Three facing federal illegal hunting charges

[publichunter]

A fine example why we need ties with the USFWS and good law enforcement.




Three facing federal illegal hunting charges
By Josh Verges
jverges@argusleader.com
Published: May 28, 2007
A father and two sons face federal charges for outfitting illegal deer and pheasant hunts near Lake Oahe.

Brad Schilling, 50, and his sons, Chad, 31, and Jestin, 28, each pleaded not guilty last week to conspiring to violate the Lacey Act, falsely labeling wildlife and transporting illegally taken wildlife across state lines.

The Schillings own, operate and guide hunts at Schilling Outdoor Adventures and Antler Ridge Lodge near Akaska, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors allege that from June 2002 to January 2006 the Schillings allowed out-of-state hunters to use their resident hunting tags, directed them to take more animals than allowed by law, arranged for the interstate shipment of trophies and covered up the activity with false records.

The earliest allegations involve hunters from Virginia, North Carolina and Faribault, Minn., who went on a guided fishing trip in June 2002 and made plans to return for a deer hunt.

When the three men lost the out-of-state draw for buck hunting, the Schillings allegedly provided their resident tags.

Prosecutors say Chad Schilling then arranged to mount two bucks the men illegally shot and ship them to Virginia and Minnesota by listing his girlfriend and one of his sons as the hunters.

The outfitters allegedly carried out similar schemes with two Michigan men hunting deer and pheasants in 2003 and 2004.

According to the criminal complaint, Brad Schilling admitted during a deer hunt with an undercover officer that he organized several illegal hunts.

Two undercover officers themselves on a 2005 guided hunt said they were directed to kill twice the legal limit of six rooster pheasants and were again the next day directed to exceed the limit along with other pheasant hunters.

Brad Schilling also directed an officer to shoot a doe from a roadway, prosecutors say.

In February, Pierre-area outfitter Scott Phillip Mathews of Bad River Bucks and Birds was sentenced for an almost identical hunting conspiracy.

He got 30 days in custody, five months home confinement, three years probation and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.

[SJ]

How and why is this a good example for needing USFW?

[publichunter]

The Federal Lacey Act is a Federal law and it is enforced by the Feds. That is why the penalties are so strong.
For that reason alone is reason enough to keep the MOU's.

[Oldtimer]

[P Joe]

[Oldtimer]

[publichunter]

I agree 100% oldtimer and p joe.

[SJ]

I agree they broke the law and should be held responsible.
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