U.S. hunting guide charged with conspiracy, wildlife violations for B.C. hunts

A pair of harlequin ducks are pictured in this undated file photo. (Shutterstock)

A hunting guide from Washington state is facing criminal charges of conspiracy and wildlife trafficking after allegedly leading three bird-hunting parties into British Columbia and conspiring with a local taxidermist to ship the trophy birds back to the United States.

Branden Trager of Bush Prairie, Wash., was scheduled to answer the charges in a federal court in Seattle on Friday.

A statement from the U.S. Department of Justice says the 46-year-old man faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if found guilty of the charges of conspiracy and violating the Lacey Act, a U.S. statute that prohibits the trade and transport of wildlife that has been taken in violation of domestic or foreign law.

Prosecutors allege Trager violated the Lacey Act by transporting waterfowl that were illegally hunted under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which protects migrating bird species in the U.S. and Canada.

The Department of Justice alleges Trager and his company Mayhem Services LLC illegally guided three hunting parties across the Peace Arch border crossing into British Columbia to hunt waterfowl between August 2022 and January 2023.

The hunting parties allegedly targeted harlequin ducks, which range from Alaska to California and are prized by trophy hunters, according to the statement.

“Washington closed harlequin hunting for the 2022-2023 season, but limited hunting remained open in British Columbia,” the Department of Justice statement said.

The Seattle grand jury that indicted Trager alleges the hunters “paid Trager thousands of dollars to guide them in Canada, and Trager falsely told Canadian and (U.S.) Homeland Security authorities that he was hunting with friends,” according to the statement.

“Trager allegedly conspired with a Canadian taxidermist to have the hunted birds shipped back to the United States in violation of the Lacey Act.”

A spokesperson for the B.C. environment ministry said the province’s conservation officer service has been involved in the case but could not comment on the charges Friday as the local investigation is still ongoing.