A Utah hunting guide faces sentencing Monday in 6th District Court on a felony and three other charges for helping another man pass off a black bear killed illegally in Utah as an Idaho bear.
Dennis Wilson, Parowan, pleaded guilty to giving false information for a state report, a felony. He also admitted illegal importing of a bear, unlawful possession and using another's bear tag, all misdemeanors.Wilson and Wade Lemon, Holden, Millard County, treed the bear in Iron County on June 10, three days after Utah's bear hunting season closed, according to Idaho Fish and Game Department Senior Conservation officer Bill London.
Wilson then phoned hunter Paul Gargis of Henderson, Nev. Gargis drove to the treed bear and killed it. The method is called a will-call hunt and is illegal in Utah, even in season, but allowed in Idaho.
Idaho's bear season was still open, so Wilson brought the bear to the Fish and Game office in Pocatello and claimed it had been killed near Challis, the officer said.
London and another Idaho conservation officer were suspicious because they saw no hounds or camping gear in Wilson's pickup truck. Utah officials received an anonymous tip that the bear had been killed illegally.
Wilson took the bear to a Utah taxidermist for processing, using Idaho game papers. Officials investigated and both states filed charges.
Sentencing is pending on Gargis' guilty plea to two misdemeanor charges. Wilson, Lemon and Gargis also have pleaded guilty to Utah charges, London said.