Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner Charged for Poaching Elk

Brody Harshbarger faces multiple misdemeanor violations for allegedly shooting elk from his truck

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:36pm

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Brody Harshbarger, an Idaho Fish and Game commissioner, has been charged with seven misdemeanor violations related to the illegal hunting of two bull elk in December 2025. Court documents allege that Harshbarger shot the elk from the driver's seat of his pickup truck, across a public highway, on private property and land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of holding public officials accountable to the same laws and regulations they are tasked with enforcing. As a commissioner, Harshbarger is responsible for overseeing the management of Idaho's wildlife, making his alleged poaching activities particularly egregious and a potential breach of public trust.

The details

According to the court documents, Harshbarger is facing seven misdemeanor charges, including multiple counts of unlawful taking of game animals, hunting without an appropriate tag, hunting from a motorized vehicle, shooting across a public highway, and trespassing on private property to hunt. If convicted on all charges, he could face up to three years in jail, over $7,000 in fines, and a revocation of his hunting license.

  • In December 2025, Harshbarger allegedly took two bull elk without a valid tag.
  • Harshbarger has a pretrial hearing scheduled for April 29, 2026.

The players

Brody Harshbarger

An Idaho Fish and Game commissioner who is facing multiple misdemeanor charges for the alleged illegal hunting of two bull elk.

Jim Fredericks

The director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, who is expected to remain silent on the ongoing law enforcement investigation involving Harshbarger.

Brad Little

The governor of Idaho, who has the authority to remove Harshbarger from the Fish and Game Commission if a similar incident occurred in Wyoming.

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What they’re saying

“Wildlife agencies, historically, are so incredibly political. Everybody in the state thinks they're your constituent. Everybody's interested. When the commissions were set up in the 1930s, they kind of controlled the agency to get it out of politics.”

— John Boughman, Former director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department

“If there was a violation, I would get a call right away. A director would not get involved in a law enforcement issue, certainly in Wyoming. I've known and worked with all these (state) directors personally, and they would not get involved in any law enforcement issue.”

— John Boughman, Former director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on April 29 whether to allow Harshbarger to remain free on bail while the criminal proceedings continue.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of public officials being held to the same standards as the general public when it comes to wildlife laws and regulations. It also raises questions about the role and oversight of state fish and game commissions, and whether reforms are needed to ensure greater accountability and transparency.