Man sentenced for illegal Colorado trophy hunts targeting big game animals
Timothy Rawlings facilitated unlawful hunts of mountain lions, elk, and bears without a license, violating the Lacey Act and multiple state laws.
A hunter has been sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for illegally facilitating a hunting operation targeting big game animals without a license in Colorado.
Timothy Rawlings, 56, of Arizona, illegally organized hunts for deer, elk, mountain lions, and bears through his business, Old West Guides and Outfitters, the plea agreement states. Because most of his clients were from out of state, the animals killed were taken across state lines.
As well as facilitating - also known as outfitting - hunts without a Colorado license, Rawlings also violated hunting regulations by chasing animals with vehicles, shooting wildlife from vehicles, hunting on unpermitted lands, and failing to register animals that were killed
Rawlings pleaded guilty to violating and the intent to violate the Lacey Act, one of the country’s oldest conservation laws, which prohibits the importation, exportation, transportation, sale, receipt, acquisition, or purchase of any fish, wildlife, or plant taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any U.S. law, treaty, or regulation.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Colorado Parks & Wildlife conducted an investigation into Rawlings who unknowingly guided undercover agents on an illegal hunt where they witnessed the violations.
“This was not a momentary lapse in judgment or isolated violation,” USFWS Office of Law Enforcement Assistant Director Douglas Ault said. “For several years, Rawlings and his associates systematically violated Colorado’s hunting and guiding regulations, orchestrating illegal hunts, and facilitating the unlawful take, transport, and sale of big game across state lines for monetary financial gain.
Rawlings received a one year federal prison sentence, must serve three years of supervised release, and will pay $45,800 in restitution.
His co-defendant, Howard Wayne Rodarmel, 71, was previously sentenced for this crime, and sentenced to three years of probation, along with $9,164 in restitution and a $2,000 fine for a related misdemeanor Lacey Act violation.
The fight to protect America’s wildlife is facing many challenges. Last year, Colorado voters rejected a grassroots ballot initiative that would have banned the hunting and trapping of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx, with 55.5 percent opposed and 45.5 percent in favor.
Around 505 mountain lions are legally killed during the annual winter hunting season, according to state officials, which animal welfare activists criticize as cruel and unfair. Outfitters “advertise an unsporting, guaranteed kill” using electronic calls and GPS technology, during which animals are typically cornered by packs of hounds and then shot by hunters at close range.
Meanwhile, an estimated 880 bobcats are legally trapped and killed for their furs in the state every year.
Supporters of big game hunting claim this method helps to keep wildlife populations stable, while opponents argue that food availability, territorial behavior and a slow reproduction rate naturally keep mountain lion numbers in check.
Dan Ashe, former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who supported the ballot initiative, told CBS News at the time that hunting big cats is not only unnecessary; it's unethical.
"Wealthy, out-of-state trophy hunters take Colorado mountain lions and bobcats for their heads and hides, using packs of dogs and high-tech gadgetry.”
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