United States v. Paul N. Clavette

REAVLEY, Circuit Judge:

This is an appeal from the conviction of Paul Clavette for killing a grizzly bear in violation of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1538(a)(1)(G) and 1540(b)(1). We affirm.

I. Background

On September 20, 1995, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Tim Eicher began investigating the killing of a grizzly bear at a campsite southwest of Big Sky, Montana. At the campsite, Eicher discovered two pine trees with a pole suspended by rope between them. This was a “meat pole,” used for stringing up and skinning large game animals. Underneath it, Eicher found traces of…