Two sentenced for unlaful killing of a mule deer

In separate hearings in Elko County courts in late May, two men were sentenced for the unlawful killing of a mule deer, stemming from an illegal shooting in 2009.

Richard George Moore and Michael Ray Gunter, both of Wendover, were sentenced in separate hearings for the Nov. 21, 2009, incident. A game warden witnessed Moore shoot a trophy-class mule deer with a rifle during an archery only season. When the warden contacted the men, Moore had an arrow knocked in his bow, preparing to shoot the deer again, making it look like an arrow kill.

"Poachers very often masquerade as honest hunters or sportsmen to avoid detection," said Elko game warden Lt. Don Klebenow. "In this instance, we were lucky one of our game wardens was patrolling this deer wintering area when these men committed this crime."

Moore was sentenced in on May 17 in Elko District Court, for a gross misdemeanor of killing a mule deer with a method other than prescribed on the permit. He was ordered to forfeit his binoculars, bow, arrows, quiver, range finder and to pay a $5,000 in civil penalty. Moore also stipulated in the plea agreement that he would forfeit his hunting privileges to hunt, trap or fish for a period of five years, and forfeit the ability to apply to hunt big game animals for an additional five years.

Gunter pled Guilty on May 25 in Elko Justice Court, to a one count misdemeanor of unlawful possession of mule deer. He agreed to the revocation of his hunting privileges for three years, forfeiture of a firearm and pickup truck used in the crime, a civil penalty of $2,500 and an additional fine of $632.

Anyone with information on any poaching cases in Nevada can contact Operation Game Thief at (800) 992-3030. Callers can receive rewards for information and calls will remain anonymous.