Georgia Hunter Banished for Kansas Poaching Scandal

WICHITA, KAN. – The gritty tale of Matt Jennings, a Georgia man and host of the popular hunting show ‘The Game’, has taken a dark turn as he’s been sentenced to a lifetime ban on hunting and fishing in Kansas. This comes after Jennings was caught red-handed poaching deer, a crime that has left wildlife advocates fuming.

Jennings, 35, from Bowdon, Georgia, pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal taking of a white-tail deer in interstate commerce. The court records paint a picture of an avid hunter who crossed the line: on November 11, 2022, Jennings killed an antlered deer near Florence, Kansas—a clear violation since his hunting tag did not permit him to hunt there.

But it didn’t end there. Just one day later, Jennings drove across state lines to Oklahoma, where he fraudulently registered the kill using a fake electronic tag. His greed for more deer led to another illegal hunt near Wakeeney on November 19, 2022. Despite having a valid tag for the area, Jennings exceeded the bag limit by killing a second antlered deer.

These two illegal hunts were broadcast as part of his show, ‘The Game’, further fueling public outrage. The federal judge’s decision was swift and severe: Jennings must pay $15,000 in restitution to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, shell out a $10,000 fine, and forfeit the antlers from the white-tail deer he wrongfully hunted.

During his five-year probation, Jennings is barred from guiding, hunting, trapping, fishing, or being with anyone engaged in those activities in multiple states, including Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. This sentence sends a strong message that Kansas will not tolerate poaching.

The investigation into this case was a collaborative effort, involving the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the U.S. Secret Service, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Missouri Department of Conservation, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster successfully prosecuted Jennings.

Jennings’ downfall serves as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who prioritize their own desires over the preservation of our natural resources. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has expressed hope that this sentence will deter other poachers from following in his footsteps.