Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner pleads not guilty to poaching charges

ST. ANTHONY, Idaho (KIFI) — Brody Harshbarger, a sitting member of the Idaho Fish and Game Commission, has pleaded not guilty to seven hunting-related misdemeanor charges following a poaching investigation in Fremont County. Investigators allege that Harshbarger, along with another suspected poacher, illegally shot and abandoned two elk near the Spring Hollow boat ramp in December 2025.

Hunters React

The local hunting community say the case is raising concerns about accountability and trust.

“Idaho fish and game think they are above the law, I don't have a single good thing to say about them. The only thing that surprises me about this is that someone within their circle turned the commissioner in," Casey, a hunter, said. The fish and game commissioner is appointed also, we the people don't vote them into power, this commissioner is a huge advocate on big changes they have been making to restrict the use of trail cameras, thermal imaging and anything that could give the hunter a leg up."

Another hunter, who chose to remain anonymous, say their frustrations with Idaho Fish and Game go beyond this case… pointing to their own personal experiences with the agency.

"...I was cited by Idaho Fish and Game, hired an attorney, went through the whole process, and was found not guilty. After going through that — the stress, the cost, the time — it is genuinely hard to be a supporter of this agency. I want to be. I care about conservation and wildlife management. But when you've been on the wrong end of what feels like a gotcha approach to enforcement, and then you watch a Commissioner himself get charged with something like this, the goodwill runs out fast," they said.

Despite the uproar across the area, some hunters aren't surprised.

"The story is Idaho hunters are shocked to learn that the rule makers aren't following the rules, right? What's the story? Nobody's surprised. It's emblematic of everything that we deal with. Where we've got rule upon rule foisted upon us. When are the rule makers actually going to follow it?" Jordan McCullough, a hunter in Idaho Falls, said.

Hailey Staggie, who has hunted since she was eight years old says this case is especially frustrating… pointing to what she believes is unfair treatment by Idaho Fish and Game.

"It's frustrating that they would shoot animals and just let them lay when there's times when people in my opinion, I've witnessed with the Fish and Game people legally taking animals and then confiscating their animals and their gun for stuff that they didn't even do. But they're sitting behind our backs doing poaching," Staggie said. "If they're doing that themselves, then why should we trust them with anything?"

Investigation

The investigation began on December 20, 2025, after a property owner contacted the Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) hotline. Conservation officers arriving at the scene found a 6-point bull elk on private property and an antlerless elk on nearby Bureau of Reclamation land.

According to court documents, Eric Murphy of Fremont County confessed to officers that he and Harshbarger had been shooting at elk in the area, leading to the unlawful harvest of both animals.

Court records outline several serious violations of Idaho hunting and safety codes. The documents allege that Hashbarger illegally shot at the elk from the driver's seat of his pickup across Spring Hollow Road, while Murphy fired from outside the truck. Investigators also found that Harshbarger had already filled his elk tag for the season, leaving him with no legal right to target additional animals.

Evidence at the scene suggests the 6-point bull was hit and ran onto private property before collapsing. Despite this, investigators say that neither men contacted the landowner for permission to retrieve the animal nor made a reasonable effort to recover the meat. The documents further suggest Harshbarger acted as a leader in the incident by driving the vehicle and telling Murphy where to shoot.

Both men now face charges including trespassing to hunt or retrieve, shooting from a public highway, and aiding in an unlawful harvest. Murphy faces six misdemeanor counts and is scheduled for arraignment on April 2, 2026.

Meanwhile, Harshbarger, through his attorney, pleaded not guilty on March 13. He's set to appear in a pretrial hearing on April 29 in Fremont County. If convicted, Harshbarger could face possible jail time, heavy fines, civil penalties, and the loss of hunting privileges.

The case is compounded by Harshbarger's position within the state’s wildlife management system. Appointed by the governor, a Fish and Game Commissioner is responsible for setting hunting seasons, approving regulations, and overseeing the department's budget.

Following the allegations, the Governor’s Office confirmed in a letter dated March 10 that Harshbarger has voluntarily agreed to step back from his official duties until the case is resolved, according to reports by the Idaho Capital Sun. His current term is set to run through June 2027.

Local News 8 reached out to Idaho Fish and Game for a statement, but they declined to comment as it is an active case. We also reached out to Brad Little's office, but are still waiting to hear back.