Poacher receives two-year prison sentence
By the California Department of Fish and Game
A bear poaching conviction has landed a Novato, California man in state prison for two years. Wayne Richard Barsch, 49, was already a two-strike felon when sentenced on Feb. 4 by Glenn County Judge John Tiernan.
Barch will also face an as-yet-undermined fine, and his hunting and fishing privileges have been revoked for life.
Barsch was contacted by Warden Mike Beals in rural Glenn County in December 2010. Beals was on a routine patrol when he encountered Barsch and his two hunting partners attempting to process a bear they had killed at least a day earlier. The terrain near the kill site was extremely rugged and Barsch was having difficulty transporting the carcass and equipment back to his truck.
A check through DFG dispatch revealed Barsch was a convicted felon and had a restraining order against him, either of which would prevent him from being in possession of any firearm.
Warden Beals found that Barsch was in possession of .45 handgun, a bear head, four bear paws and the bear gall bladder, but only 15 lbs. of bear meat (far less than what would be expected to come from a 200 lb. carcass).
It is a crime in California to waste meat from any game animal.
Barsch had also failed to tag the bear after killing it.
Since Barsch was on searchable probation, seven wardens went to his residence. In his freezer they found another bear gall bladder, five bear paws, a bear head and a bear penis, as well as meat from a female deer that was possibly taken unlawfully.
Barsch will serve at least 85 percent of the two-year prison sentence handed down last week.
Because he was a two-strike felon, the courts may add to his prison sentence.