Game commission executive director Carl Roe says new penalties took effect Tuesday that will reverse the state's reputation as a haven for chronic poachers.
Under the new rules, poachers face heavier fines and the possibility of jail time. Roe says the state previously considered big game poaching the legal equivalent of a traffic ticket. Now they could face a criminal court.
Roe says the poaching of a single dear now carries a minimum fine of $1,000 and could result up to 90 days in jail and a five-year hunting license revocation. Heavier penalties including jail terms up to three years are possible for repeat offenders.
