Statewide Iowa — A Carroll County man who was recently acquitted of several poaching charges says he has a warning for deer hunters and questions the tactics of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.61-year-old Kenneth Snyder of Glidden was found not guilty on four counts of illegal possession of antlered whitetail deer. Snyder says the experience led him to this advice for hunters.
European mounting is a technique where the deer heads are buried in the ground so bugs and animals pick them clean and all that is left is the skull and antlers. It costs less than having the whole deer head-mounted. Snyder says it’s important to note the deer were legally taken before the process.
Snyder has been on the Carroll County Conservation Board for about 25 years and has done volunteer work with the DNR for many years. He says it didn’t make sense when conservation officers came to his house at 1:30 in the morning to question him.
Snyder says they introduced a video of the European mount process and a body cam video from a DNR officer who recognized the technique at Snyder’s home. He says there’s only one reason he can think of that officers pursued this case.
The judge found Snyder not guilty right after hearing the testimony. Snyder says the DNR hasn’t explained or apologized.
He says the DNR has lost a friend. According to Snyders’ attorney, William Kutmus, the DNR made a “totally incompetent” decision to prosecute the case, and it was evident by the quick verdict in Snyder’s favor. A spokesman for the Iowa DNR explained that the decision to move ahead with the case was made by the prosecutor. Taylor County Attorney, Clinton Spurrier, prosecuted the case due to a potential conflict of interest with the Carroll County Attorney. He says the judge relied heavily on the information that was presented at the trial, and some of that information was not available at the time the decision to prosecute was made. Spurrier says it was a lengthy investigation and further interviews may or may not have impacted the decision to prosecute the case. He says hindsight is always “20-20” following a decision.
Snyder’s son Joshua is also facing charges from the DNR, and is awaiting a trial.
