Hunters’ Guilty Plea: Wildlife Trafficking in Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, OK – In a shocking turn of events, Kyle McCormack, 26, from Oklahoma City, has been convicted of illegal transportation of wildlife in interstate commerce, a violation of the Lacey Act.

The investigation, led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, reveals that McCormack had no valid hunting licenses in the locations identified in the article, and the wildlife was illegally killed in Washington and transported to Oklahoma.

The investigation began after a tip to authorities about a two-page article in the July 2012 edition of the Buckmasters magazine, credited to McCormack, which included ‘trophy’ photographs of the racks of whitetail bucks.

McCormack was charged on October 22, 2013, with illegal transportation of an elk and black-tailed deer in interstate commerce. He pled guilty to both counts and was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine.

In addition to the fine, McCormack agreed to pay $2,500 into the Lacey Act Reward Account, bringing the total penalty to $2,500. This is a stark reminder of the consequences of wildlife trafficking in Oklahoma.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is urging anyone with information relating to a wildlife law violation to call the ‘Operation Game Thief’ hotline in their state. The Oklahoma number for ‘Operation Game Thief’ is (800)522-8039 and accepts calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week.