PASO ROBLES –On May 8, 2025, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced the arrest of a 26-year-old on suspicion of unlawful hunting of wildlife, among other wildlife violations.

According to CDFW, a wildlife officer on patrol noticed a car slowly moving through a rural area outside of Paso Robles where there had been an uptick of poaching reports. Upon contacting the driver and passenger, the officer noticed blood on the trunk, bumper and license plate.  Inside the trunk of the Honda Civic, a tom turkey and a wounded squirrel were found.  This led the officer to suspect illegal road hunting.

Two weeks later, another wildlife officer on patrol also came across a car rolling slowly through a different stretch of rural Paso Robles. The officer made contact with the driver and two passengers inside a Chevy Malibu who admitted to having a hen and tom turkey in the trunk; there was also a .22 caliber rifle on the rear floorboard.

While conducting a records check, the wildlife officer involved in the earlier case reached out to confirm the driver was the same individual previously cited for road hunting.

Neither the driver nor passengers were licensed hunters and were cited accordingly. This time around the 26-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of unlawful hunting of wildlife, among other wildlife violations; felony animal cruelty charges were recommended, prompting San Luis Obispo County courts to set bail at $20,000. Both cases are now in the hands of San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office.

It is unlawful to pursue or hunt any bird or mammal species in California from motor-driven air, water or land vehicles, unless allowed under extremely limited CDFW-permitted exceptions such as those for hunters with disabilities.

“CDFW wardens know what to look for as they work to protect the fish and wildlife in our state.  They have a keen sense as they patrol for those violating California laws meant to protect our natural resources,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CDFW) President Alan Barcelona.