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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Outdoors blog

Anti-wolfer faces felony elk charges

HUNTING -- Tony Mayer of Twin Falls, Idaho, -- founder of the anti-wolf website SaveElk.com -- is charged with illegally killing a bull elk with antlers so large the crime qualifies as a felony.

A judge on Tuesday ruled that Mayer must come back to Blaine County 5th District Court to stand trial for felony elk poaching, according to the Times-News in Twin Falls.

Magistrate Judge Jason Walker ruled that the case against Mayer qualifies as a felony after elk horns from the animal he allegedly took were measured and found to be trophy size.

Mayer is accused of elk poaching in northern Blaine County on Oct. 3, 2009, three days after the close of the bow hunting season. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game started an investigation after Mayer posted photos of the elk on some websites.

An elk is considered a trophy animal if its horns receive a score of 300 or more, based on a series of measurements formalized by the Boone and Crockett Club. Idaho Fish and Game officials scored the horns at around 303.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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