Colorado Parks and Wildlife closes poaching investigation with multiple wildlife violations, thousands in fines
Kara Van Hoose
Oct. 9. 2024
Colorado Parks and Wildlife closes poaching investigation with multiple wildlife violations, thousands in fines
DENVER, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife has charged three individuals resulting in thousands of dollars in fines for multiple hunting and wildlife violations in Jefferson and Adams counties, closing a poaching investigation which spanned three years and several states.
In a negotiated settlement finalized in September 2024, Jeffrey Flaherty, 58, agreed to plead guilty to 13 misdemeanors in Jefferson and Adams counties including illegally possessing big game, baiting wildlife, hunting elk out of season and making false statements about Colorado residency on license applications. He was fined $42,787.22 and received two years supervised probation, restricting his ability to hunt and fish in Colorado. He will also face a mandatory five-year license suspension through a separate CPW suspension hearing, and the license suspension would extend to 48 other states.
A second defendant, Jeffrey Flaherty’s 27-year-old son Andrew Flaherty, was fined $3,646.19 and pled guilty to three misdemeanors including illegal possession of wildlife, hunting bull elk with bait and hunting out of season. After pleading guilty in December of 2023, he will also undergo a hunting and fishing license suspension hearing and may face up to a five-year suspension.
Kenneth Curtis, 75, paid $1646.50 in fines and pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors including baiting bears, illegally hunting wildlife with bait and failing to wear daylight fluorescent orange while hunting. His hunting and fishing privileges were suspended for one year.
As a part of the plea deal with Jeffrey Flaherty, additional charges against other defendants, Tyrrell Flaherty and Tiffany Flaherty, were dismissed.
“These defendants took deliberate actions to break dozens of laws with a complete disregard for the wildlife of the state; they were poachers, not hunters,” said CPW Officer Scott Murdoch. “Hunters are those who act morally and legally when out in the field. Poachers are folks who actively take advantage of the laws and wildlife resources when in the field. ”
The investigation began in October 2021 as Officer Murdoch reviewed the draw list for Colorado hunting licenses in his district, which includes parts of Jefferson County. He noticed four members of the Flaherty family on the draw list with the same address listed on Richmond Hill Road in Conifer for each license. Officer Murdoch recalled seeing a white salt lick on that property in prior meetings with the Flahertys. Jeffrey Flaherty had Colorado resident hunting licenses for multiple species and some for private lands only. Andrew Flaherty had non-resident hunting licenses.
Further investigation showed Jeffrey Flaherty held an active Florida driver's license and voted as a Florida resident in the 2020 election. Six vehicles belonging to him were registered at a shipping store in Bradenton, Florida. When applying for hunting licenses, applicants must certify all residency claims are valid as well as possess a valid Colorado driver’s license to be considered a resident of the state.
“Residents of Colorado are entitled to certain privileges when it comes to hunting and fishing,” said Officer Murdoch. “License fees are less expensive for residents than non-residents, and it’s easier to obtain a hunting license as a resident. These factors contribute occasionally to non-residents making the conscious choice to lie about their residency status and game the system.”
Officer Murdoch obtained a warrant in mid-November of 2021 to place multiple trail cameras around the property. Over the course of the next few weeks, surveillance photos showed Jeffrey Flaherty setting out hay, alfalfa and corn to illegally bait wildlife to the area on several occasions. The trail cameras captured Jeffrey and Andrew Flaherty harvesting a mule deer near the bait. A search warrant revealed text messages detailing Andrew Flaherty hunting a bull elk out of season.
In an interview with CPW officers, Curtis, who occasionally tended the Flaherty property and lives nearby, said he spoke with Jeffrey Flaherty about placing elk innards and pumpkins to attract a black bear. Curtis admitted to CPW officers he used game meat to draw bears to the area, a violation of Colorado statutes. Officers did not find evidence Curtis harvested a bear.
“Baiting wildlife does not follow the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation,” said Lamb. “It does not allow an animal the fair chase and lawful opportunity they deserve.”
CPW would like to thank the Jefferson County and Adams County District Attorneys for their assistance and time devoted to this investigation, as well as their incredible patience and diligence while prosecuting the case.
Anyone with suspicions of illegal hunting activity is encouraged to anonymously contact Operation Game Thief at 1-800-COLO-OGT.
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PHOTO CUTLINES:
Top left: Jeffery Flaherty seen on trail camera setting out alfalfa as bait
Top right: Jeffery (driving) and Andrew Flaherty (passenger) on trail camera
Bottom left: Jeffery Flaherty seen illegally baiting wildlife
Bottom right: Kenneth Curtis
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.