MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A man was temporarily banned from hunting after the California Department of Fish and Wildlife recognized “distinctive” antlers mounted on his wall.
CDFW wildlife officers were conducting a routine inspection at a local taxidermy shop in Madera County in September 2023 when they say “a distinctive antlered deer mount” caught their eye.
They recognized the antlers from a buck that was photographed in Yosemite Lakes Park, a residential community near Coarsegold where hunting is prohibited.
However, attached to the mount was an A19 Archery/X10 tag claiming the deer had been taken in Inyo County near Mount Whitney — more than 100 air miles away.
Due to the striking similarities, officers decided to compare the dates with the photos; in doing so, they confirmed the mounted deer was indeed alive in Yosemite Lakes Park just days before the reported harvest.
They obtained a search warrant for the hunter’s home, where they say they found photos showing the deer behind his house on the same day it was claimed to have been taken in the X10 deer zone.
Multiple charges were filed against the hunter, and in September, he pleaded guilty to the falsification of documents submitted to CDFW and the unlawful taking of a mammal. As a result, he was sentenced to a three-year hunting ban, one year of probation, forfeiture of the deer, mandatory re-completion of hunter education, court fees, and 80 hours of community service.
by: Miranda Adams
Posted: Nov 14, 2025 / 09:39 PM PST
Updated: Nov 14, 2025 / 09:39 PM PST
Originally published at: https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/hunter-caught-falsifying-tags/
