to place his license tag illegally on the large deer.
The next morning Kelly saw a large buck and killed it. But because he no longer had a valid license, Harp agreed to place his tag on the deer.
All three men's actions violated Colorado's wildlife laws.
Carron measured the spread of the deer antlers and determined they were "Samson" sized - more than 22 inches across just above the skull.
The men were given two choices: post bond at the La Plata County jail to secure their appearance for a court date later; or admit guilt and pay the fines.
In his report, Carron wrote: "Kelly said that he did not want to go to jail. He said that he felt that this whole mess was his fault and he did not want these other guys to get into trouble."
The two large deer were confiscated by the DOW and the meat was donated to a local food bank. Blakemore was allowed to keep the first deer because it was shot and tagged legally.
The DOW utilizes the same investigative tools that all law enforcement agencies use, Dorsey said.
"DOW officers use good-old game warden skills, the latest technology and tips from the public to crack these cases. We have every investigative tool we need to catch people who are hunting illegally," Dorsey said.
Cary Carron, an officer with the Colorado Division of Wildlife,
holds antlers from a large buck that was killed illegally in late
October near Vallecito Reservoir in southwest Colorado. Three
hunters from Arkansas paid more than $22,000 in fines for
killing this deer and another large buck.
The men also have been assessed 15 penalty points against their hunting privileges in Colorado. If they accumulate 20 points or more within five years they will lose their license privileges in Colorado.
"These are major fines that show that wildlife crime doesn't pay," said Patt Dorsey, area wildlife manager in the Durango area.
The men violated Colorado's "Samson Law" which imposes heavy penalties for illegally killing trophy-class animals. Depending on the species, the fines range from $4,000 to $25,000. The fine for deer in the Samson category is $10,000.
The men, who admitted guilt after an investigation by a DOW wildlife officer, were hunting near Vallecito Reservoir about 30 miles northeast of Durango. The identity of the men and the charges are:
-- Frank Kelly, 60, Springdale, Arkansas; unlawful take of a mule deer plus a Samson surcharge.
-- Lonnie Blakemore, 66, Farmington, Arkansas; unlawful take of a mule deer plus a Samson surcharge.
-- Gerald Harp, 65, Springdale Arkansas; unlawful transfer of a license.
To settle the charges for all the men, Kelly paid the entire fine of $22,192 after being questioned by DOW District Wildlife Manager, Cary Carron. The animals were killed during Colorado's second rifle season during which deer and elk can be hunted.
During routine patrol on Oct. 24, Carron received a tip about two large buck deer that might have been taken illegally near an area known as Freeman Park above Vallecito Reservoir.
Carron located hunters in that area and questioned them. According to the incident report, one man acted very nervous. Carron, a veteran wildlife officer with more than 20 years experience, left the area but contacted the hunters again later to ask more questions.
Eventually, Kelly told Carron the full story.
Kelly said that Blakemore had killed a small buck on Oct. 23. Later that afternoon Blakemore saw a large buck and shot it, even though he'd already filled his license. Blakemore's action was illegal.
In an attempt to cover up the kill, Kelly agreed to place his license tag illegally on the large deer.
The next morning Kelly saw a large buck and killed it. But because he no longer had a valid license, Harp agreed to place his tag on the deer.
All three men's actions violated Colorado's wildlife laws.
Carron measured the spread of the deer antlers and determined they were "Samson" sized - more than 22 inches across just above the skull.
The men were given two choices: post bond at the La Plata County jail to secure their appearance for a court date later; or admit guilt and pay the fines.
In his report, Carron wrote: "Kelly said that he did not want to go to jail. He said that he felt that this whole mess was his fault and he did not want these other guys to get into trouble."
The two large deer were confiscated by the DOW and the meat was donated to a local food bank. Blakemore was allowed to keep the first deer because it was shot and tagged legally.
The DOW utilizes the same investigative tools that all law enforcement agencies use, Dorsey said.
"DOW officers use good-old game warden skills, the latest technology and tips from the public to crack these cases. We have every investigative tool we need to catch people who are hunting illegally," Dorsey said.
Cary Carron, an officer with the Colorado Division of Wildlife,
holds antlers from a large buck that was killed illegally in late
October near Vallecito Reservoir in southwest Colorado. Three
hunters from Arkansas paid more than $22,000 in fines for
killing this deer and another large buck.
