MO: Three Missouri men sentenced on wildlife poaching charges

MO: Three Missouri men sentenced on wildlife poaching charges

https://www.komu.com/news/state/three-missouri-men-sentenced-on-wildlife-poaching-charges/article_bcf203e9-cb03-4689-a29c-57b1b058cd68.html

09/12/2025

Three Missouri men connected to the illegal killing of a bull elk in 2023 have been sentenced in Shannon County Court.

The cases followed a monthslong investigation by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the filing of multiple wildlife-related charges by the Shannon County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, according to a news release from the Department of Conservation.

Michael K. O’Neail of De Soto pleaded guilty to illegally killing and abandoning a bull elk. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine, according to the Department of Conservation. The jail sentence was suspended pending successful completion of two years’ probation and full payment of the fine within one year of his sentencing.

Kevin B. Click and Travis R. Wadlow, from Bonne Terre, were each fined $500 and ordered to make a mandatory $750 contribution to the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, according to the news release. They were not directly responsible for the bull elk’s killing, according to the news release.

The three men were also charged with illegally possessing a deer they did not Telecheck, according to the release.

“Lawful hunters contribute to the conservation and management of our wildlife resources, while poachers do not,” MDC Protection Branch Chief Travis McLain said in the news release. “Poaching is not a victimless crime; it hurts all of us.”

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