Man accused of hazing hunters

BLANCHARD — A Bonner County man accused of hazing hunters on state land is pleading not guilty.

Dave James Hunter’s plea clears the way for a trial in magistrate court on a charge of interfering with a lawful hunt, a misdemeanor. The charge stems from an Oct. 14, 2015, confrontation on Poleline Road near Hunter Road.

A hunter told an Idaho Department of Fish & Game officer that he was in his pickup truck with his wife when Hunter told them they were on private land and that they could not hunt there. The hunter disagreed, the report said.

Hunter, 54, allegedly drove up and down the road on an all-terrain vehicle while revving the engine in an apparent attempt to disrupt the couple’s hunt and scare off elk. Hunter also talked loudly into a cellphone for more than 30 minutes, according to the report. Hunter, who was on the line with a real estate agent for a nearby parcel held the phone up so the hunter could speak with the Realtor, but the hunter instead closed the flip phone.

The couple said Hunter refused to leave them be, which they said effectively ran them out of the area and ruined their hunt, the report said.

Under Idaho law, it is illegal to interfere with a lawful hunt or intimidate or harass hunters. It’s punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,500 fine.

The hunter reported the incident to Fish & Game the following day. It was determined via GPS that the confrontation took place on state land.

The officer interviewed Hunter, who acknowledged having a discussion with a hunter on the day in question, but “strongly denied” engaging in harassment. Hunter said he warned the couple that they were near private property and asked if they had permission from the landowner.

Upon learning he was being charged with an offense, Hunter called for the male half of the couple to be charged with battery for allegedly slapping the cellphone out of his hand. The hunter denied touching the defendant, the report said.

Hunter offered to drop the battery allegation if the hunter dropped the interference allegation, but the hunter refused, the report said.