Federal authorities have accused a Colorado man and a guide from Oregon of illegally capturing and maiming mountain lions and bobcats as part of a scheme to make hunting the cats easier for their clients. The U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday that Christopher Loncarich, of Mack, Colo., and Nicholaus Rodgers, of Medford, Ore., have been indicted on charges including transportation and sale of unlawfully taken wildlife.
Authorities say Loncarich is a big game outfitter who operated in Western Colorado and Eastern Utah border. He outfitted and guided hunts for mountain lions and bobcats in the Bookcliffs Mountains.
Prosecutors accuse Loncarich and his assistant guides of shooting cats in the paws or legs or attaching leghold traps to them prior to hunts and releasing the cats when clients were nearby.
Court records did not indicate if the two men had attorneys.
“Chris Loncarich of Loncarich Guides and Outfitter has developed quite a hunting niche for himself,” the Hunting Report wrote in 2002. “Although these are six-day hunts, most of his clients fill their tags out in less time, so it’s possible to kill two cats and stick to a reasonable hunt schedule.”
The website said, “Last year, Loncarich produced lions for most of his hunters.”
The Justice Department said four assistant guides have pleaded guilty in connection with the case.
More coverage on this case: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_24871853/hunting-guides-accused-maiming-illegally-trapping-big-cats & http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2014/January/14-enrd-015.html
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