Outdoors briefs for March 29, 2012

Charges reduced in poaching case

SANDPOINT - Charges are being reduced against a Priest River man accused of poaching a bull moose last year.

Duane Allen Kennedy entered a plea Wednesday to an amended charge of unlawfully transferring wildlife to another.

Kennedy, 53, was originally charged with killing the moose without a tag and trading some of the meat to a Washington state man in October. Kennedy was charged following a investigation that began with an anonymous tip to the Citizens Against Poaching tip hotline, according to court documents.

Kennedy told Idaho Department of Fish and Game officers another hunting party shot the moose in the Priest River Experimental Forest south of Priest Lake. Kennedy said he encountered the wounded animal, dispatched it and scavenged the meat.

Charging documents in Kennedy's case were amended earlier this month. The poaching charge was dropped.

RMEF fundraiser set for Saturday

COEUR d'ALENE - The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's annual fundraiser banquet and auction is scheduled Saturday at The Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn.

The evening begins with a cocktail social at 5 and dinner at 6:30, followed by a live auction for world-class wildlife art, firearms, unique collectibles and more.

"We promise a great time for a great cause," said Brad Hogeweide of Coeur d'Alene, who volunteers with a local committee of conservationists to host the annual event. "This is the 23rd annual banquet that we've hosted here in Coeur d'Alene, and we're proud of our continuing support for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's conservation work across the country."

Tickets are $70 per person, $105 per couple, and $15 for youth age 10 and under.

Information and reservations, Brad Hogeweide at (208) 818-5206 or [email protected].