Idaho Poacher Convicted and Two Others Charged

Coeur d’Alene resident Joel Rose (born in 1963) was convicted in a Kootenai County Court on June 27, 2025.  The IDFG’s investigation into Rose started in September 2024 when IDFG received a tip from the Citizens Against Poaching tip line.  Rose had shot a bull elk on September 10 with a rifle during the archery season.  On September 11, 2024, IDFG Officers served a search warrant at Rose’s residence.  They located the bull elk that they determined had been shot twice with a rifle.  They also were able to determine that Rose had inserted an arrow into the carcass to cover up the evidence that it was shot with a bullet.  IDFG Investigators were also able to ballistically match the bullet recovered from the elk with the rifle that they seized during the search warrant.

Trophy Bull Status

A criminal case was filed in Kootenai County on October 9, 2024, and an arrest warrant was issued for Rose that same day.  Originally Rose was charged with Felony Unlawful Killing of Wildlife and Felony Destruction of Evidence.  The bull elk scored over 300 inches using the Boone and Crockett scoring system so the charge was upgraded to a “trophy” animal.  

Will Punishment Fit the Crime?

Rose did not get/accept a plea deal and took the case to trial.  After a two-day trial, the jury found Rose guilty of the Felony Unlawful Killing of the bull elk but acquitted him of the Destruction of Evidence.  Rose will be back in front of a Kootenai County Judge on August 22, 2025, for his sentencing hearing.  

More Idaho Poachers

Also in Kootenai County, on June 27, 2025, two men were charged with the alleged crime of killing seven whitetail deer in November 2024.  Warrants ($50,000 bonds) were issued for the arrest of William Clark (24) and Lucas Mitchell (28) on June 30th.  Both suspects have been arrested on those warrants and Clark was arraigned on his charges on July 8th.  Mitchell is set to be arraigned on July 16th.  Clark is facing two Felony charges to include Criminal Conspiracy and Unlawful Killing of Wildlife.  Mitchell faces six felony charges to include the same two as Clark on top five other wildlife related felony charges.  

IDFG Investigators were able to identify that five of the seven deer were allegedly killed within a 24-hour period.  Of those seven deer that were illegally killed, three were “trophy” class bucks.  A “Trophy” whitetail buck is classified as a buck scoring over 130 inches as scored by the Boone and Crockett scoring system.  IDFG alleges that all the deer were taken at night and the meat from three of the deer were left to waste.  This case will likely take some time to make it through the court process.  These are allegations at this point and these two should be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  

Editor’s Opinion

It seems there is no end to poachers’ appetites, while I honestly think that stiffer penalties would help, I’m not sure it would totally curb the behavior. What say you? – TH