COEUR D’ALENE, ID – A man has been convicted of a felony following the unlawful killing and wasting of a trophy-class bull moose in north Idaho, thanks to quick action and a tip submitted by fellow hunters.

According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Raymond A. Black, of Kellogg, illegally shot a moose with a high-powered rifle on November 6, 2024, , despite not having a valid moose tag. The moose, a once-in-a-lifetime species in Idaho, was killed while standing in the middle of a U.S. Forest Service road near Wolf Lodge Saddle in Kootenai County.

After the shooting, Black reportedly attempted to load the moose carcass into his vehicle but became stuck in the snow. He left on foot to seek help and was later picked up by two hunters. The hunters, suspicious of inconsistencies in his story, recorded his license plate and promptly submitted the information through the Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) hotline.

When Black eventually returned to his vehicle and got it unstuck, he fled the scene, leaving the entire moose carcass behind to waste.

Based on the tip and subsequent investigation, Fish and Game conservation officers executed a search warrant at Black’s residence, where they seized the rifle used in the crime and other related evidence.

Black later pleaded guilty to a felony charge of unlawful killing, possession, or wasting of wildlife. Under Idaho law, the unlawful killing of a trophy species like a bull moose—valued at $10,000 in reimbursable damages—is classified as a felony.

On July 8, 2025, Black was sentenced in Kootenai County District Court to:

• $1,500 in fines

• $10,000 in restitution

• $250 in meat processing fees

• $245.50 in court costs

• Six months in county jail

• Three years of supervised probation as part of a suspended prison sentence

• Lifetime revocation of hunting and trapping privileges in Idaho

Through the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, the lifetime hunting and trapping ban will apply in all participating U.S. states, excluding Hawaii.

Idaho Fish and Game expressed appreciation to the Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office and emphasized the key role of the citizens who reported the crime. “Their prompt and responsible actions played a crucial role in holding the violator accountable and helped in protecting Idaho’s treasured wildlife resources,” the agency said.

To report a wildlife crime, the public is encouraged to contact the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999 or submit a report online. Cash rewards may be available for credible tips that lead to charges.