A well-known hunting show host, Matt Jennings, from the series The Game, has been permanently banned from hunting and fishing in Kansas after pleading guilty to illegally killing two whitetail deer in 2022. He even featured those unlawful hunts on his show. In one case he shot a buck outside the area his tag permitted and then fraudulently registered it in Oklahoma. In another he exceeded Kansas’s one-antlered deer bag limit. A federal judge sentenced him to five years probation with a nationwide ban on hunting/fishing during that time, fined him and ordered restitution. Kansas imposed a lifetime ban while also removing his content from at least one streaming platform. 
— Stephen Ziegler
Outdoor writer | Owner, DeLong Lures

Never heard of the guy.

Nothing like putting the evidence on TV for the whole world to see.....

Thats going to sting with the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.....hope it was worth it

I heard about this case somewhere not long ago. Glad they nailed him.

I had not heard of him. But I don't watch hunting shows. I don't watch TV. I figured with all the deer hunters on here, there is someone watching him. They may be getting reruns, if that.
Here is another one.
A multi-year Ohio Division of Wildlife investigation led to the conviction of Steven Niese of Harrod, Ohio, after a tipster reported that something “seemed strange” about a large buck allegedly shot by his son in January 2023. Officers determined Niese had actually shot the deer and later falsified information during game checking. He was found guilty of three counts of possessing untagged deer parts and three counts of falsifying information. Penalties included $4,291 in fines and court costs, $10,447.04 in restitution, a 10-year hunting license suspension in all 50 states starting June 15, 2025, nine days in jail (with additional time suspended and probation), and forfeiture of 235 antlers, including dozens of skulls, mounts, and sawed-off antlers.
This is why poaching penalties need to be higher, and it has nothing to do with what a deer is “worth.” This year I hunted with my daughter and made some of the best memories of my life: she shot a 10-point, we went to dinner, processed the deer, and created moments I’ll never forget. When someone poaches deer, they aren’t just stealing animals, they’re stealing memories from kids, parents, friends, and families, and stealing from landowners who invest time and money into doing things right. Even non-hunters get this, imagine showing up to play basketball with your kid on your one day off and someone cut down the hoops. You’d be furious. Humans respond to incentives, and penalties should reflect the real damage done. Poaching isn’t just a wildlife crime, it’s theft of experiences that matter.
— Stephen Ziegler
Outdoor writer | Owner, DeLong Lures

Very true.
What about someone that's just shooting does to feed his family?
Hard times made it hard for them to buy food.

These guys seem to be the antler hunters that cause so many problems for local hunting.

That case was posted about here on Trapperman, back when Covid was a big deal. Someone here that knew him posted in his defense. That's the only time I ever heard of him.

Keith

I have seen people claim they needed the meat to feed the family, and are driving a $60,000 - $80,000 dollar pick up. 99% + of the time that is a lame excuse to justify poaching to me.

True, but most that are on hard times, shoot for meat, not antlers.