CASPER, Wyo. — Two Texas residents have pleaded guilty to a range of wildlife crimes in Wyoming and have lost their hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for five years in 48 states, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department said in a Dec. 23 press release.
Matthew Adams, 26, and Carl Denmon, 25, were also sentenced to pay over $31,000 in fines and restitution. Both were also sentenced and have served 30 days in jail and received 11.5 months of unsupervised probation, according to Game and Fish.
The two were also required to surrender firearms used in committing the wildlife crimes. The weapons included two .22LR rifles with homemade suppressors, Game and Fish said. Adams and Denmon’s loss of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges applies in 48 states because Wyoming is a member of the wildlife violator compact.
Charges against the two included the following, according to Game and Fish:
- Adams
- Wanton destruction (2 counts)
- Taking a big game animal with an illegal-caliber firearm (2 counts)
- Shooting outside legal hours (2 counts)
- Use of artificial light for hunting (2 counts)
- Use of a silencer or suppressor to take big game (2 counts)
- Accessory before/after the fact
- Denmon
- Wanton Destruction
- Accessory before/after the fact
- Taking a big game animal with an illegal-caliber firearm
- Shooting outside legal hours
- Use of artificial light for hunting
- Use of a silencer or suppressor to take big game
The two were involved in a vehicle accident in the early morning hours on Oct. 16, Game and Fish said. A concerned citizen called Game and Fish after seeing blood and hair in the bed of their truck and blood on the men’s clothing at the crash scene.
“In a subsequent investigation, Game Wardens learned that the men had killed three antelope in three separate locations in Sweetwater County between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. Oct. 16, prior to their vehicle accident,” Game and Fish said.
The concerned citizen who reported the information observed at the vehicle accident scene as well as another person were given $750 rewards because the information helped lead to the convictions of Adams and Denmon, Game and Fish said.
“Each year, hundreds of animals are taken illegally in Wyoming, and without tips from concerned members of the public, many of these crimes would go undetected,” Game and Fish said. “Anyone who believes they have witnessed a wildlife crime can report it online, or by calling 1-877-WGFD-TIP, or Text: WGFD to 847-411. All reporting parties can choose to remain anonymous.”
