A King County judge has dished out an 80-hour community service sentence and slapped a $8,000 fine on local big game poacher Jason Smith, 29. Smith faced an array of charges, totaling two felony counts of first-degree unlawful hunting of big game, alongside 27 gross misdemeanor counts for second-degree unlawful hunting, black bear baiting and wildlife waste, and a few misdemeanor charges for illegal hunting on private land, according to a news release from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
This sentence was the culmination of an exhaustive investigation. It began in 2021 when WDFW Police became suspicious of Smith's hunting triumphs flaunted on social media. Their probing led them to unearth evidence of Smith's serial poaching, including the illegal killings of four elk, four black bears, and five black-tailed deer in the state's western region. The investigation utilized a variety of technologies, from search warrants for social media to mapping tools, in a bid to paint the full portrait of Smith's actions.
Smith's methods were far from ethical; he is reported to have frequently used bait to lure animals and trespassed to hunt or collect his prey. One particularly egregious act involved leaving a carcass to rot because another person came across the poached elk first. Through text messages and social media, Smith vaunted his hunting skill, at times suggesting he deserved to be on extreme outdoor TV shows.
"Smith attempted to portray himself as a type of outdoor celebrity, using social media to boast - when in reality, there was nothing ethical about his actions," WDFW Captain Dan Chadwick stated. The case concluded with law enforcement searching Smith's residence and seizing parts of the wildlife he killed, plus additional animal parts found at a taxidermist. The WDFW Police prides itself on preserving natural resources and patiently chipped away at the case, which resulted in Smith's sentencing.
The department's efforts underscore its mission to protect the public and ensure the sustainability of the state's fish and wildlife for both recreation and commerce. The WDFW thanked both the King County Prosecutors Office and the Attorney General's Office Environmental Protection Division for their contributions to bringing the poacher to justice. With continued diligence, the WDFW hopes to deter such unethical hunts and foster a more responsible outdoor sporting community.
