Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner Facing Seven Criminal Hunting Charges
An Idaho Fish and Game commissioner responsible for setting hunting regulations across the state is facing seven misdemeanor criminal charges related to alleged hunting violations that occurred in December, according to Idaho court records reviewed by the Idaho Capital Sun.
Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner Brody Harshbarger faces a wide-ranging list of hunting-related charges, including two counts of unlawfully taking a big game animal, hunting without a valid tag, shooting from across a public highway, hunting with the aid of a motorized vehicle, failing to make a reasonable effort to retrieve a harvested animal, and trespassing to hunt or fish. All seven charges are classified as misdemeanors under Idaho law.
Through his attorney, Harshbarger has entered a not-guilty plea to all charges. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on April 29 at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho.
What the Court Records Allege
According to Idaho court records, the alleged violations stem from an incident on December 20. The first count of unlawfully taking a big game animal alleges that Harshbarger shot a 6-point bull elk out of season and/or aided or abetted another person in doing so. The second count alleges that Harshbarger unlawfully shot an antlerless bull elk on Bureau of Reclamation property on the same date, or aided and abetted another in doing so.
The charge of hunting without a valid tag alleges that Harshbarger shot or killed an elk on Bureau of Reclamation property after having already filled his tag for the season. Court records indicate Harshbarger no longer held a valid elk tag at the time the animal was shot.
Additional charges are equally serious in nature. Court records allege that Harshbarger illegally shot an elk from the driver’s seat of a pickup truck — a violation of Idaho hunting law that prohibits hunting with the aid of a motorized vehicle. Records also allege he shot at elk across Spring Hollow Road, constituting the charge of shooting from across a public highway. Both of those charges include the possibility that Harshbarger aided or abetted another person in committing the acts.
The final charge — failing to make a reasonable effort to retrieve — alleges that after killing a big game animal, Harshbarger did not take reasonable steps to recover the animal, or aided and abetted another person who failed to do so. Idaho hunting law requires hunters to make a reasonable effort to recover any game animal they have harvested.
The Role of an Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner
The gravity of the charges carries added weight given Harshbarger’s official position. Idaho Fish and Game commissioners are appointed to oversee the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and hold authority over establishing the very hunting regulations that govern the conduct now alleged against him. The commission sets seasons, bag limits, and enforcement policy for hunting and fishing throughout the state of Idaho.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game enforces hunting laws across the state, and violations of the type alleged against Harshbarger — including shooting from a vehicle, hunting without a valid tag, and trespassing — are among the most commonly prosecuted wildlife offenses in Idaho. Statewide coverage of Idaho wildlife law enforcement matters can be found at Idaho News.
The charges raise questions about accountability at the highest levels of a state agency whose mission centers on the ethical and lawful stewardship of Idaho’s wildlife resources. North Idaho residents and sportsmen throughout Bonner County and the broader Idaho Panhandle region depend on the Fish and Game Commission to uphold the integrity of hunting regulations that protect wildlife populations, including elk herds that are central to the region’s outdoor heritage.
Bureau of Reclamation lands, on which some of the alleged violations occurred, are federally managed public lands, meaning the alleged trespassing and unlawful taking charges involve conduct on property that belongs to all Americans.
What Comes Next
The next court date for Commissioner Brody Harshbarger is a pre-trial hearing scheduled for April 29, 2026, at 9 a.m. at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho. Harshbarger has pleaded not guilty to all seven charges and is represented by legal counsel. No charges have been proven in court, and Harshbarger is presumed innocent unless and until a court determines otherwise. Bonner County News will continue to monitor court proceedings and provide updates as this case moves forward. Additional statewide coverage is available through the Idaho News Network.