Below is a news release from the Nevada Department of Wildlife. For 2025, Fiocchi partnered with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to increase the visibility of poaching incidents in an effort to reduce poaching.
A man and woman have been convicted of wildlife-related crimes in connection with the illegal killing of a trophy-class bull elk inside Great Basin National Park in November 2022.
The case began after multiple concerned members of the public reported a possible illegal harvest of a 6×6 bull elk on November 9, 2022. An investigation by Nevada Game Warden Nick Brunson confirmed the elk had been killed more than half a mile inside the boundaries of Great Basin National Park, an area closed to all hunting. The case was referred to the White Pine County District Attorney’s Office, which subsequently filed charges.
The female defendant, who held a valid Nevada elk tag, pled guilty/no contest in May 2024 to hunting in a closed area. She was fined $415.
The male defendant pled guilty in March 2025 to possession of an unlawfully harvested big game animal, a gross misdemeanor. He was sentenced to 15 days in jail (suspended) and placed on 12 months of parole and probation. He was also ordered to pay $738 in court-related costs and a $5,000 civil penalty to the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW).
As part of the investigation, NDOW seized the elk’s antlers with the skull attached, its skinned cape and the remaining processed meat. No firearms, vehicles or other equipment were seized.
“This case is a strong example of how public reports, effective investigation, and interagency cooperation help protect Nevada’s wildlife,” said Chief Game Warden Kristy Knight. “We take these violations seriously, especially when they involve illegal activity in protected areas like Great Basin National Park.”
NDOW reminds all hunters to know their boundaries and abide by all state and federal hunting regulations. Hunting within national parks is strictly prohibited.
(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)