By the California Department of Fish and Game

Two of three Northern California accused poachers pleaded no contest to a variety of Fish and Game Code violations last week in Tehama County Superior Court.

A third man, who was arrested with the other two last summer, pleaded guilty to one count of code violation last August.

Christopher Raabe, 26 and Joshwell Gibson 27, both of Chico, and Douglas Smith, 28, of Sacramento were arrested on June 23, 2009, after the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) conducted a night flight for illegal hunting activity in Tehama and Shasta counties.

While flying over ranch land in southern Tehama County, Warden Pilot Jeff Veal observed lights from vehicles being used in a manner consistent with illegal night hunting activity.

Wardens on the ground investigated and found the three defendants to be in possession of two does, 16 doves and one wood duck. All animals were taken out of season.

The case was settled last week with pleas from the final two defendants.

Raabe pleaded no contest to two counts of unlawful possession of deer, one count of unlawful possession of dove and one count of unlawful possession of waterfowl. He was sentenced to pay $4,195 in fines and he was ordered to forfeit to the court the firearms he used in the crime. He was also placed on probation for three years and ordered not to hunt during that time.

Gibson pleaded no contest to two counts of unlawfully taking deer. He was sentenced to pay $2,675 in fines and was also ordered to forfeit his firearms.

The third defendant, Smith, pleaded guilty to the unlawful take of dove out of season on August 18, 2009. He was sentenced to pay $785 in fines.

Though the vast majority of hunters abide by Fish and Game laws, poaching California wildlife is a serious problem that state game wardens work hard to prevent and prosecute.

People who know of anyone illegally harming or killing wildlife should report the incident by calling DFG’s toll-free hotline, Californians Turn in Poachers and Polluters (CalTIP) at 1-888-334-2284 (DFG-CALTip).