Nevada County Commissioner and outfitter, Earl Mitchell, along with two others, have been charged in an unlawful bear hunt. The charges stem from an incident that occurred in September of 2020 in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The group reportedly used hunting dogs to track and kill a female black bear, which is prohibited in California.
Mitchell, who is also the owner of AMI Outfitters, is facing charges of killing a bear outside of the legal hunting season and for using dogs to aid in the hunt. The other two individuals involved in the incident have been identified as Mitchell’s son and a friend.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife began investigating the incident after receiving reports of a group of individuals hunting bears with dogs. Subsequent DNA analysis confirmed that the bear killed matched the DNA of a female bear that had been previously tagged by researchers for a study on bear populations in the area.
The charges against Mitchell and his associates have raised concerns within the community, as Mitchell is a sitting county commissioner. Some residents have called for his resignation, citing a breach of trust and ethical concerns.
Mitchell has denied any wrongdoing and maintains his innocence. He has stated that he will cooperate fully with the investigation and legal proceedings.
The case is ongoing, and the individuals involved are expected to appear in court in the coming weeks. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has urged anyone with information on illegal hunting activities to come forward and report them.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of following wildlife regulations and of the consequences of illegal hunting practices.
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