Pendleton Man . . . Following Unlawful Killing of Trophy Sized Bighorn Sheep

[Don Becker]

Please keep comments within the AUP guidelines - - thanks. Don



Pendleton Man to be Arraigned in Baker County Following Unlawful Killing of Trophy Sized Bighorn Sheep

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 12:22 PM

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News Release from: Oregon State Police
PENDLETON MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED IN BAKER COUNTY FOLLOWING UNLAWFUL KILLING OF TROPHY SIZED BIGHORN SHEEP
Posted: November 26th, 2008 12:20 PM

A Pendleton-area man is scheduled to be arraigned December 8th in Baker County Circuit Court on allegations of unlawful take of two trophy sized bighorn sheep in eastern Oregon.

Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife troopers conducted an investigation into wildlife crimes involving JAMES BRONSON JR., age 52, from Pendleton, and submitted the information to Baker County District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff. The investigation alleged BRONSON killed two bighorn sheep in Baker County, one in December 2007 and a second during the fall of 2008. BRONSON did not possess a valid license or tag to take either of the bighorn sheep and two trophy sized bighorn rams were recovered related to the investigation.

Four once in a lifetime tags were issued in 2008 for the herd which numbers approximately 40 sheep located within the Lookout Mountain Game Management Unit.

No photographs available for release.

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[Lift Gate Gus]

What a dirt bag. A hunt that we all dream of getting one time in our lives he go ahead and gives himself twice.

[Linejerk]

That's realy to bad

[Duck o Death]

ya i had heard of this story vic coggins the sheep biologist was tryin to figure out what to do about it because i beleive he was an indian and he may have shot them on tribal land. but whatever the case he should pay for what he did...

[rem721]

10 years sound about right?

[ehunter]

It sounds like he not only poached them but then he wasted them as well

[CombinationLicense]

Probably the tip of the iceberg - they have evidence of the two incidents mentioned but how many more animals has the idiot really poached?

I say throw the book at him

"CL"

[Trick]

Please forgive me for the thoughts that just went through my mind.

[traks44]

As some have put it before "Throw the book at him and then beat him with it"

I would like to think this would help with poaching in the area, so I say make an example out of him!


I cant say what I am thinking.......

but.......

I have the biggest grin on my face ever...

[jacobp]

I hope they make an example out of him...2 trophy sheep, that's so wrong!

[motcha]

I am saddened to hear of the charges. I hope the outcome serves both sides right and honestly. I know this will bring out a lot of "I know this guy that...." or "These guys this....."

Please know there are bad apples in every bunch.....

[motcha]

Originally Posted by ehunter

It sounds like he not only poached them but then he wasted them as well

Wow.... that isnt what I read.

[RogueFishr]

I hope the outcome serves both sides right and honestly.

If found guilty, I hope the outcome lands him in jail for a long time.

RF

[Crappie Chaser]

Duck o Death, I know of the incident of which you speak and I believe this is a totally different guy. The guy you mention was the holder of the Tribal tag, this guy was just a poacher with no tags. I never heard of anything coming down on the Tribal tagholder who just took the head of his ram and left the carcass to rot.That herd is so vulnerable. I've had wilder beef cows in my pasture. Having to stop for them to get out of the road cured my desire to hunt them. They live solely on private land that is now in the hunter access program.

[Rank Amateur]

Would it be too much to ask to send him to a country that lops a hand off for each offense of stealing??? Hey, when he comes back we can call him stubby!

Sorry, not much more to say with out violating the AUP.

[Limbhanger]

Originally Posted by Rank Amateur

Would it be too much to ask to send him to a country that lops a hand off for each offense of stealing??? Hey, when he comes back we can call him stubby!

Sorry, not much more to say with out violating the AUP.

Spot on ! Until the punishments are truly meaningful it will never stop.

[Wazzu06]

I am fairly new to hunting and it really saddens me that the more you get into hunting the more you hear about these jerks that ruin hunting for all "hunters". I hope this guy gets the book thrown at him. People like this are a disgrace to the sport

[BornToFish360]

Seeing as being this heavy of a poach..2x i would say at least 15 years no parol possible perm ban on all hunting/fishing for him and weapons ban for any firearm. Possibly up to 25yrs with no parol possible until after at least 15yrs... Just my

Btf360

[Igotitreelbad]

The place he ends up in might hold a few more rams for him!

[motcha]

Originally Posted by Crappie Chaser

Duck o Death, I know of the incident of which you speak and I believe this is a totally different guy. The guy you mention was the holder of the Tribal tag, this guy was just a poacher with no tags. I never heard of anything coming down on the Tribal tagholder who just took the head of his ram and left the carcass to rot.That herd is so vulnerable. I've had wilder beef cows in my pasture. Having to stop for them to get out of the road cured my desire to hunt them. They live solely on private land that is now in the hunter access program.

Please PM me with more info if you have it, I will report him to the Tribe here if this is said true.

[Gun Rod Bow]

Might be more productive if we could get an e-mail address of the prosecuter and let him/her know that those of use who apply for sheep tags year after year in hopes of someday recieving a lawfull tag would like to see serious penalties for such a blatant act of poaching that true sport hunters do not stomach.

Can someone find the e-mail addy and post it so we can send e-mails before the trial?

[CombinationLicense]

The article indicates that he will be arraigned in Baker County Circuit Court so the court's contact information is:

District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff
Baker County Courthouse
1995 Third Street
Baker City, OR 97814
541-523-8205
justice@bakercounty.org

"CL"

[Gun Rod Bow]

Originally Posted by CombinationLicense

The article indicates that he will be arraigned in Baker County Circuit Court so the court's contact information is:

District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff
Baker County Courthouse
1995 Third Street
Baker City, OR 97814
541-523-8205
justice@bakercounty.org

"CL"

Thanks CL. Here is what I wrote to the DA's office. Please take a moment if you want to see pachers prosecuted.

To Whomever the prosecutor of the James Bronson poaching case will be.

Dear sir/madam,

I am a lifelong hunter and apply for bighorn sheep tags in Oregon every year in hopes of a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt a wild bighorn sheep.

Sport hunters have supported the reintroduction and support of bighorn sheep populations to huntable numbers and for a poacher to steal this opportunity is simply outrageous to myself and any sport hunter.

We hear too often of poaching crimes not being taken seriously and minimal punishment being handed down. Please consider that auction tags for bighorn sheep often bring $100,000 into fish and wildlife departments.

Please consider this crime as seriously as we do.

Thanks,

XXXXXXX
XXXXX, OR

It took me about a minute.

[Smarta Way]

no surprise. non treaty...

[loper]

With the Legislature coming to town in less than two months perhaps they also need to be made aware that the current monetary penalties for this crime are inadequate:

Here is the relevant Oregon Revised Statute:
496.705 Damage suits for unlawful killing of wildlife; jurisdiction of courts. (1) The State Fish and Wildlife Commission may institute suit for the recovery of damages for the unlawful taking or killing of any of the wildlife referred to in subsection (2) of this section that are the property of the state. (2) The damages referred to in subsection (1) of this section shall be as follows:
(b) Each mountain sheep or mountain goat, $6,800.


With the auction tag averaging over $100,000 for the past 5 years and raffle tag sales bringing in at least $50,000/year, it is ridiculous that a conviction would result in a civil penalty of $13,600 for two rams.