According to a news release from the Idaho Fish and Game authorities, a father and son who illegally shot and killed a grizzly bear, have been sentenced for their crime. Jared and Rex Baum of Ashton, Idaho, unlawfully killed the grizzly sow in March of 2021 – one of the bear’s cubs died when she failed to return to the den.
The bear’s body was found because she was wearing a research tracking collar; a mortality signal from the device led wildlife officials to Little Warm River where her body was found “half-submerged” in the water. A necropsy on the body revealed that the sow had been shot multiple times; 12 bullets were removed from her body.
The father/son duo admitted that they shot the bear – they claimed it was “mistaken identity” alleging that they thought the bear was a black bear, rather than a grizzly bear. Regardless, it was not black bear season when the sow was shot and killed. Jared told officials that he repeatedly shot the bear to “finish her” after realizing his alleged mistake and knowing that she was going to die.
The father and son threw their guns into a pond shortly after wildlife officials went public with the bear’s death in an attempt to locate the poachers.
The news release outlines the sentence for both men:
As part of a plea deal, Jared Baum pleaded guilty to a felony and was sentenced to 30 consecutive days in the Fremont County jail, three years of probation, two years fixed, and three years indeterminate sentence suspended, $2,500 in fines plus court costs, $10,000 in civil penalties, and a lifetime hunting revocation.
Rex Baum pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to a 180 days jail, 177 suspended, 3 days to serve in the Fremont County jail, $1,000 in fines plus court costs, $400 civil penalty, and a 10 year hunting revocation. Additionally, Idaho is a member of the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact, therefore Jared Baum’s hunting license will be revoked for life, and Rex Baum’s hunting license will be revoked for 10 years in all 48 member states.
(Stock image of grizzly bears via Pixabay free images)
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Sentenced? 30 days and 3 days? They kill a grizzly, her cub starves to death and they get probation? Yeah that’s fair, 2 lost lives for what? Hunters are NEVER made to pay a price for murder of wildlife! What good are laws if hunters get to walk away with little or no jail time. A man can still go to prison for life in some states if they have a marijuana joint, unbelievable!