An Idaho man who impersonated a hunting guide and led several illegal hunts in Alaska’s Noatak National Preserve was ordered by an Alaskan judge to never hunt in the state again.
Paul Silvis, 52, of Nampa was also fined $20,000 and ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason to serve six months of home confinement followed by five years of supervised release, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday, as reported in the Anchorage Daily News.
U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder said in the announcement that Silvis pleaded guilty in October to two felony violations of the Lacey Act, which bans illegal wildlife trafficking.
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Prosecutors said that Silvis transported illegally taken game across state lines and gave the Alaska Department of Fish and Game false business records to cover up the illegal take.
Between 2009 to 2016, Silvis repeatedly violated state and federal law, illegally selling and providing unlicensed guide services under the name Orion Outfitters. Schroder said financial gain was the motive, as Silvis took in $121,500. Seven brown bears and a moose were harvested in the illegal hunts.
In specific cases cited, Silvis guided illegal hunts for residents of Idaho in September of 2013 and 2014. None of them possessed appropriate big-game tags.
Non-resident hunters pursuing brown bears in the Noatak National Preserve must contract with a licensed big-game guide, possess state permits and buy big-game tags.
The Noatak National Preserve, which covers 10,265-square miles, is located in northwestern Alaska where the nearest city is Kotzebue.
Unlike the two national parks that border it, the preserve allows hunting. Legal hunting, that is.
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