Trophy Animal Fines House Bill (Audio)
Air Date:01/28/2010
By Jenifer Jones
A bill passed by the South Dakota House of Representatives makes illegally taking a trophy animal a lot more expensive. Representative Charlie Hoffman of Eureka says House Bill 1014 sets definitions for trophy animals and makes poachers subject to court-imposed criminal fines. Hoffman says those fines are higher if they illegally kill a trophy animal. For example, a non-trophy elk is subject to no more than $5,000 in fines, while a trophy elk is subject to no more than $10,000.
"It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to shoot an animal that is grown to these proportions and we should impose strict fines, civil penalties so that it does not happen, and if it does we make them pay," Hoffman says. "It's a good bill and it has stemmed poaching in other states and it will do so in this state."
The penalty applies to those hunting without a license, those hunting at a time or place where taking the animal is illegal, or those hunting more than their limit.
Member stations can download the audio file here.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
