A Georgia man, Matt Jennings, has been sentenced to five years of probation and permanently banned from hunting and fishing in Kansas following illegal hunting activities. Jennings, 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal taking of a white tail deer in interstate commerce.
Court documents reveal that on November 11, 2022, Jennings killed an antlered deer near Florence, Kansas. His tag did not permit him to hunt in that area. The following day, he registered the kill fraudulently in Oklahoma using an electronic tag from that state.
Further offenses occurred on November 19, 2022, when Jennings killed another antlered deer near Wakeeney. Despite having a valid tag for the area, this act violated state law as it exceeded the bag limit of one antlered deer per season.
Jennings is known for hosting a hunting show titled “The Game,” where these unlawful hunts were featured.
In addition to his probation and lifetime ban from hunting and fishing in Kansas, a federal judge ordered Jennings to pay $15,000 in restitution to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and imposed a $10,000 fine. He must also forfeit the antlers from the illegally hunted deer.
During his probation period, Jennings is prohibited from engaging or being present with others involved in guiding, hunting, trapping, or fishing across several states including Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service alongside the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Assistance came from multiple agencies including the U.S. Secret Service and wildlife departments from Oklahoma and Missouri among others.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster handled prosecution for this case.
