COEUR d’ALENE — Two St. Maries men are facing felony charges for the alleged unlawful taking of seven mature white-tailed deer bucks in a “poaching spree” last fall, according to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

William D. Clark, 24, is charged with one count of killing, possessing, wasting or taking two or more big game animals during a 12-month period, as well as one count of conspiracy to do the same. He was arrested early Tuesday morning on a $50,000 warrant. 

Lucas B. Mitchell, 28, is wanted on the same charges, according to the active wanted persons list published by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. 

“Mitchell and Clark went on a poaching spree in the fall of 2024,” an IDFG conservation officer wrote in a report. “They had very little regard for the rules of the state of Idaho and little respect for the natural resources.” 

Authorities allege that the men killed seven deer in November 2024 — including five within a single 24-hour period — during unlawful hours and “often with the aid of artificial light.” 

Three of the bucks were classified as trophy white-tailed deer, which carries higher penalties than non-trophy classifications. 

“These often-flagrant violations hurt the resource as a whole and greatly take away the opportunity for the legal hunters of Idaho,” court records said. “Three of the deer were left to rot and, in one case, (Mitchell and Clark) dumped a whole deer off the side of a hill.” 

The investigation began in March, after conservation officers with IDFG received a photo of two deer heads in the back of Mitchell’s pickup truck. Officers contacted Mitchell in early April at his St. Maries home, where they “saw six whitetail buck heads in plain view,” according to court records. 

Mitchell initially told investigators that he shot one of the deer himself, two deer were shot by others and three deer were found already dead, according to court records. 

“He created a fictional story about shed hunting and finding the deer in the spring,” one officer wrote in a report. “He even showed us fictitious GPS points as to where he recovered the ‘deadheads.’” 

Investigators obtained search warrants for Mitchell’s cellphone, as well as his Snapchat account. Digital evidence recovered from the phone and social media account — including text messages, photos and videos — allegedly showed that Mitchell took four white-tail bucks, while Clark took three. 

“Clark admitted to wasting all three of the deer he shot,” court records said. 

Throughout the investigation, conservation officers documented 56 wildlife violations, according to IDFG. 

“Fish and Game thanks the public for being diligent in reporting potential wildlife crimes and helping to preserve, protect, perpetuate and manage the incredible fish and wildlife to which Idaho is home,” IDFG said in a news release. 

IDFG encourages anyone who observes or has information about any wildlife crime to call the Citizen Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999. Information can also be reported through IDFG’s website, under the “enforcement” tab.