Increased Civil Penalties For Poaching

The State Game Commission raised civil penalties for poaching September 28, 2006.
Their official action determined:

A) Characteristics that constitute a trophy animal.
B) Qualifying circumstances; the event or evidence that would lead one to believe this is an illegally killed or taken trophy animal based on certain pre-determined criteria.
C) Inherent value of trophy; the value to the state of the illegal loss of the game animal.

Rule Parameters:

Civil Liability Circumstances:

A. Game animal and game bird: The director or any officer may file a civil action in any court of jurisdiction for the trophy value of a game animal or bird providing that evidence and information indicate that the game was killed or possessed out of season, taken with the aid of artificial light, taken without a proper license, exceeded the bag limit or resulted in waste of game.

B. Game fish: The director or any officer may file a civil action in any court of jurisdiction for the trophy value of a game fish providing that evidence and information indicate that the game fish was killed, taken or possessed exceeding the bag limit

Trophy Designation And Value

Scores are determined using the Safari Club International scoring system:

A. Antelope (Pronghorn) = $2000-$8000:

(1) A 14-inch buck is valued at two thousand dollars ($2,000.00).
(2) A Buck scoring 70.0 points – 75.9 points is valued at four thousand dollars ($4,000.00).
(3) A Buck scoring of 76.0 points – 79.9 points is valued at six thousand dollars ($6,000.00).
(4) A Buck scoring of 80.0 points or greater is valued at eight thousand dollars ($8,000.00).

B. Barbary sheep = $2000-$6000:

(1) A Ram with at least one of two horns that is 25.0 inches to 26.99 inches in length is valued at two thousand dollars ($2,000.00).
(2) A Ram with at least one of two horns that is 27.0 inches to 28.99 inches in length is valued at four thousand dollars ($4,000.00).
(3) A Ram with a least one of two horns that is 29.0 inches or greater in length is valued at six thousand dollars ($6,000.00).

C. Bighorn or mountain sheep = $5000-$10,000 (or greater if determined by Director):

(1) Any one ram, below the scoring of 150 points is valued at five thousand dollars ($5,000.00).
(2) Any one ram that has a total scoring of 150 points – 180 points is valued at ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00).

D. Deer =$2000-$10,000 (or greater if determined by Director):

(1) A mule deer buck with an inside antler spread that measures at least 20 inches is valued at two thousand dollars ($2,000.00).
(2) A mule deer buck that has a total scoring of 150.0 points – 174.9 points is valued at four thousand dollars ($4,000.00).
(3) A mule deer buck that has a total scoring of 175.0 points – 199.9 points is valued at six thousand dollars ($6,000.00).
(4) A mule deer buck that has a total scoring of 200.0 points – 214.9 points is valued at ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00).
(5) A Texas white-tailed deer buck (not Coues spp.) with an inside antler spread that measures at least 16 inches is valued at two thousand dollars ($2,000.00).
(6) A Texas white-tailed deer buck (not Coues spp.) that has a total scoring of 125.0 points – 144.9 points is valued at four thousand dollars ($4,000.00).
(7) A Texas white-tailed deer buck (not Coues spp.) that has a total scoring of 145.0 points – 164.9 points is valued at six thousand dollars ($6,000.00).
(8) A Texas white-tailed deer buck (not Coues spp.) that has a total scoring of 165.0 points – 199.9 points is valued at ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00).
(9) A Coues white-tailed deer buck with an inside antler spread that measures at least 10 inches is valued at two thousand dollars ($2,000.00).
(10) A Coues white-tailed deer buck that has a total scoring of 85.0 points – 99.9 points is valued at four thousand dollars ($4,000.00).
(11) A Coues white-tailed deer buck that has a total scoring of 100.0 points – 114.9 points is valued at six thousand dollars ($6,000.00).
(12) A Coues white-tailed deer buck that has a total scoring of 115.0 points – 129.9 points is valued at ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00).

E. Elk =$2000-$10,000 (or greater if determined by Director):

(1) A bull with at least six antlered points on one of two sides is valued at two thousand dollars ($2,000.00).
(2) A bull that has a total scoring of 280.0 points – 299.9 points is valued at four thousand dollars ($4,000.00).
(3) A bull that has a total scoring of 300.0 points – 319.9 points is valued at six thousand dollars ($6,000.00).
(4) A bull that has a total scoring of 320.0 points – 349.9 points is valued at eight thousand dollars ($8,000.00).
(5) A bull that has a total scoring of 350.0 points – 399.9 points is valued at ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00).

F. Ibex = $2000 – $10,000:

(1) A billy with at least one of two horns that is 35.0 inches in length is valued at two thousand dollars ($2,000.00).
(2) A billy that has a total scoring of 70.0 points – 79.9 points is valued at four thousand dollars ($4,000.00).
(3) A billy that has a total scoring of 80.0 points – 89.9 points is valued at six thousand dollars ($6,000.00).
(4) A billy that has a total scoring of 90.0 points – 99.9 points is valued at eight thousand dollars ($8,000.00).
(5) A billy that has a total scoring of 100.0 points or more is valued at ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00).

G. Oryx = $2000-$10,000:

(1) A oryx with one of two horns at least 34 inches in length is valued at two thousand dollars ($2,000.00).
(2) A oryx that has a total scoring of 84.0 points – 89.9 points is valued at four thousand dollars ($4,000.00).
(3) A oryx that has a total scoring of 90.0 points – 100.9 points is valued at six thousand dollars ($6,000.00).
(4) A oryx that has a total scoring of 101.0 or greater is valued at ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00).

H. Headless game animal: Any one game animal designated in 19.30.11.10 shall be valued at their minimum trophy amount as set forth above.

I. Turkey = $500:

(1) A tom that has at least a 10 inch or longer beard is valued at five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(2) A tom that has at least one foot-spur that is 1 inch or greater in length is valued at five hundred dollars ($500.00).

J. Wild Salmonidae = $150:

(1) A 1 trout or salmon that has a total length of at least 20 inches is valued at one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).