Ahead of Wyoming's shed antler and horn collection season, a federal court handed down a host of penalties to an Idaho man who pleaded guilty to selling more than 1,000 pounds of poached elk antlers.
According to Tuesday's announcement, Jonathan Lee Cox, 31, of Twin Falls, Idaho, was ordered on March 11 to pay a $6,100 fine. He was also banned from entering Wyoming public lands for three years and lost all hunting privileges worldwide for three years as well.
In the announcement, officials explained that Cox pleaded guilty in December 2023 to a felony charge for attempting to transport and sell more than 1,000 pounds of poached antlers, with an estimated value of $18,000, from the National Elk Refuge and Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Officials added that Cox violated both the Lacey Act, which prohibits the sale of illegally collected wildlife, as well as Wyoming state law.
David Bonham, the regional law enforcement chief for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, called antler poaching as "an ongoing problem." He explained that as the market value for elk antlers goes up, they're seeing more theft and trespassing on the Elk Refuge.
Under Wyoming law, the legal antler season opens May 1 for state residents and May 8 for non-state residents. However, antler collection is illegal at all times on the National Elk Refuge.
Bonham called the opening of the season "a big deal" for the area. The reason is people who buy shed antlers turn them into an assortment of consumer goods, such as dog chews, buttons, knife handles, and even wall ornaments.
Bonham added that the demand for shed antlers has grown so high that hundreds of cars line up on the entrance road to the National Elk Refuge each year on opening day.
"We send five to seven additional officers to the Refuge for this event each year to serve as first responders," Bonham said. "Our goal is to make sure everyone stays safe and prepared for whatever the conditions may be."
