CANYON CITY — A serial poacher from Grant County has had his Oregon hunting privileges taken away for life — for the third time in the last 10 years.

Travis Alexander Palmer, 34, of Mount Vernon, was facing eight counts of wildlife violations in Grant County Circuit Court. After initially pleading not guilty to the charges, he reached a negotiated settlement with prosecutors. 

On Feb. 6, Palmer pleaded guilty to two felony counts of violation of a wildlife law with a culpable mental state. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of taking, angling, hunting or trapping in violation of a wildlife law or rule and one count of hunting without a license, all misdemeanors. The remaining charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

According to prosecutors, Palmer illegally killed two trophy-size game animals, a bull elk and a buck deer. The case against him specified that he shot both animals with a rifle during archery season, hunting at night with a spotlight from his vehicle on a public road — all without a license.

In a separate case, Palmer was charged with 31 fishing violations. He pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor counts of taking, angling, hunting or trapping in violation of a wildlife law or rule, and the remaining 25 counts were dismissed.

On Tuesday, Feb. 25, Judge Rob Raschio pronounced sentence in both cases.

Palmer was placed on supervised probation for 18 months, fined $22,500, sentenced to 55 days in jail and ordered to perform 260 hours of community service or work crew duty. 

He may not possess firearms or other weapons during the period of his probation, and he was ordered to participate in a mental health evaluation and follow the evaluator’s recommendations.

Palmer’s Oregon hunting and fishing licenses were revoked for life.

In addition, he must forfeit all animal parts and game calls in his possession, as well as a Weatherby Mark V 7mm rifle, a compound bow and arrows, and his Coleman spotlight.

Palmer has a long record of convictions for wildlife offenses, with escalating consequences over the years.

According to court records and information from the Grant County District Attorney’s Office, Palmer lost his hunting privileges for two years in 2008, when he was just 17 years old. Two years later, he was convicted of another wildlife violation and lost his hunting privileges again, this time for three years.

In 2015 Palmer was convicted of another wildlife offense and received a lifetime hunting license revocation. 

The lack of a license, however, did not deter him from hunting. Another conviction followed in 2023, and Palmer received his second permanent hunting ban. 

Apparently he still didn’t learn his lesson, and now his hunting privileges have been revoked for life yet again.

“Palmer is a habitual offender who does not care what restrictions are placed on him,” District Attorney Jim Carpenter said. “He is going to trophy-hunt or fish as he wishes without regard for the law or other people. Palmer’s behaviors make it harder for the law-abiding hunter and wildlife enthusiast in the pursuit of their activities, be it putting food on the table for their families or recreational enjoyment of spotting wildlife in their natural habitat.”

Palmer is currently incarcerated in the Grant County Jail, where he has begun serving his sentence for his latest criminal wildlife convictions. He is also awaiting trial on a felony charge of third-degree assault for allegedly injuring a man by hitting him with a stick.

Palmer’s attorney did not return a phone call seeking comment.