Three big game hunters in Idaho and Wyoming are facing felony wildlife counts for organizing illegal hunting expeditions that charged participants over $6,000 each for the chance to hunt mountain lions without proper licenses. Chad Michael Kulow, Andrea May Major, and LaVoy Linton Eborn were indicted on conspiracy and Lacey Act charges for their unlicensed hunts. The trio, who were licensed guides in Idaho, conducted unauthorized hunts in national forests, killing at least a dozen mountain lions. They falsified reports to make it appear as though a licensed outfitter oversaw the hunts.
The hunts took place from December 2021 to January 2022 in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and Bridger-Teton National Forest. Participants paid thousands of dollars for the illegal hunts, which were not authorized by Idaho Fish and Game regulations. The three hunters are set to face a jury trial in November and could each face up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release if convicted.
The Justice Department is cracking down on Lacey Act violations across the U.S., with recent cases involving illegal wildlife trade and unpermitted hunting activities. The indictment of Kulow, Major, and Eborn is part of a larger effort to enforce federal conservation laws and protect wildlife from exploitation. Such cases highlight the importance of following regulations and obtaining proper permits for hunting activities to ensure the sustainability of natural resources.
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