Father-son convicted in poaching case near Terrebonne

A Jefferson County jury has convicted a father and son of poaching in a wildlife management area near Terrebonne in 2014, Oregon State Police said Tuesday. The pair were sentenced to one year probation, had their hunting privileges for three years and were ordered to pay $7,500 restitution for the trophy buck.

On November 18, 2014, OSP Fish and Wildlife Troopers received an anonymous tip of poaching activity in the Metolius Wildlife Management Unit near Terrebonne, said Sgt. Kyle Hove.

An investigation ensued, resulting in three search warrants being served and several criminal citations being issued to Justin Aplin, 43, of Central Point and his father, Jerry Aplin, 65, of Terrebonne.

Last Friday, after a three-day criminal trial, the pair were convicted and sentenced in Jefferson County Circuit Court for the poaching incident, Hove said.

Justin Aplin was convicted of the unlawful taking of a trophy buck and borrowing a big game tag. Jerry Aplin was convicted of loaning a big game tag and aiding in a wildlife violation. They were ordered to pay restitution to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in the amount of $7,500 for the trophy buck. In addition, their hunting privileges were suspended for a period of three years and they were both placed on probation for one year, Hove said.

Information on the TIP Reward Program:

The Turn-In-Poachers (TIP) reward program is sponsored by the Oregon Hunters Association. Rewards are paid for information leading to the arrest/conviction of person(s) for the illegal possession, killing, taking, and/or waste of deer, elk, antelope, bear, cougar, big horn sheep, mountain goat, moose, and/or game birds.

TIP rewards can also be given for the illegal taking, netting, snagging, and/or dynamiting of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and/or large numbers of any fish listed in Oregon statute as a game fish.

In addition, a reward may be issued for information that results in an arrest/conviction of a person who has illegally obtained Oregon hunting/angling license or tags. People who “work” the system and falsely apply for resident licenses and/or tags are not legally hunting and/or angling and are considered poachers.

Increasing damage to wildlife habitat by off-road vehicles prompted the Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) in 2009 to create the Natural Resources Reward Program that offers a $200 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone causing natural resources damage by the illegal use of motorized vehicles and is similar to its highly successful TIP program.
* $100 Game Fish
* $100 Upland Birds
* $200 Habitat
* $250 Deer, Bear, Antelope, and Cougar
* $500 Elk, Big Horn Sheep, Moose, and Mountain Goat

How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity:

TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 (24/7)
TIP E-Mail: TIP@state.or.us (Monitored M-F 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)