Washington man sentenced to over 9 years in prison for elk killing spree

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A Grays Harbor County man, Richard Lored Pratt, has been sentenced to 116 months in prison for a 2023 elk killing spree near Aberdeen, Washington. Pratt was initially sentenced to a mental health alternative in 2025 but failed to meet the court's requirements, leading to the harsher resentencing.

Why it matters

Unlawful hunting of big game, especially in the form of a 'spree killing' of multiple animals, is considered a serious offense in Washington state due to the ecological and economic impacts. This case highlights the state's efforts to crack down on such wildlife crimes through lengthy prison sentences.

The details

Pratt was convicted of felony unlawful hunting of big game, felony unlawful possession of firearms used in a first-degree felony, and gross misdemeanor wastage. He will serve the 116-month sentence concurrently and pay roughly $10,000 in fines. The charges stem from a 2023 incident where Pratt allegedly shot and killed multiple elk on a private logging property near Aberdeen.

• In January 2023, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife received reports of multiple dead elk found on a private logging property.
• About 10 months later, a WDFW officer caught Pratt breaking into the same area with rifles, and one of the rifles was a match for the one used in the elk killings.
• Pratt was initially sentenced in November 2025 to a mental health sentencing alternative, but he failed to maintain the requirements set by the court.
• This week, Pratt was resentenced to the harsher 116-month prison term, which is the longest big game-related sentence in Washington state in the past 10 years.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Richard Lored Pratt to appeal the resentencing.