DENVER — Joshua Anders Rae, formerly of Jackson, Wyoming, pleaded guilty to illegally possessing and transporting 104 pounds of unlawfully taken elk antlers. Through a plea deal with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Rae was sentenced to five years of unsupervised probation; a five year ban from the National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks; $15,000 in restitution to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department; and a loss of hunting privileges worldwide for five years.
Rae is the owner of the Great American Antler Company which sells antler pieces as dog chews. After a joint investigation between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service and Wyoming Game and Fish Department, law enforcement officers determined Rae had been unlawfully entering the National Elk Refuge and the Bridger-Teton National Forest during the elk’s overwintering season.
Deer, elk and moose winter in many areas surrounding Jackson Hole every year. These areas are closed to public access from January 1 to April 30 to minimize stress on wildlife populations during harsh Wyoming winters. On May 1, when most wintering wildlife populations have moved to spring and summer ranges, these areas are opened to the public, who are allowed to collect shed antlers with the proper permits.
In April 2016, officers were alerted to unknown persons unlawfully entering the National Elk Refuge and Bridger-Teton National Forest. When officers arrived, they discovered a hidden cache of freshly cut elk antlers that were cut into various sizes and buried in the ground. They subsequently searched other areas and found over 15 caches of elk antlers that had been cut and hidden in a similar fashion.
Officers began surveilling these caches on May 1 when antler collection was opened to the public. On June 2, 2016, they stopped a truck pulling a horse trailer as it was leaving the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The driver was Joshua Anders Rae. Officers found 104 pounds of cut elk antlers inside his stock panniers that were determined to be from the hidden caches. Officers later collected antlers from the remaining cache sites, which weighed an additional 410 pounds.
Collecting antlers is a popular pastime and can be a rewarding way to experience and enjoy public lands. The majority of outdoor enthusiasts obtain antlers legally.
Cooperating agencies for this investigation include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the United States Attorney’s Office.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and Instagram.
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