Owner of Nebraska hunting business federally indicted for alleged violations of wildlife protection laws (omaha.com)
10/25/2023
The owner of a Nebraska company that offers guided hunting trips was federally indicted last week on allegations that he violated numerous wildlife protection laws in a wide-ranging conspiracy over a period of more than five years.
Dustin Noble, the owner of North Platte-based big-game guiding business Noble Outdoors, was charged in a 10-count felony indictment with nine counts of unlawfully transporting wildlife across state lines in violation of the Lacey Act and one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act. Each of the 10 charges carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The indictment of Noble comes after a series of federal prosecutions against his customers. Since last year, five people have been charged with violations of the Lacey Act in relation to hunts at Noble Outdoors, and four of those charged have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to probation.
The Lacey Act is meant to combat the illegal trafficking of wildlife, fish and plants, and it prohibits the transportation of illegally obtained wildlife across state lines.
Noble is accused of employing various unlawful tactics to increase the likelihood of his clients killing trophy wildlife. The indictment alleges that he facilitated the killing of at least 52 mule deer using a variety of illegal methods, such as hunting on private land without permission, shooting wildlife from the road, using firearms with sound suppressors, and hunting during nighttime hours, during the off-season and with firearms during archery season.
The illegally obtained wildlife was then transported by customers to at least six neighboring states, according to the indictment. Noble charged customers between $500 and $4,000 for his guide services.
He is further accused of taking customers hunting when he knew they did not have valid big-game hunting permits, and of falsifying records to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in order to evade law enforcement detection.
Noble’s own hunting license was suspended for 10 years in 2014 after he was charged with 71 misdemeanors in state court related to hunting law violations. He pleaded guilty to eight of the charges and was ordered to pay nearly $8,000 in damages in addition to the suspension.
While the suspension did not impact his ability to work as a guide, he is accused in the indictment of personally killing multiple animals while his hunting license was suspended.
Noble has entered a plea of not guilty and was released from custody ahead of trial.
