The Lemhi County Prosecutor’s Office in Idaho has filed a criminal complaint against Ryan C. Lampers, 51, of Montana. GearJunkie obtained court documents showing Lampers faces eight separate charges following an investigation by Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers into his hunting activity during the 2024 season.
Lampers is a well-known hunter on social media, known by the monicker StHealthy Hunter. Following the allegations, his social media profiles had been taken down.
The complaint, filed August 29 and entered into the Seventh Judicial District Court on September 2, alleges that Lampers unlawfully harvested and reported multiple animals, including a mule deer buck, a mountain lion, and a wolf.
Prosecutors say Lampers provided false information to Idaho Fish and Game and to the Foundation for Wildlife Management (F4WM), which reimburses hunters for wolf harvests.
Ryan Lampers: Allegations
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Lampers allegedly shot and possessed a mule deer buck in Big Game Management Unit 21 on December 1, 2024, where the season was closed and he did not hold a valid tag for that unit. Investigators say the buck later scored 175 4/9 inches under Boone and Crockett standards, classifying it as a trophy animal.
On December 6, 2024, Lampers allegedly killed a mountain lion in the same unit using a reduced tag that was not valid there, then reported the animal as being taken in Unit 28.
Two days later, on December 8, Lampers allegedly shot a wolf in Unit 21 but reported it in Unit 28. The following day, he allegedly submitted Big Game Mortality Reports for both the mountain lion and wolf with the incorrect unit information.
Prosecutors say Lampers then applied for reimbursement through the Foundation for Wildlife Management, which pays higher bounties for wolves taken in certain units, and received $2,000, which was $1,250 more than the maximum reimbursement for the unit where the wolf was actually killed.
The Criminal Complaint
Lampers is charged with the following counts:
- Grand Theft by Deception (Felony): Allegedly obtained $2,000 from F4WM by falsely claiming a wolf was killed in a higher-paying reimbursement unit.
- Unlawful Possession of Mule Deer Buck (Felony): Allegedly possessed a mule deer taken unlawfully, later scored at 175 4/9 inches under Boone and Crockett standards, qualifying as a trophy.
- Taking Trophy Big Game During Closed Season (Misdemeanor): Allegedly shot a mule deer buck during a closed season in Lemhi County.
- Hunting Without Valid Tag (Misdemeanor): Allegedly hunted and killed the mule deer without a valid tag for the unit.
- Hunting Without Valid Tag (Misdemeanor): Allegedly killed a mountain lion in BGMU 21 without a valid tag for that unit.
- Possession/Transportation of Game Taken Unlawfully (Misdemeanor): Allegedly possessed or transported the unlawfully taken mountain lion.
- Falsifying Public Records (Misdemeanor): Allegedly falsified an Idaho Fish and Game Big Game Mortality Report for the mountain lion.
- Falsifying Public Records (Misdemeanor): Allegedly falsified a mortality report for the wolf kill.
What Comes Next
The complaint requests a book-and-release bench warrant to bring Lampers before the court.
If convicted, penalties could include prison time, fines, restitution, and suspension or revocation of hunting privileges.
GearJunkie reached out to Lampers for comment, and at the time of publishing, has not received a response.
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