Matthew Jennings, host of the looking sequence The Sport, has been completely banned from looking and fishing in Kansas following two unlawful deer kills in the course of the 2022 season.
The violations have been found after Jennings featured each hunts on his present, triggering a federal investigation that ended with a responsible plea in U.S. District Courtroom.
The investigation revealed that on November 11, 2022, Jennings shot a white-tailed buck close to Florence, Kan., utilizing a tag that wasn’t legitimate for that area. The subsequent day, he falsely checked the deer into Oklahoma’s digital harvest system utilizing an Oklahoma-issued tag.
On November 19, Jennings harvested a second antlered deer close to Wakeeney. That tag was additionally legitimate, however Kansas legislation permits hunters to take just one antlered deer per season.
Jennings featured each deer in episodes of The Sport. Federal investigators later used that footage as proof within the case.
Convicted Underneath the Lacey Act
Jennings pled responsible to at least one depend of knowingly transporting illegally harvested wildlife throughout state strains in violation of the Lacey Act. The plea settlement and sentencing have been introduced by the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the District of Kansas.
Federal Decide Eric F. Melgren sentenced Jennings to five years of probation. The courtroom ordered him to pay $15,000 in restitution to the Kansas Division of Wildlife and Parks and a $10,000 superb. The courtroom ordered Jennings to forfeit the antlers from each illegally taken deer.
Whereas the lifetime ban on looking and fishing applies solely to Kansas, the phrases of Jennings’ probation embody sweeping restrictions throughout a lot of the Midwest. The courtroom barred him from looking, trapping, fishing, or accompanying anybody concerned in these actions in Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota throughout his 5-year probation.
Multi-Company Investigation
The case concerned a coordinated effort amongst a number of businesses. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Kansas Division of Wildlife and Parks, and recreation wardens from Oklahoma, Missouri, Georgia, and Alabama all performed a task within the investigation.
In keeping with courtroom paperwork, the U.S. Secret Service additionally assisted within the case.
Investigators used Jennings’ personal footage as key proof. They pulled location, timeline, and subject conduct straight from episodes of The Sport. Wildlife officers now regularly depend on this type of video documentation in enforcement instances the place hunts are filmed and shared publicly.
A Excessive-Profile Cautionary Story
Jennings’ case underscores the authorized threat that comes with pushing the boundaries of recreation legal guidelines, particularly for content material creators. Jennings didn’t simply take the deer illegally. He monetized them via present content material, and when he moved the carcasses throughout state strains, he triggered a transparent Lacey Act violation.
The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace emphasised that Matthew Jennings’ actions confirmed a “sample of disregard” for state looking rules. Through the use of out-of-state tags and exceeding the seasonal bag restrict, he not solely broke Kansas legislation, however he additionally dedicated a federal offense as soon as he crossed state borders with unlawfully taken recreation.
Authorized Penalties within the Content material Period
This case reveals that wildlife businesses are more and more holding looking personalities and influencers accountable for violations they doc on digicam. Federal authorities are watching, and photographs that when served as leisure can shortly turn out to be proof in a felony case.
Jennings has not made a public assertion because the sentencing. As of now, The Sport stays viewable on digital platforms like CarbonTV. It’s unclear if the present will proceed manufacturing throughout his probation.
For these within the looking business, this case affords a blunt reminder: If you happen to break the legislation on digicam, count on to face the results in courtroom.
FAQ’s
1. How much is a lifetime hunting license in the state of Kansas?
A Kansas resident lifetime hunting license costs $500, and a lifetime combination hunting and fishing license costs $960.
2. What did Matt Jennings do?
Matt Jennings illegally killed a second buck in Kansas, exceeding the legal limit, and filmed it for his hunting show. He received a lifetime hunting ban in Kansas, probation, and fines.
3. Does Missouri offer a lifetime hunting license?
Yes, Missouri offers lifetime permits for residents only, with prices based on age. They include small game or combination permits, but deer and turkey require separate permits.
4. Do I need a hunting license in Kansas?
Yes, if you are a Kansas resident between the ages of 16 and 74, you need a hunting license unless exempt. Hunters born after July 1, 1957, also need hunter education certification.