Poach and Pay - 2026 Update
The Boone and Crockett Club’s Poach and Pay research was released in September 2025, and recent activities have shown the program continues to have traction.
The Deputy County Attorney for Ravalli County, Montana, used the Poach and Pay research this summer to convict a career poacher who had committed wildlife crimes since the early 2000’s. It took the jury just over 3 hours to convict Jason R. Davis on all 18 charges, including five felonies, for the unlawful killing of trophy big game animals. The judge revoked Davis’ bail after the jury verdict was announced with sentencing set for 9 a.m. on August 26. The prosecutor is anticipating a prison commit from the Court and has asked Boone and Crockett Club CEO Tony A. Schoonen to testify at the sentencing.
Further south, Schoonen and Poach and Pay researcher and Professional Member, Jon Gassett, gave a presentation at the Private Lands Summit during the Texas Wildlife Association’s annual conference. The packed room included both Regular and Professional members of the Boone and Crockett Club, the Director of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the chair of the state Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus along with a number of large landowners. The presentation was well received, so much so that the state is considering implementing the Oregon model of hiring roving prosecutors who are focused on wildlife and associated crimes.
Going forward, the Poach and Pay effort will continue to spread the word about the impacts and conservation cost of poaching. We have been working with several state houses to craft legislative language that includes appropriate fines and restitution and making sure those funds go back to the wildlife agency for conservation and law enforcement. In addition, the Ravalli County prosecution shows how valuable it can be to educate the judicial system that poaching is not a victimless crime.
