Jared and Rex Baum of Ashton, Idaho were sentenced this April for the unlawful killing of a grizzly bear on March 16, 2021 in Fremont County, Idaho. As part of a plea deal, Jared Baum pleaded guilty to a felony and was sentenced to 30 consecutive days in the Fremont County jail, three years of probation, two years fixed, and three years indeterminate sentence suspended, $2,500 in fines plus court costs, $10,000 in civil penalties, and a lifetime hunting revocation.
Rex Baum pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to a 180 days jail, 177 suspended, 3 days to serve in the Fremont County jail, $1,000 in fines plus court costs, $400 civil penalty, and a 10 year hunting revocation. Additionally, Idaho is a member of the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact, therefore Jared Baum’s hunting license will be revoked for life, and Rex Baum’s hunting license will be revoked for 10 years in all 48 member states.
The dead grizzly sow shot by Jared and Rex Baum was originally discovered on April 9, 2021 after Fish and Game Officers and staff accompanied by a Fremont County Deputy responded to a mortality signal emanating from the radio collar of a research grizzly bear.
The signal from the collar led investigators to a location on the Little Warm River in Fremont County where they discovered the bear’s carcass half submerged in the water. Initial examination determined that bear had not died of natural causes and a bullet was retrieved from the rib cage.
The bear’s carcass was then removed for further examination where x-rays of the sow grizzly’s remains revealed 12 bullets and one bullet fragment. Fish and Game staff also visited the sow’s known den site where they discovered a deceased male grizzly cub that perished as a result
