DENVER — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced on Wednesday that they have charged three men for multiple hunting and wildlife violations, resulting in thousands of dollars in fines.
CPW said in a media release that the violations happened in Jefferson and Adams counties, closing a poaching investigation that spanned three years and several states.
According to CPW, in a negotiated settlement finalized last month, 58-year-old Jeffrey Flaherty agreed to plead guilty to 13 misdemeanors that include:
- Illegally possessing big game
- Baiting wildlife
- Hunting elk out of season
- Making false statements about Colorado residency on license applications
He was fined $47,787.22 and received two years of supervised probation, which restricts his ability to hunt and fish in Colorado, CPW said. He will also face a mandatory five-year suspension through a separate CPW suspension hearing and the suspension would extend to 48 other states.
Jeffrey's son, Andrew Flaherty, 27, was fined $3,646.19 and pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors that include:
- Illegal possession of wildlife
- Hunt bull elk with bait
- Hunting out of season
Andrew plead guilty in December 2023 and will also undergo a hunting and fishing license suspension hearing, possibly facing up to a five-year suspension, according to CPW.
The third man, 75-year-old Kenneth Curtis, paid $1,646.50 in fines and pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors including:
- Baiting bears
- Illegally hunting wildlife with bait
- Failing to wear daylight fluorescent orange while hunting
Curtis' hunting and fishing privileges were suspended for one year, CPW said. He also occasionally tended to the Flaherty property and lives nearby.
“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.”
According to CPW, the investigation began in October 2021 when Murdoch reviewed the draw list for Colorado hunting licenses in his district, which includes parts of Jefferson County. Murdoch noticed that four Flaherty family members were on the draw list with the same address listed in Conifer for each license.
The officer said he recalled seeing a white salt lick on the property in other meetings with the Flahertys. Jeffrey had Colorado resident hunting licenses for multiple species and some for private lands only. Andrew only had non-resident hunting licenses, the agency said.
After investigating further, it showed that Jeffrey 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 located in Florida, according to CPW.
CPW says when someone applies for a hunting license, applicants must certify that all residency claims are valid and 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,” Murdoch said. “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.”
Murdoch then obtained a warrant in November 2021 to place multiple trail cameras around the Flaherty's property, CPW said. After a few weeks, photos showing Jeffrey setting out hay, alfalfa and corn to illegally bait wildlife to the area on multiple occasions. The cameras also capture Jeffrey and Andrew harvesting a mule deer near the bait. Another search warrant revealed through text messages that Andrew hunting a bull elk out of season, CPW said.
In an interview with CPW officers, Curtis said he spoke to Jeffrey about place elk innards and pumpkins to attract black bears, according to CPW. Apparently, Curtis admitted to officer that he used game meat to draw bears to the area, which is a violation of Colorado statues. Officer didn't find evidence that Curtis harvested a bear, CPW said.
“Baiting wildlife does not follow the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation,” said Mark Lamb, CPW area wildlife manager. “It does not allow an animal the fair chase and lawful opportunity they deserve.”
