DECATUR, Mich. (WWJ) – A West Michigan man has been told he can never hunt again after pleading guilty to poaching nine trophy bucks last year.
Justin Ernst, of Decatur, Mich. – about 30 miles southwest of Kalamazoo in Van Buren County – has been sentenced to 18 months in state prison, ordered to pay $25,000 in reimbursement and given a lifetime hunting revocation, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced Wednesday.
The 33-year-old was also ordered to forfeit all seized items.
The DNR says Michigan State Police troopers were investigating Ernst’s involvement in a domestic violence complaint last October when they contacted DNR conservation officers after noticing several deer in a nearby barn where Ernst “spent a significant amount of time.”
DNR officers then investigated, seizing eight illegal bucks in the barn, including five 10-point bucks and three 8-pointers.
A couple days later, the DNR received an anonymous tip reporting that Ernst had taken another deer, and conservation officers soon confirmed he had indeed taken a ninth trophy buck illegally.
Ernst pleaded guilty to:
• One count of felon in possession of a firearm
• One count of obtaining a hunting license when ineligible
• Three counts of Illegally taking/possessing whitetail deer
“We’re satisfied that this criminal will be imprisoned for robbing ethical hunters, damaging crops and endangering others by recklessly driving through fields and shooting deer at night,” said David Shaw, assistant chief, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division. “We hope this serious sentence serves its intended purpose and are grateful for the strong message rendered by the 36th Circuit Court.”
The DNR says to report poaching or other suspected natural resources violations, call the Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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