Idaho Falls Man Busted After Years-Long Wyoming Poaching Probe

A long-running wildlife investigation that stretched across western Wyoming has ended with the conviction of an Idaho Falls man who faked residency to snag resident tags and kill trophy big game he wasn’t legally entitled to hunt, EastIdahoNews reports.

The whole thing kicked off back in 2019, when Afton Game Warden James Hobbs got anonymous tips about Rodney Gilstrap, who was reportedly living and working in Idaho while buying Wyoming resident deer, elk, black bear and fishing licenses.

Under Wyoming law, only true residents get access to cheaper resident tags and better odds in the draw. Nonresidents often wait years building preference points to hunt the same quality animals.

Game wardens with Wyoming Game and Fish, working alongside Idaho Fish and Game, launched a multi-year investigation. What they uncovered was a pattern of illegal hunting across Lincoln, Sublette and Teton counties from 2018 to 2021.

On March 18, 2022, officers served search warrants at Gilstrap’s home in Idaho Falls. They seized:

• Four large mule deer heads;
• Two bull elk heads;
• One pronghorn head.

Investigators later confirmed the animals were all taken in Wyoming using fraudulently obtained resident tags — or with no license at all.

Gilstrap was eventually charged in three counties with 22 wildlife violations, including:

• Making false statements to obtain resident licenses;
• Taking mule deer, elk and pronghorn without proper licenses.

Among the illegally killed animals were:

• Four trophy-class mule deer, scoring roughly 180–220 inches;
• Three large bull elk.

On Aug. 1, 2024, Gilstrap took a plea deal in Lincoln County. He pleaded guilty to:

• 3 counts of making false statements to get resident licenses;
• 3 counts of taking wildlife without a proper license.

His sentence:

• 540 days in jail, with 519 days suspended (21 days to actually serve);
• 3 years of unsupervised probation;
• $10,000 in restitution;
• $17,905 in fines;
• Loss of hunting privileges for 18 years in all Wildlife Violator Compact states;
• Forfeiture of all seized antlers and heads.

As part of the plea agreement, 16 additional charges in Lincoln, Sublette and Teton counties were dismissed.

Gilstrap’s attorneys appealed the sentence, arguing the court:

• Made procedural errors;
• Relied improperly on other similar cases;
• Abused its discretion by imposing jail time and even restricting shed antler hunting during probation.

On June 10, 2025, District Court Judge Joseph Bluemel upheld the original sentence.

Gilstrap then asked for a sentence reduction — that was denied on Sept. 24 by Circuit Court Judge Gregory S. Corpening. He’s scheduled to report to the Lincoln County Detention Center on Nov. 7 to begin his 21-day jail term on a modified work-release schedule, with probation running through September 2026.

Wildlife officials say the case shows just how far some people will go to game Wyoming’s resident licensing system, especially when trophy animals are on the line and nonresidents face long waits for the same tags.

They also made it clear this case never would’ve gotten off the ground without people speaking up.

Suspicious hunting activity or suspected poaching can be reported by:

• Calling a local game warden;
• Calling 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847);
• Out-of-state callers: 307-777-4330;
• Texting: “WGFD” + your tip to 847-411.

One anonymous tip kicked off this case. Wildlife officers say those calls and messages make a real difference in protecting Wyoming’s big game herds.