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DNA Evidence Helps Convict Serial Poacher, Who Forfeited 2 Vehicles and Hunting Privileges for Life
Here’s how cell phone photos, a utility transformer, and a DNA database put the poacher behind bars
Published Nov 6, 2026 4:25 PM EST
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A Wyoming man is serving 96 days in jail after he was convicted and sentenced on eight charges of wildlife violations this fall in Fremont County, according to a recent statement from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Dakota Jordan of Lander, who was found guilty of poaching deer, elk, and moose since at least 2021, now owes the state $18,000 in restitution. He has also forfeited the animal parts, firearms, and two vehicles used in his poaching sprees — a truck and a Jeep. Finally, Jordan lost his hunting and trapping privileges for life, a penalty that applies in all 50 states.
“I do think the penalties are appropriate for his complete disregard for wildlife,” Jon Desonier, WGFD game warden and access coordinator tells Outdoor Life. “We take this stuff seriously. Guys aren’t just getting slapped on the wrist for serious wildlife crime.”
Desonier, who was named wildlife officer of the year in 2025, started investigating Jordan after a man came to his office with information about an illegally killed elk cow and calf in November 2024. Word of a poached moose and deer were already on Desonier’s radar, but the dots weren’t connecting. That changed during an aerial deer survey. A crew counting wildlife from the air spotted the headless carcass of an elk.
“We [had] spent a day walking around trying to find it and had no luck,” Desonier says. “We were not far, maybe 200 or 300 yards off, but they had a much better view from the air so it was easier to see.”
DNA from that kill site matched evidence found at Jordan’s property. Further DNA evidence proved damning: DNA from four other poached animals traced back to Jordan, thanks to a DNA database at the state-maintained forensics lab. Those hits included ivories from one elk, the leg bone of a second, meat from a third, and the European mount of a deer.
“I’m so thankful for our forensics lab in Laramie,” Desonier says. “They held on to DNA evidence and analyzed a ton of evidence for us. If it wasn’t for them, we would not have success in this case.”
Before the department could proceed with seizing the moose Jordan had poached, officials needed to determine if he’d killed it on state, federal, private, or reservation land. Using photos and GPS data from Jordan’s cellphone, investigators found the bones of a moose killed in 2022 and determined it had been poached on private land. The background of his photos included utility equipment, which was also key.
“We drove around looking for the transformer in the photo,” Desonier says. “A High Plains Power lineman saw the photo and sent us right to the kill site.”
Investigators suspect Jordan poached more animals than those in his conviction, but they focused on the cases with the strongest evidence
“In my opinion, this guy shouldn’t be hunting,” Desonier says. “He doesn’t have the mindset to respect wildlife. That’s how we got here.”
Read Next: Idaho Outfitter Gets Hunting Ban After Illegally Shooting a Trophy Bull in Utah
Jordan’s father also lost his hunting privileges as a result of the poaching investigation. He is banned from hunting for five years and also owes Wyoming $5,370. At least two additional suspects are currently under investigation in a multi-state operation.
FWC probe leads to 8-year prison sentence in fraud scheme targeting Florida hunters
by Fox 49 StaffFri, November 6, 2026 at 2:57 PM
FWC probe leads to 8-year prison sentence in fraud scheme targeting Florida hunters
Updated Fri, November 6, 2026 at 3:17 PM
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — An elaborate scheme that targeted Florida hunters and stretched across 15 counties has ended with a Georgia man sentenced to prison after an investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Rodney E. Smith, 39, of Georgia pleaded guilty to four felonies tied to fraud and cheating after investigators said he fraudulently sold hunting leases while incarcerated in a Georgia prison. On May 7, FWC investigators filed felony charges against Smith, accusing him of negotiating lease terms and collecting deposits from multiple victims for hunting leases in 15 Florida counties.
A hunting lease is an agreement between a landowner and a hunter that allows the hunter to access and hunt on private land under agreed-upon terms. Investigators said Smith’s actions defrauded Florida hunters of thousands of dollars between July 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026.
On Aug. 16, Smith was extradited from the Georgia prison to Gilchrist County on a warrant to face the charges. He pleaded guilty to three third-degree felonies — one count each of scheme to defraud less than $20,000, illegal use of a two-way communication device and cheating — and one first-degree felony for fraudulently offering property for sale or lease.
“The FWC recognizes the important role hunting leases play in Florida’s outdoor economy,” said Major James Barrow of the Statewide Investigations and Intelligence Section. “We will continue to work with our partners to protect landowners’ ability to manage their property and benefit from these opportunities.”
On Oct. 28, Smith was sentenced to eight years in a Florida prison.
The FWC credited the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution for assistance during the investigation and prosecution.
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The agency encouraged the public to report wildlife and resource violations by calling the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922) or submitting a tip online at MyFWC.com/WildlifeAlert.
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Trapping Season Underway in Iowa as Fur Prices Increase
By Tom RobinsonNov 8, 2026 | 4:13 AM
(Lewis) Iowa’s trapping season is underway, with about 15,000 people trapping statewide. Populations of most fur-bearing species remain stable or are slightly increasing.
The season opened Saturday, November 7, and rising fur prices could make this a good year for those considering trapping for the first time or returning to the activity.
John Lorenzen with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says several species have seen significant increases in pelt values. Mink, for example, averaged less than $10 at auction over the past decade, but prices jumped to approximately $45 last year. Lorenzen says the increase was largely driven by mink’s susceptibility to COVID-19, which led many mink ranches to depopulate.Audio Player
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Other species that have seen increases in pelt prices include bobcats, otters, badgers and beavers. Prices for muskrats, raccoons and coyotes have remained relatively steady.Audio Player
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Lorenzen says another factor working in trappers’ favor this year is the expected El Niño weather pattern, which could delay ice formation. Open water makes trapping easier, particularly for species that are commonly found in areas where water trapping is necessary for success.
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Reward rises to $50K as investigation into Minnesota hunter’s unsolved 2016 murder continues
Investigators believe Terry Brisk’s killer interacted with the 41-year-old man before shooting him with his own rifle.
Nov 6, 2026 2:58 PM CST
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A decade after a man was fatally shot with his own rifle while deer hunting on his family’s property near Little Falls, a $50,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to his killer’s arrest and conviction.
The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the unsolved killing of Terrence “Terry” Brisk, 41, who was found dead on Nov. 7, 2016 in Belle Prairie Township.
Investigators believe that the shooter was in close proximity to Brisk and interacted with him before firing the rifle.
Coinciding with the 10-year anniversary of Brisk’s death, his family released this statement:
“It has been 10 years since Terry was shot, and for 10 long years, our family has lived with the heartbreak of not knowing the truth about what happened to him,” his parents, Virgil and Babe Brisk, wrote. “Ten years of unanswered questions, sleepless nights, and wondering if we will ever get the closure we so desperately need.”
“We are reaching out and pleading from the bottom of our hearts to anyone who knows anything, especially the person responsible.”
The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that a $30,000 reward had increased to $50,000, and once again asked for the public’s assistance as it works to solve the case.
“We are grateful for the continued support and generosity that have made this increased reward possible,” Sheriff Shawn Larsen said in a statement. “Our hope is that this additional incentive will encourage someone with information to come forward.”
“Even the smallest piece of information could be critical in helping us solve this case,” his statement continued. “Ten years have passed, but our commitment to finding answers and bringing justice to Terry and his family remains as strong as ever.”
Anyone with information — no matter how minor it may seem — is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (320) 632-9233. Anonymous tips can be submitted online or by phone through Crime Stoppers of Minnesota, though information submitted anonymously will only be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.
