Gregory Obendorf, Migratory Bird Treaty Act Violation, Idaho 2016

A Parma farmer has been found guilty of conspiracy to bait migratory birds and placing bait for migratory birds in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Gregory Obendorf, 60, was convicted by a federal jury in Boise, Idaho.

The jury found that Obendorf conspired with other persons from November 2007 to January 2014, to place bait for migratory birds, specifically ducks, for the purpose of allowing others to hunt over the bait on his farm located on the Boise River in Parma, Idaho.

The jury also convicted Obendorf of directing the placement of bait for duck hunting in November 2013. Agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service flew over the defendant’s property in November of 2013, and observed piles of corn near a duck blind from the air. Agents and officers from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game then entered Obendorf’s corn field and discovered that the entire corn field was baited.

After baiting the field with corn, Obendorf would flood the corn field and allow hunters to shoot ducks over the baited field. Obendorf boasted in a recorded conversation with Idaho Fish and Game Officers that he had over 200,000 ducks in the baited field during the 2013 hunting season.

Several hunters who had been invited by Obendorf testified at trial that they hunted the corn field during the course of the conspiracy and that they were able to take their limits of ducks in under an hour.

“We take our mission to support the Fish and Wildlife Service very seriously, especially when violations involve the unlawful baiting of thousands of migratory birds over a prolonged period of time,” said U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson. “Duck hunting is a time honored tradition for hunters in Idaho, and the defendant has undermined the proud tradition of fair chase for all hunters.”

The charges of conspiracy to bait migratory birds and placing bait for migratory game birds are each punishable by not more than one year in prison, a maximum fine of $100,000, and not more than one year of supervised release or up to five years of probation.

Obendorf’s sentencing is scheduled for August 2, 2016.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-id/pr/parma-farmer-convicted-conspiracy-bait-ducks-and-placing-bait-ducks