Deer poaching case in hunt area 135 solved

 

 Photo: Chris Baird, WGFD

Illegally taken mule deer head concealed under suspects camper trailer.

 

Contact: Lucy Diggins-Wold, Chris Baird, Neil Hymas                      January 12, 2016

Deer poaching case in hunt area 135 solved

KEMMERER-Thanks to some good detective work, perseverance, and a lot of patience, a mule deer poaching case near Kemmerer has been solved.

On October 4th 2015 Kemmerer Game Warden Chris Baird responded to a report of a wasted deer in the Coal Creek drainage in deer hunt area 135. Baird said the report pertained to an apparent waste of edible portions of a mule deer buck. While investigating the report of the wasted deer Warden Baird contacted the suspect and found that he had not tagged the first deer and was still hunting deer.

“Over the course of three days,” Baird said, “Cokeville Game Warden Neil Hymas and I conducted interviews and collected evidence, while the suspect continued to deny any wrong doing and remained uncooperative. Ultimately, Shawn P. Coburn, Evanston, WY, admitted to killing a four-point buck mule deer, intentionally not tagging that deer, and to continuing to hunt deer, attempting to take an over limit of big game. He also admitted to wasting edible portions of the deer in the field.”

On January 7 in Lincoln County Circuit Court Coburn plead guilty to charges of failing to tag a big game animal, waste of edible portions of a big game animal, and attempting to take an over limit of big game.

“The court and state agreed that these were very serious violations,” Baird said. “Mr. Coburn had multiple records of similar previous violations and was in violation of a previous court ordered firearms restriction from a family violence conviction in 2014. He was placed on unsupervised probation for 18 months, sentenced to serve six days in the Lincoln County jail, with 264 days suspended and ordered to pay $1060.00 in fines. The court suspended all of Mr. Coburn’s hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges for seven years. This sentence ordered that Coburn may not fish, trap, guide, or posses a firearm in the field where wildlife can be taken until 2023.”

Anyone with information on these or any wildlife violation may also call the Stop Poaching Hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847). Tips may be reported to any local game warden or online at wgfd.wyo.gov Tips may also be reported to the Green River Game and Fish Office at-1-307-875-3223. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000 if the information leads to a conviction.
                                                              ~WGFD~