Suspect Arrested in California for Poaching Nearly 1,000 Black Bass, Deer, and Bear
Authorities uncovered a large quantity of illegally obtained wildlife from a Bakersfield resident.
A poaching suspect in Bakersfield, California, was arrested on September 24th after a months-long investigation revealed a significant haul of illegally harvested wildlife, including 931 black bass, deer antlers, and packaged deer and bear meat. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced the arrest, stemming from an investigation into suspected poaching activity.
According to the CDFW, a wildlife officer identified a suspect involved in numerous poaching incidents. Evidence gathered during the investigation led to the belief that the suspect had illegally harvested several deer without the proper licenses or tags, taken deer out of season, and included does and spike bucks that were not legally harvestable. Search warrants were executed on two properties in Kern County, one in Bakersfield and another in Stallion Springs. At the Bakersfield property, agents reportedly found substantial evidence linking the suspect to various wildlife crimes.
The seized items included numerous packages of suspected deer and bear meat, 931 black bass, and six sets of deer antlers. Social media images displayed the collected evidence, including coolers filled with black bass and deer heads with antlers.
The suspect was booked into Kern County Jail and faces multiple charges, including unlawful possession of deer, unlawful take of deer, and taking fish and wildlife in excess of the daily bag limit. Samples of the meat and antlers have been sent to the CDFW's Wildlife Forensics Lab for DNA analysis to determine the sex and genetic profile of each sample. This analysis will help confirm the exact number of deer and bear the suspect was in possession of.
This arrest occurred one day before three other individuals were apprehended in the Angeles National Forest for illegally hunting deer. Officers, acting on a public tip, observed two vehicles using spotlights for hunting, which is illegal and dangerous. Upon stopping the vehicles, officers noted blood on the suspects' clothing and hands, leading to the discovery of firearms and two illegally killed female deer, one of which had been completely skinned and the other cut into four pieces.