By Rocky Mountain News
September 26, 2006
It only took three out-of-state hunters a couple of minutes to
violate half a dozen wildlife laws in extreme eastern Mesa County south
of Silt. And now they’ll pay fines of more than $8,800 dollars for
illegally getting a jump on Colorado's muzzleloader elk season, and
breaking a number of other laws.
Donald G. Wilshire, 41, of Georgetown, Ky., was cited for shooting an
elk with a muzzleloader rifle before the opening of the muzzleloader
season.
Darrell G. Wilshire, 61, and Betty J. Wilshire, 59, of Oak Hill, W.
Va., were cited for unlawfully transferring a hunting license to another
person and using an electronic device to further a wildlife crime.
Colorado Division of Wildlife officers were tipped to the group last
year by hunters who suspected they weren’t hunting legally.
District Wildlife Managers Will Spence, Brian Gray, and JT Romatzke
and a division investigator monitored the Wilshire's camp near West
Willow Creek in September.
On Sept. 5, officers saw Donald Wilshire leave the family camp and go
to a nearby hunting area where he used a scoped muzzleloader rifle to
kill a bull elk.
He radioed back to the camp and instructed Betty and Darrell Wilshire
to drive to town and purchase the proper hunting license to cover the
kill.
Colorado's muzzleloader season was Sept. 9-17, so the kill took place
before the proper season.
It is also illegal in Colorado to use a scope on a muzzleloader
outside of the regular rifle seasons, which do not begin until October.
Additionally, it is illegal for an individual to purchase a license
after killing an animal.
Add to that, licenses are non-transferable and it is illegal for
someone to kill an animal using another person's license and using a
radio to communicate information to further a wildlife crime is also
against state law.
On Sept. 6, officers from the DOW entered the Wilshire camp and
confronted them with the evidence.
During the course of the investigation it was also determined that
Donald Wilshire had committed a similar violation in the killing of a
cow elk in 2005.
Donald Wilshire was cited for illegal possession of a bull elk,
unlawfully receiving another person's license, hunting outside and
established season, and possession and transfer charges related to the
2005 incident.
He also was issued a warning citation for conspiracy, hunting without
daylight fluorescent orange, and failing to properly void an elk
license.
In total, he paid $5,000 in fines and was assessed 95 points against
his hunting and fishing privileges in Colorado.
Betty Wilshire and Darrell Wilshire were cited for illegal possession
of a bull elk, unlawful transfer of a license and unlawful use of an
electronic device.
They each paid $1,918 in fines and were assessed 45 points against
their hunting and fishing privileges.
The muzzleloader and radios used in the crime were seized.
Because the three individuals were all assessed more than 20 license
suspension points, they also face the loss of their hunting and fishing
privileges in Colorado and 23 other Wildlife Violator Compact states.
An administrative hearing will be held to determine the length of any
potential suspensions.
