Stop Repeat Wildlife Criminals From Guiding Hunts

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Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site

Wildlife criminals are slipping through legal gaps to guide hunts—this must end before more of our wildlife is lost forever.

Stop Repeat Wildlife Criminals From Guiding Hunts

Arizona hunting guide Timothy Rawlings was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for “numerous and severe” violations of the Lacey Act1, including illegal outfitting, hunting on unlicensed lands, chasing animals with vehicles, brokering questionable landowner vouchers, and failing to register animals taken2. These violations were not isolated mistakes but a calculated pattern over several years, targeting deer, elk, bears, and mountain lions for paying clients3.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife investigators, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, uncovered the scheme after suspicions arose about Rawlings’ operations. Undercover agents joined one of his hunts and witnessed violations firsthand4. Prosecutors said his actions stripped wildlife from the landscape, undermined conservation work, and betrayed the ethics of fair-chase hunting.

The Gap in Protection

Despite the severity of his crimes, current laws do not prevent someone with repeated Lacey Act violations from being licensed as a hunting guide in another state once their sentence is complete. Arizona, for example, requires guides to pass an exam and hold a valid license, but has no formal guide association and no automatic bar for serious federal wildlife crimes5. This gap allows offenders to re-enter the industry, profit again, and potentially repeat the same damage elsewhere.

The Lacey Act, enacted in 1900, remains a cornerstone of wildlife protection by prohibiting the trade, transport, or sale of illegally taken wildlife. But without explicit provisions to prevent convicted offenders from guiding hunts, it leaves an opening for exploitation.

Why Poaching Hurts Us All

Poachers target animals without regard for population health, breeding cycles, or ecological impact. Their actions can destabilize ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, and undo decades of conservation funded by hunters, wildlife advocates, and taxpayers. Each illegal hunt robs future generations of the chance to see and experience healthy wildlife populations.

Beyond the ecological cost, these crimes erode public trust in licensed guides and the hunting community as a whole. Ethical guides and sportsmen, who follow strict regulations and conservation practices, see their reputations tarnished by those who choose to break the law for profit.

We Can Close This Loophole

By amending the Lacey Act and strengthening state laws, we can ensure that anyone guilty of repeated violations is permanently barred from holding a guide license anywhere in the United States. This change would protect wildlife, preserve ethical hunting traditions, and send a clear message that our natural resources are not for exploitation.

Sign the petition today to demand stronger protections and stop repeat offenders from guiding hunts again.

More on this issue:

  1. Tracy Ross, The Colorado Sun (14 Aug 2025), "Arizona hunting guide gets prison time for “numerous and severe” list of violations in Colorado."
  2. Nolan Deck, Unofficial Networks (13 Aug 2025), "Colorado Poacher Sentenced for Illegal Interstate Hunting Scheme."
  3. Andrew McLemore, GearJunkie (13 Aug 2025), "‘Numerous and Severe’ Illegal Hunting Practices Land Outfitter in Jail."
  4. Leah Fraser, Hoodline (12 Aug 2025), "Arizona Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Wildlife Crimes in Colorado."
  5. U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado (31 Jul 2025), "Arizona Man Sentenced to Twelve Months in Federal Prison for Violating."

The Petition

To the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife

We, the undersigned, call for urgent enhancements to the federal Lacey Act and corresponding state hunting regulations to ensure that individuals guilty of repeated violations can never again be licensed as hunting guides in any state.

The Lacey Act, in place for over a century, is one of our nation’s most vital tools for protecting wildlife across state and international borders. It prohibits the transport, sale, or acquisition of wildlife taken in violation of state, tribal, or foreign law. When enforced properly, it safeguards ecosystems, upholds ethical hunting traditions, and ensures that wildlife resources remain healthy for future generations.

Yet recent cases have revealed a dangerous loophole: repeat violators of the Lacey Act can still, under current laws, obtain or retain guide licenses in certain states. This undermines public trust, allows habitual offenders to profit from guiding hunts, and encourages continued exploitation of wildlife. The situation is made worse by the interstate nature of modern outfitting operations, where offenders can move their activities across state lines to evade stricter oversight.

Poachers inflict serious damage on wildlife populations, often targeting the most vulnerable or valuable animals. These illegal activities can destabilize ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, and negate decades of conservation work funded by hunters, taxpayers, and wildlife advocates alike. Beyond the ecological harm, poaching erodes the reputation of ethical hunters and guides who respect the law and the principles of fair chase.

We urge you to work together to:

  • Amend the Lacey Act to explicitly bar repeat violators from obtaining or holding guide licenses in any U.S. state or territory.
  • Encourage states to adopt uniform licensing standards that automatically disqualify individuals with multiple Lacey Act convictions or serious wildlife-related offenses.
  • Create a shared national database accessible to all wildlife agencies to track license applications and identify disqualified applicants.
  • Increase penalties for those who knowingly employ or contract with guides barred from licensure.

By closing these gaps, you will help ensure that guiding licenses are reserved for individuals who protect—not exploit—our natural heritage. These measures will strengthen wildlife conservation, restore public confidence, and secure a future where America’s wildlife and wild lands can thrive for all to enjoy.

Sincerely,

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