UPDATE: Feb. 21, 2026, 2:12 p.m.
The suspect accused of shooting a white-tailed buck standing on a school lawn in Orfino was arrested and sentenced to a $1,000 fine plus fees and penalties and two weekends in the Clearwater County Jail.
The suspect was arrested after Idaho Fish and Game officers reviewed hundreds of hours of video footage, which led them to identify the suspect and obtain a search warrant, Idaho Fish and Game said.
They arrested him in Asotin and confirmed the blood on his clothes matched the blood of the deer found at the school the night it was shot. The meat and antlers were never located.
The suspect was charged with five misdemeanors, but later pled guilty in Clearwater County District Court to a flagrant misdemeanor charge of taking a deer during closed season, Idaho Fish and Game said.
In addition to the $1,000 fine, the suspect was charged with $165 in court fees, a $400 civil penalty and a $75 processing fee. In addition to his two weekends in jail, the suspect was also sentenced to 174 days suspended, two years of unsupervised probation and a five-year revocation of hunting privileges.
“Officer Luke Guasco thanked the community for its cooperation, noting the case required extensive review of surveillance footage and would not have been possible without the assistance of local residents and businesses,” Idaho Fish and Game said in its announcement about the case.
OROFINO, Idaho — Authorities are seeking info about a deer shooting in the parking lot of Orofino Elementary School.
According to a press release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the shooting occurred on the evening of Nov. 26 in the school parking lot at 1000 Michigan Avenue in which a white-tailed deer was shot and killed.
The department is urging anyone with information to contact Conservation Officer Luke Guasco at (208) 921-7541 or the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999. The hotline is available 24/7, or tips can be submitted online at Citizens Against Poaching. Fish and Game said callers can remain anonymous, and a reward is available for info leading to a citation.
Article originally published Dec. 3, 2024, 6:32 p.m.
