July 28, 2011
By Kara Hansen Murphey, WestLinnTidings.com
The attorney of a West Linn man convicted of illegally taking a bull
elk he killed on a Wyoming hunting trip says his client is remorseful
and that he was misled by hunting guides.
Attorney Ron Hoevet said Jim Robinson of West Linn is among a handful
of customers of Big Horn Adventure Outfitters who have been prosecuted
for similar federal charges stemming from hunting on the company’s
Wyoming grounds.
Big Horn Adventure Outfitters offers private hunting and fishing
access to more than 100,000 acres of land in Ten Sleep, Wyo., near the
Bighorn National Forest.
As many as seven customers – in addition to Robinson – have recently
faced federal charges, Hoevet said. On the other hand, “Big Horn
Adventure Outfitters, the guide, induced folks to go hunting, and they
haven’t yet been prosecuted.”
“They’ve been prosecuting the low-hanging fruit,” he said.
Robinson also is among among almost 30 hunters pictured with trophy
elk they landed in a photo gallery on the Big Horn Adventure Outfitters
website.
Hoevet contends the hunting guide told Robinson, who had a license to
kill a cow elk, that he could use a “landowners tag” if he needed one
for a bull elk.
But while the guide had five such tags, Hoevet said, “The truth is
these landowner tags are not transferable.”
Even so, Robinson does not plan to sue Big Horn Adventure Outfitters,
Hoevet said, and he is fine with the terms of a plea deal requiring him
to participate in public service announcements and speak publicly about
issues related to federal wildlife laws.
“Jim is very remorseful for his conduct in this affair, and he has
accepted responsibility from the beginning when he was first contacted
(by fish and game officials),” Hoevet said. “He is prepared to help
others.”
