Outfitter sentenced for illegal mountain lion hunt

GRAND JUNCTION, CO—An outfitter has pled guilty to conducting an unauthorized mountain lion hunt in February 2005 in Eagle County, Colorado, on public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Gary Singer, who resides in Oak Creek, Colorado, pled guilty on August 2, 2005 in U.S. District Court to providing false details on the kill location to the Colorado Division of Wildlife when completing an official mandatory mountain lion check form. The guilty plea was part of a plea agreement entered into by Singer.

As part of the plea agreement, Singer was sentenced to pay $12,000 in fines, with $4,000 suspended for one year. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Singer is restricted to vehicular travel only on all BLM-administered public land within the State of Colorado, and then only on roads or highways maintained by county, state or federal governments for a period of one year.

In addition, the non-resident hunter that hired Singer to guide his hunt has been fined $5,000 for his involvement in the incident. Hunters are advised that it is their responsibility to know the laws and encouraged to use reputable outfitters.

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