A Michigan man has lost his hunting license for life after allegedly poaching 18 gray wolves, bald eagles and more.
According to the Michigan DNR, Kurt Johnston Duncan, 56, of Chippewa County, pleaded guilty in September to seven poaching crimes after a DNR investigation.
Duncan must pay $27,000 in reimbursement for the animals illegally taken and $9,240 in court fees.
He also will lose all trapping and hunting privileges, serve 90 days of jail time, 18-24 months of probation and forfeit all items seized by the DNR.
“This is a historical case for the division and department,” said Chief Gary Hagler, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “We hope this poaching case acts as a deterrent to criminals for committing future wildlife crimes such as this. Our officers did an excellent job working as a team and building this investigation so it could move quickly through the criminal justice system.”
The DNR's investigation lasted months and found 125 wildlife misdemeanor crimes, and found Duncan committed numerous wildlife crimes of various species including wolves, bald eagles, deer, turkey and bobcat.
He pleaded guilty to three couns of illegal take and possession of wolves, three counts of illegal take and possession of bald eagles and one count of illegal commercialization of a protected species, a wolf.
