Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner Facing Seven Criminal Hunting Charges

An Idaho Fish and Game commissioner responsible for setting hunting regulations and overseeing one of the state’s most prominent natural resource agencies is facing seven criminal charges related to alleged hunting violations, according to Idaho court records.

Commissioner Brody Harshbarger, who serves on the Idaho Fish and Game Commission, has been cited on a range of misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident on December 20. Through his attorney, Harshbarger has entered a not guilty plea to all seven counts. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on April 29 at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho.

The Seven Charges Against Commissioner Harshbarger

Court records outline a detailed list of alleged violations that, taken together, paint a picture of multiple alleged breaches of Idaho hunting law on a single day. The seven charges against Harshbarger are as follows:

• Two misdemeanor counts of hunting or attempting to take a big game animal unlawfully
• Hunting without a valid tag, a misdemeanor
• Shooting from across a public highway, a misdemeanor
• Hunting with the aid of a motorized vehicle, a misdemeanor
• Failing to make a reasonable effort to retrieve a downed animal, a misdemeanor
• Trespassing to hunt or fish, a misdemeanor

According to court records, the first count of unlawfully taking a big game animal alleges that Harshbarger shot a 6-point bull elk out of season on December 20 and/or aided or abetted another person in doing so. The second count alleges that Harshbarger unlawfully shot an antlerless bull elk on Bureau of Reclamation property on the same date, again either directly or by aiding and abetting another individual.

The charge of hunting without a valid tag alleges that Harshbarger shot or killed an elk on Bureau of Reclamation property after he had already filled his elk tag for the season, meaning he no longer held a valid tag at the time the animal was allegedly taken.

Court records further allege that Harshbarger shot at elk from the driver’s seat of a pickup truck — a violation of Idaho law prohibiting the use of motorized vehicles in the taking of game — and that he fired across Spring Hollow Road, which constitutes the charge of shooting from across a public highway. Investigators also allege that Harshbarger failed to make a reasonable effort to retrieve an animal after it was killed, a violation that Idaho law takes seriously as part of its commitment to ethical, fair-chase hunting and the responsible use of wildlife resources.

A Commissioner Who Sets the Rules Now Faces Them

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission is the seven-member body that establishes hunting and fishing regulations across the state of Idaho. Commissioners are gubernatorial appointees and hold significant authority over wildlife management policy, including the setting of seasons, bag limits, and enforcement priorities that tens of thousands of Idaho hunters and anglers are required to follow each year.

The charges against Harshbarger carry a particular weight given his role in that regulatory structure. Idaho hunters are required to purchase valid tags before taking big game animals, to remain off private and restricted federal lands without permission, to refrain from using motorized vehicles to their advantage in the field, and to make every reasonable effort to recover animals they have taken. These are not obscure provisions of Idaho law — they are foundational to the state’s hunting culture and conservation framework.

Idaho Fish and Game enforcement officers and conservation officers work throughout the state, including in Southeast Idaho communities such as Pocatello and across Bannock County, to ensure that hunters and anglers abide by those same rules that the commission sets. The case has drawn attention statewide as it moves through the Idaho court system.

For broader coverage of Idaho state government and natural resource policy, readers can visit Idaho News or the Idaho News Network.

What Comes Next

Commissioner Brody Harshbarger is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial hearing at 9 a.m. on April 29 at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho. He has pleaded not guilty to all seven charges through his legal counsel. Bannock County News will continue to monitor court proceedings and provide updates as the case progresses. It remains to be seen whether the charges will prompt any action by the governor’s office regarding Harshbarger’s status on the Idaho Fish and Game Commission.