Two southwestern Oregon men have been banned from hunting for life because of multiple poaching violations.

Terry E. Clearwater, 42, of Butte Falls, and Brody J. Gerke, 37, of Shady Cove, were convicted of working together to use bait and hounds to kill black bear and cougar.

Gerke pleaded guilty to three counts of hunting bear and/or cougar with dogs/bait and one count of illegal possession of wildlife.

In addition to the lifetime hunting suspension and forfeiture of items seized from his residence, he also was sentenced to 24 months probation, 80 hours of community service, and $2,001 in fines and restitution.
Clearwater pleaded guilty to one count of hunting bear with dogs.

Along with the lifetime hunting suspension, he also was sentenced to 24 months probation, 64 hours of community service, and $1,340 in fines and restitution.

An investigation began on the pair on 2008 by troopers with the Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division.
Senior troopers Jim Collom and Mike Cushman, both assigned at the Central Point Area Command office, spearheaded the investigation.

Since 1994, it has been against Oregon law to use of bait or dogs to attract or take black bear and to use dogs to take cougar.

On March 31, 2009, troopers served a search warrant of Gerke's home, where nearly 60 items of evidence were seized. Gerke was charged with 15 counts of wildlife crimes.

Clearwater also was charged for being involved with the May 25, 2008 killing of a black bear with the aid of dogs.
The pleas were heard in Jackson County Circuit Court.

A previous investigation resulted had resulted in guilty pleas by Clearwater and Gerke in early 2009 to unlawfully using dogs to pursue and kill a cougar in the Shady Cove area.

Oregon law mandates that a person's second conviction for the offense of using dogs to pursue and kill a bear or cougar results in a lifetime hunting suspension.