An Idaho Fish and Game commissioner appointed to help set hunting regulations and oversee one of the state’s most prominent wildlife agencies is facing seven criminal charges tied to alleged hunting violations that took place in December, court records show.
Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner Brody Harshbarger has been cited on six misdemeanor counts and one trespassing charge following an investigation into alleged incidents that occurred on December 20. The charges were filed in Fremont County, and a pre-trial hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on April 29 at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho.
Through his attorney, Harshbarger has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Seven Charges Spanning Multiple Alleged Violations
According to Idaho court records, the charges against Harshbarger include two misdemeanor counts of hunting or attempting to take a big game animal unlawfully, hunting without a valid tag, shooting from across a public highway, hunting with the aid of a motorized vehicle, failing to make a reasonable effort to retrieve a downed animal, and trespassing to hunt or fish.
Court records detail specific allegations behind each charge. For the first count of unlawfully taking a big game animal, Harshbarger allegedly shot a 6-point bull elk out of season on December 20 and/or aided or abetted another person in doing so. The second count alleges that Harshbarger unlawfully shot an antlerless bull elk on Bureau of Reclamation property on the same date, again either directly or by aiding and abetting another individual.
On the charge of hunting without a valid tag, court records allege that Harshbarger shot or killed an elk on Bureau of Reclamation property after having already filled his elk tag for the season. At the time of the alleged second kill, court records indicate Harshbarger no longer possessed a valid elk tag.
Additional charges allege that Harshbarger fired at elk from the driver’s seat of a pickup truck — a violation of Idaho law prohibiting hunting with the aid of a motorized vehicle — and that he shot across Spring Hollow Road in violation of statutes prohibiting discharge of a firearm across a public highway. Court records also allege that after killing a big game animal, Harshbarger failed to make a reasonable effort to retrieve the animal, or aided and abetted another person in doing so.
Irony of the Role He Holds
The charges carry significant weight beyond their legal implications given Harshbarger’s position. Idaho Fish and Game commissioners are appointed officials responsible for setting the hunting and fishing regulations that all Idaho hunters and anglers must follow. The commission oversees the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, an agency tasked with enforcing the very laws Harshbarger is now accused of violating.
Idaho hunters routinely face fines, license revocations, and criminal penalties for violations far less numerous than those alleged against Harshbarger. Hunting without a valid tag, shooting from a vehicle, and failing to retrieve a downed big game animal are all violations that conservation officers across Idaho enforce aggressively, and for good reason — they represent serious breaches of the ethical and legal standards the hunting community depends on to maintain sustainable wildlife populations.
Poaching and unlawful taking of big game animals remain serious concerns for wildlife managers statewide. Idaho’s elk herds, particularly in eastern Idaho where Fremont County is located, are carefully managed through strict tag allocations and seasonal restrictions designed to ensure long-term population health. Allegations that an appointed commissioner may have shot elk out of season, on federal Bureau of Reclamation land, and without a valid tag strike at the heart of the system he was entrusted to govern.
Idaho Fish and Game has not yet issued a public statement regarding the charges against one of its sitting commissioners.
Harshbarger’s case will be closely watched by Idaho hunters, wildlife advocates, and state government observers. Readers seeking broader coverage of statewide wildlife and government accountability issues can follow reporting at Idaho News and the Idaho News Network.
What Comes Next
Harshbarger’s pre-trial hearing is set for April 29 at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho. As the case proceeds through the court system, questions remain about whether Idaho Governor Brad Little’s office or the Idaho Fish and Game Commission itself will take any administrative action regarding Harshbarger’s continued service as a commissioner while criminal charges are pending. Nez Perce County News will continue to monitor developments in this case as they unfold.