Idaho Fish and Game Conservation officers stumbled upon the carcass of a bighorn sheep last November while patrolling the Salmon River. Up on the riverbank, the officers noticed someone camping and promptly approached the man, who reportedly had blood on his hands and forearms.
After brief questioning, Paul Cortez of Nampa, Idaho admitted to shooting the bighorn as it went to the river for a drink of water. Shortly after he field dressed the animal and stowed the carcass in a rocky area above the water.
Cortez was cited for unlawfully killing a trophy big game animal, possession of an illegally taken bighorn sheep, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. This past April, the accused agreed to a plea agreement in which the second felony was dropped. He was subsequently charged with unlawfully killing a trophy big game animal and pleaded guilty.
Cortez was sentenced to 30 days in jail, received a fine of $10,000 and was handed a lifetime hunting ban at his sentencing last week.
H/T: The Spokesman-Review
