By Michael Howell
Stevensville High School Principal Brian Gum and his son Jaren have each been charged by the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks for killing bull elk in a hunting district where there is no season for bull elk. Both men were cited on the afternoon of October 27, 2017 by north valley Game Warden Justin Singleterry. Both men have entered pleas of not guilty to the charges.
According to Singleterry, the men were cited for killing the elk in Hunting District 262 where there is no season for bull elk. One of the elk had a 4×5 point rack and the other was a 4×6. The elk were seized as evidence along with the men’s elk licenses. Singleterry arrived on the scene just after the elk were shot and before they had time to tag them.
Hunting District 262 is a relatively new hunting district in the valley stretching roughly from the Big Ditch to the Eastside Highway. The incident occurred on private property along Homeacres Road between Willoughby Road and Groff Lane south of Stevensville. According to Singleterry, the men did have permission from the landowner to hunt on his property, but hunting regulations in the district do not allow the killing of any bull elk.
The men have been arraigned on the charges and an omnibus hearing is set for January 4, 2018 in the court of Judge Jim Bailey where they may request a bench trial or a jury trial in the case.