I don’t approve of poaching. But I understand why an impoverished hunter might poach to feed their family. Poaching for a trophy kill? Lying to cut the line for a once-in-a-lifetime tag? Are you kidding? I’ve got zero respect for Larry Altimus. From sanluisobispo.com:
Every time a hunter applies for the Utah big game hunting permit, but doesn’t get one, he or she receives a bonus point. That increases the person’s odds of getting one later on, according to Utah’s Division of Wildlife Services.
But as a non-resident, Larry Altimus’ chances were still slim, wildlife authorities said. If he claimed residency in Utah, he knew he’d have a better chance of drawing a permit reserved for state residents, authorities said. Altimus lived in Pearce, Arizona.
So in March 2014, he used the address of a home he rented in Kanab, Utah to apply for one of those 10 in-state permits, authorities said. A few months later he finally got one.
Mr. Altimus headed for southwestern Utah where he shot a desert bighorn ram (picture above). Someone saw his posted pic and ratted him out.
A jury found Altimus, a professional hunting guide (no less), guilty of poaching.
Thanks to the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact, Mr. Altimus is now banned from hunting in every state save Delaware, Massachusetts and Hawaii. For ten years. But he can, you know, watch clients hunt.
Anyone amoral enough to hire the convicted hunting guide might want to check all the local hunting laws before heading out. Just sayin’ . . .