A North Carolina man who poached one of the grandest bulls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park's elk herd has been handed jail time and ordered to pay more than $8,300 in restitution to the park.
According to the U.S. Attorney's for the Western District of North Carolina, Bruce Wayne Cromer, Jr., 35, of Stovall, North Carolina, was sentenced late last week following his guilty plea to a single charge of unlawfully shooting and killing a bull elk in the park last November.
“Elk No. 21" had been introduced into the park in 2001 as part of a program by the National Park Service to return an elk population to the park. Rangers discovered the bull's carcass last Nov. 13 lying along the edge of a pasture in the Cataloochee area of the park. An investigation involving park rangers as well as agents from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission produced a vehicle description that lead them to a suspect. When a Park Service special agent met with the suspect the next day, he confessed, according to a park news release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis L. Howell last Thursday sentenced Mr. Cromer to 150 days imprisonment. In addition, the man’s firearm, a Browning .270 caliber rifle autographed by Richard Petty, was ordered by the court to be forfeited to the government and he was ordered to pay $8,384 in restitution to the park.
Furthermore, Mr. Cromer had to surrender his hunting license for two years, and he was banned from all national parks for two years.
"We are very satisfied with this verdict and the penalty meted out," said park spokesman Bob Miller.
Story Categories:
A copy of National Parks Traveler's financial statements may be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: National Parks Traveler, P.O. Box 980452, Park City, Utah 84098. National Parks Traveler was formed in the state of Utah for the purpose of informing and educating about national parks and protected areas.
Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below:
- Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER, (REGISTRATION NO. CH 51659), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 800-435-7352 OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
- Georgia: A full and fair description of the programs and financial statement summary of National Parks Traveler is available upon request at the office and phone number indicated above.
- Maryland: Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-974-5534).
- North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989 or 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
- Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of National Parks Traveler may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
- Virginia: Financial statements are available from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
- Washington: National Parks Traveler is registered with Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by calling 800-332-4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities, or on file at Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington, Olympia, WA 98504.
National parks and their natural resources belong to you. The National Parks Traveler works to ensure you know how these essential places are being cared for.
Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter
Unsubscribe at any time.
INN Member
The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.
Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.
You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.
Comments
What if we tie some antlers to his head and set him loose in the park?
@ Rap: I agree with you -- except set him loose OUTSIDE the park. We don't want to tempt any of his yahoo buddies to replicate his crime.
The two-year loss of his hunting license and park access should have been permanent!
Not enough!
His hunting license should be taken away for life, not just a few years !!!!
Good! I too think his hunting license should have been taken away for life, and the jail time is OK, but the fine is too little. Tie antlers to his head and let him roam outside the park is a good idea too!
I'm curious as to how the man would have gotten the elk out without anyone noticing. A bull elk is a big animal! Maybe he had a stretch Hummer to haul it out?
His hunting license should have been revoked permanently. But, he was already hunting illegally so I doubt the loss of a license will do much good. Losing is autographed rifle hurts a lot more.
That sentence is nothing more than hilarious, the poacher is probably sitting in jail laughing at the outcome of the case, knowing that he got off really easy. What he did was a lot worse than the sentence he recieved for it, and what is with the hunting license suspension for two years, he is a poacher, I repeat "A POACHER" THEY DO NOT USUALLY CARE ABOUT HUNTING LICENSES ANYWAY. His truck should have also been taken and sold and the money given back to the Elk restoration program and he should have had to spend at least 8 months in jail, if not more. I am extremely dissapointed in the outcome of this case.