Expensive deer

[jnyork]

CASPER, Wyo. — Michael and Teresa Rinehart have been ordered to pay $60,000 in restitution to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department after pleading guilty to federal wildlife trafficking violations in federal court in 2021, Game and Fish said Wednesday.

The couple recently agreed to a federal plea deal in the Lacey Act case that involved wildlife baiting. In addition to the $60,000 fine, the Rineharts were each placed on a one year unsupervised probation and also had their hunting privileges suspended worldwide for a year, according to Game and Fish.

The Rineharts operated an outfitting business that catered to white-tailed deer hunters on their Wind River Whitetail Ranch near the Wind River Reservation. An investigation that began in 2011 found the couple illegally baited deer for their clients to kill, according to Game and Fish.

“The investigation confirmed the Rinehart’s placed bait so their clients could kill deer which is a violation of Wyoming hunting regulations,” Game and Fish said. “The Rineharts charged hunters up to $3,000 for each deer hunt. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement contacted clients in 11 different states.”

Some of the Rineharts’ clients took deer over limits and poached deer without a license and committed other wildlife crimes, according to Game and Fish.

“Following the closure of the federal aspect of the case, the Fremont County Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case and could charge up to 30 clients with various wildlife violations in Wyoming state court,” Game and Fish added.

The Shoshone and Arapaho Fish and Game Department seized trail cameras on tribal lands near the couple’s ranch in 2011. Those cameras had photos showing the Rineharts “putting out large piles of corn during the fall hunting season,” according to Wyoming Game and Fish.

“The cameras and corn were located in shooting lanes in front of large, elevated permanent hunting blinds located on Rinehart’s property, situated on the boundary between the reservation and their property,” the news release adds.

Shoshone and Arapaho Fish and Game asked Wyoming Game and Fish wardens for assistance in the case over suspicion the Rineharts were “illegally hunting deer over bait both on the reservation and on non-native private lands for their outfitting business.” Game and Fish and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service became involved in the investigation and began collecting evidence.

“The cooperative investigation led to charging the Rineharts with a federal Lacey Act violation, due to the value of the outfitted hunts and transport of illegally taken wildlife by nonresidents,” Game and Fish said.

Game and Fish said that hunters and members of the public who reported unusual deer movements and suspicious activity at the ranch were helpful to the investigation.

“The successful case was a cooperative effort between the Game and Fish, USFWS, Shoshone and Arapaho Fish and Game, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office and Fremont County Prosecutor’s Office,” the release adds.

[wvfarrier]

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Im not sure how legal a "world wide" hunting ban is though

[765x53]

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Im not sure how legal a "world wide" hunting ban is though

?

[CowboyTutt]

That was really, really stupid on the couple's part. They deserve that penalty. -Tutt

[44shooter]

Totally legal and common in NC

[CowboyTutt]

Well, not in Wyoming apparently. Have the common sense to follow your own state laws!!! -Tutt

[ollogger]

Sadly them kind of people give us hunters that play by the rules a black eye
Greed is all to common, so now he has to pay, glad they nailed him!



ollogger

[ywaltzucanrknrl]

Yes, illegal in Wyoming for sure. Also illegal to put trail camera's on any state, public (BLM and Forest Service) and reservation lands without a special use permit in Wyoming and I assume other states as well, as the BLM and Forest is a Federal issue. I have a friend who lives close and said it was common knowledge---they apparently were not doing a good job of hiding their activities. Just an opinion, but when it has this level of magnitude and is a flagrant violation, especially from an outfitter, a lifetime ban should have been handed down.

[marlinman93]

The sad part is it wasn't for just one deer. It's obvious this couple was helping numerous clients break the law, so what happened to the rest of their clientele who broke the law in Wyoming? And if they lost their hunting privileges for a year, does that stop them from continuing as guides and outfitters too? I'd like to know the entire story, and what these two are allowed to do from here on? People like this should never be allowed to work as guides or outfitters ever again.