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Three active duty soldiers were just convicted of multiple misdemeanor wildlife charges after poaching five mule deer on Fort Carson, also known as “The Mountain Post,” and one on the surrounding state land. While it is legal to hunt on military bases, you still have to abide by local and federal wildlife laws.
According to a CPW press release, this case started back in November ‘24, when a hunter reported a poached mule deer buck to Fort Carson Conservation Law Enforcement Officers (CLEOs). The CLEOs then called in for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) backup. Wildlife Officer Deme Wright arrived on scene and discovered a buck with only a piece of the hindquarters removed and the antlers sawed off, along with a dead doe located approximately 100 yards away, also only partially processed and abandoned. The evidence at both locations clearly indicated poaching to the wildlife officer.
“It didn’t look like a normal harvest,” Wright told Colorado Outdoors. “That’s when you slow everything down.”
Wright processed both crime scenes and followed physical evidence, identifying a vehicle associated with the case. She quickly uncovered social media images that identified now-convicted Army Sergeant Jacob Curtis Keyser and his accomplice, Army Staff Sergeant Juan Salcedo. Search warrants for Keyser, his vehicle, and cell phone identified evidence of poaching and proof of multiple instances of trespassing on military and state lands.
“There’s no way a 21-year-old doesn’t take pictures of everything he shoots,” she said. “Cell phone imagery documented more poaching activity and provided digital metadata evidence with times, dates, and specific locations linked to each image. Messages and videos extracted from the phone showed deliberate disregard for hunting laws.”
Investigators later confirmed the involvement of a third soldier, who was fined for disposing of the illegally-taken venison before Keyser’s initial interview with Wright.
Keyser faced 30 wildlife charges, was fined $19,005, issued 180 suspension points, and forfeited his hunting rifle which will be destroyed by CPW. Co-conspirator Juan Salcedo faced 15 charges, was fined $8,817, and issued 65 suspension points. The third soldier, who remained unnamed, received a $900 fine.
“This case would not have moved forward without the help of the Fort Carson Conservation Law Enforcement Officers, Mike Allen, Paul Everett, 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Christian Wiesenberg and James Malis, and the timely reporting from hunters who discovered the crime scene,” Wright said. ”Poaching is a serious, costly crime which harms legitimate sportspersons, wildlife viewers, small business owners and taxpayers.”
Additionally, a CPW suspension hearing will occur to determine the duration of hunting and fishing suspensions, if any, that these poachers will face, with the possibility of a lifetime ban with reciprocity across all 50 states because of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
“I care about wildlife, I care about the science behind what we do, and I have great respect for our law-abiding, ethical hunters,” Wright said. “If you poach in Colorado, I’ll follow the evidence, I’ll find you, and I’ll cut your rifle into scrap metal.”
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17 Comments
I’m skeptical about the effectiveness of fines as a deterrent, given that the poachers seemed to be motivated by a disregard for the law rather than financial gain.
The cooperation between the Fort Carson Conservation Law Enforcement Officers, CPW, and the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s office is a positive example of interagency collaboration in combating wildlife crimes.
The mention of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact and the possibility of a lifetime ban across all 50 states adds a layer of complexity to the case and underscores the importance of national cooperation in combating poaching.
The fact that the poachers only partially processed and abandoned the deer carcasses suggests a lack of respect for the animals and the environment, and it’s disturbing to think about the motivations behind such actions.
The quote from Wildlife Officer Deme Wright, ‘It didn’t look like a normal harvest,’ highlights the importance of trained officers in detecting and preventing poaching on military bases and state lands.
The use of social media images to identify the poachers is a clever investigative technique, and it’s surprising that Keyser and Salcedo were so brazen about their activities online.
The case highlights the importance of educating hunters and the general public about the laws and regulations surrounding hunting and wildlife conservation, to prevent similar incidents in the future.
I’m concerned about the potential impact of poaching on the local ecosystem and the mule deer population in particular, and I hope that conservation efforts will be strengthened as a result of this case.
The involvement of a third soldier, who was fined $900 for disposing of the illegally-taken venison, raises questions about the extent of the poaching operation and whether there were others involved.
It’s concerning that the poachers, including Keyser and Juan Salcedo, showed deliberate disregard for hunting laws, as evidenced by the cell phone imagery and messages extracted from Keyser’s phone.
The fact that the case started with a hunter reporting a poached mule deer buck to Fort Carson Conservation Law Enforcement Officers (CLEOs) shows the value of community involvement in preventing wildlife crimes.
I’m curious about the specifics of the CPW suspension hearing and how it will determine the duration of hunting and fishing suspensions for the convicted poachers.
The severity of the penalties, including the fines and suspension points, reflects the seriousness with which authorities view poaching, and it’s reassuring to see that those responsible are being held accountable.
The fact that Army Sergeant Jacob Curtis Keyser faced 30 wildlife charges and was fined $19,005 is a significant penalty, but I wonder if it’s enough to deter others from poaching on military bases like Fort Carson.
I agree, the fine seems substantial, but the possibility of a lifetime ban with reciprocity across all 50 states might be a more effective deterrent.
It’s worth noting that the poaching incident occurred on both military and state lands, highlighting the need for cooperation between different agencies to prevent and investigate wildlife crimes.
The role of technology, including cell phone imagery and digital metadata, in investigating and prosecuting poaching cases is a significant development and one that could have far-reaching implications for wildlife law enforcement.