Talk about a “failing grade” in common sense. Lars Nelson of Peck, Idaho, decided the best place to bag a buck was the front lawn of an elementary school—after hours, naturally.
According to an article via Cowboy State Daily this February, using what officials believe was a crossbow, Nelson shot the deer, waited a couple of hours for the coast to clear, and then hauled the carcass into his pickup. Unfortunately for him, the school’s surveillance cameras were the only ones “in session” that night.
The Rap Sheet
After a long investigation involving search warrants in Washington and some “CSI-style” DNA testing on deer blood, the law finally caught up with him. Here’s how the judge schooled him:
- Jail Time: Two 48-hour weekends in the county lockup (plus a massive 174 days hanging over his head if he messes up).
- The Tab: Roughly $1,640 in fines, penalties, and court fees.
- Probation: Two years of unsupervised “stay out of trouble” time.
- The Kicker: A five-year ban on hunting privileges.
A Growing (and Weird) Trend
Wildlife officers are calling this a “first,” noting that the community was understandably heated. It’s hard to blend in as a rugged outdoorsman when you’re poaching in general, much less in a school zone.
Nelson isn’t the only one making headlines for urban hunting, though. He joins a hall of shame that includes:
- A guy in Wyoming using Coke bottles as silencers.
- Another individual in Cody charged with an 18-count “killing spree” involving nine deer scattered around town.
The Moral of the Story: If you’re looking for wildlife, stick to the woods. If you’re at an elementary school at midnight with a crossbow, the only thing you’re guaranteed to catch is a criminal record. But, does the punishment match the crime?