Date: 06/16/10
Contact: Jennifer Cassady
Phone: (775) 334-3808

WENDOVER MEN CONVICTED OF DEER POACHING, ORDERED TO PAY FINES, FORFEIT EQUIPMENT

In separate hearings in Elko County courts in late May, two men were sentenced for the unlawful killing of a mule deer, stemming from an illegal shooting in 2009.

Richard George Moore and Michael Ray Gunter, both of Wendover, were sentenced in separate hearings for the November 21, 2009 incident. A game warden witnessed Moore shoot a trophy-class mule deer with a rifle during an archery only season. When the warden contacted the men, Moore had an arrow knocked in his bow, preparing to shoot the deer again, making it look like an arrow kill.

“Poachers very often masquerade as honest hunters or sportsmen to avoid detection,” said Don Klebenow, game warden Lieutenant in Elko. “In this instance, we were lucky one of our game wardens was patrolling this deer wintering area when these men committed this crime.”

Moore was sentenced in on May 17 in Elko District Court, for a gross misdemeanor of killing a mule deer with a method other than prescribed on the permit. He was ordered to forfeit his binoculars, bow, arrows, quiver, range finder and to pay a $5,000 in civil penalty. Moore also stipulated in the plea agreement that he would forfeit his hunting privileges to hunt, trap or fish for a period of five years, and forfeit the ability to apply to hunt big game animals for an additional five years.

Gunter pled Guilty on May 25 in Elko Justice Court, to a one count misdemeanor of unlawful possession of mule deer. He agreed to the revocation of his hunting privileges for three years, forfeiture of a firearm and pickup truck used in the crime, a civil penalty of $2,500 and an additional fine of $632.

Anyone with information on any poaching cases in Nevada can contact Operation Game Thief (OGT) at (800) 992-3030. Callers can receive rewards for information and calls will remain anonymous.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.