Kirt Darner big-game trial set for Grants

By Mike Marino
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — The conviction and sentencing of Adrian Romero was a victory New Mexico Game and Fish Department and the first racketeering case in Cibola County.

Another similar case that has gained attention nationally is the case of Kirt Darner, legendary big game hunter and guide from Colorado. Darner and his wife, Pamela, were charged by a grand jury in Cibola County in February 2006 with numerous violations including drugging and moving four wild elk, three of them owned by the state of New Mexico, from a 40-acre Lobo Canyon Ranch to Pancho Peaks Ranch and Game Park owned by Steve W. Lewis of Artesia in 2004.

The trial has been delayed several times in the past, most recently in April 2007, and now a new date has now been set for both parties to meet in the courtroom of the 13th Judicial District Court.

“We expect to begin the trial sometime in January of 2008, and at this point we feel it will proceed, and if convicted they could be facing substantial time,” Deputy District Attorney Randy Collins said.

The charges against Darner include tampering with evidence, conspiracy to transport stolen livestock and receiving stolen property.

Darner is a world famous outdoorsman, hunting guide and author of numerous trophy hunting books and has been the subject of articles and interviews in outdoor and hunting magazines. He was also the advertising face and spokesperson for Remington bolt action rifles in the ’70s and ’80s.

At one time Darner claimed he had brought down more Boone and Crockett trophy deer than anyone else, however, that claim was challenged, and Darner removed all his claims from the Boone and Crockett record books.

He’s also no stranger to law enforcement, as he had his license revoked by wildlife authorities in Colorado for a three year period in 2001 after it was discovered that a hunter Darner was guiding illegally shot at an elk decoy from the window of a truck, and Darner did not possess a permit for the hunting group.