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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 \u201cThe Mountain Post,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
According to a CPW press release, this case started back in November \u201824, 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cIt didn\u2019t look like a normal harvest,\u201d Wright told Colorado Outdoors<\/em>. \u201cThat\u2019s when you slow everything down.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no way a 21-year-old doesn\u2019t take pictures of everything he shoots,\u201d she said. \u201cCell 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Investigators later confirmed the involvement of a third soldier, who was fined for disposing of the illegally-taken venison before Keyser\u2019s initial interview with Wright.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThis 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,\u201d Wright said. \u201dPoaching is a serious, costly crime which harms legitimate sportspersons, wildlife viewers, small business owners and taxpayers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI care about wildlife, I care about the science behind what we do, and I have great respect for our law-abiding, ethical hunters,\u201d Wright said. \u201cIf you poach in Colorado, I\u2019ll follow the evidence, I\u2019ll find you, and I\u2019ll cut your rifle into scrap metal.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n