Attorney General Kris Mayes announced that a State Grand Jury has indicted fourteen individuals on charges related to poaching wildlife across Arizona. The 30-count indictment includes allegations of conspiracy, illegally conducting an enterprise, theft, and animal cruelty. The accused are alleged to have poached animals such as bighorn sheep, elk, pronghorn antelope, deer, javelina, and turkey between 2018 and 2021. The state claims these activities resulted in over $200,000 worth of wildlife losses.
The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. The investigation was conducted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Poaching is described as a significant threat to Arizona's natural resources. It disrupts wildlife management efforts and diminishes opportunities for outdoor activities like hunting and fishing. To combat this issue, the Arizona Game and Fish Department operates Operation Game Thief (OGT), a program encouraging public reports of poaching violations through a toll-free hotline available around the clock.
For those wishing to report suspicious activity or violations, the OGT hotline can be reached at 1-800-352-0700 or via their website.