2 Michigan Men Arraigned For Poaching And Torturing Animals

A pair of men from Kalkaska are getting their day in court as they have been arraigned on multiple wildlife violations.

Michigan Hunting Rules

There are a lot of rules and regulations provided by the Department of Natural Resources regarding all hunting, trapping, and fishing. Here is a link to all the different handbooks the DNR provides each year.

Michiganders must follow these rules and regulations to maintain good hunting and fishing in Michigan. Not everyone chooses to follow the rules and when they get caught there are consequences.

2 Michigan Arraigned for Poaching and Torturing Animals

Illegal hunting is not what real sportsmen and women are about in Michigan but occasionally there are a few that don't follow the rules. 19-year-old Nicholas Patnode and 20-year-old Zander Garrett broke some big laws in October and November 2022.

Read More: Former Reality TV Star in Trouble for Poaching Deer In Kalamazoo

They say the big ones come out at night but unfortunately for the man in the picture and his buddy, it's illegal to hunt at night and shoot deer from a vehicle. Patnode and Garrett were arranged in the Kalkaska County District Court on a stack of wildlife violations.

The two Kalkaska men have allegedly poached at least 6 deer from a vehicle. They are also accused of animal cruelty for the way they allegedly killed a porcupine. Below is a rundown of charges against the men listed by the DNR:  

Patnode’s 11 charges include:

• Two counts of killing, and torturing animals, a third-degree felony punishable by up to four years in jail, and/or $5,000 in fines.
• Six counts of wildlife conservation violations – general violations. Each misdemeanor is punishable by up to 90 days in jail per count, and/or $500 each.
• One count of hunting and fishing license violation – using another’s license, a misdemeanor that carries a punishment of up to 90 days in jail and/or up to $250 in fines.
• One count of wildlife conservation violation – taking the game from a vehicle; a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or up to $500 in fines.
• One count of wildlife conservation violation – possessing a bow or crossbow in a vehicle operated on public land or roads. The offense is a misdemeanor carrying a sentence of up to 90 days in jail and/or up to $500 in fines.

Garrett's charges include:

• One count of killing, and torturing animals.
• One count of wildlife conservation violation – taking the game from a vehicle.
• One count of wildlife conservation violation – possessing a bow or crossbow in a vehicle operated on public land or roads.

Oh, we are not done yet, there was a third person involved in the illegal hunting but is a minor but that case resulted in a plea agreement with the county's juvenile court.

Patnode and Garrett will return to court on May 20.