An Estacada man is facing more than three dozen poaching and firearms charges in connection with his alleged illegal taking of nearly 60 big game animals in Clackamas County.
Norman Paul Jones, 68, was indicted last month on 38 counts of unlawful taking or possession of a big game mammal, which is a class A misdemeanor, and four counts of felon in possession of a firearm, a class C felony.
The Oregon State Police and Oregon Division of Fish and Wildlife have been investigating Jones, who has previous felony drug and firearms convictions, since before June 2022, when investigators executed a search warrant at his home on South Stormer Road in Estacada.
Police said that warrant stemmed from information gathered in a previous search warrant of a co-conspirator, which linked Jones to poaching several deer using a rifle. Jones has a prior felony conviction.
The search allegedly turned up two firearms: a .308 caliber rifle with a mounted scope and a .22 caliber rifle with a mounted scope, which also included a flashlight taped to the barrel.
In addition to the firearms, Jones allegedly had in his possession a variety of wildlife parts including numerous sets of deer and elk antlers that were still attached to the skull.
The collection included parts of three spike deer, 17 two-point forked-horn deer, 19 three-point deer, 18 four-point deer, two bull elk (one five-point and one four-point), and owl parts, including wings and legs.
“Jones was unable to provide documentation to show the majority of the antlers or other wildlife parts were lawfully possessed,” Oregon State Police said in a press release.
Prior to being indicted on the previous charges, Oregon State Police received additional information that Jones was again in possession of a firearm, which led to the execution of a second search warrant on April 6.
Police seized another firearm, a Savage Arms 111, which is a .300 Winchester Magnum rifle with scope.
Jones was subsequently lodged in the Clackamas County Jail, but was released on his own recognizance after a May 1 hearing. Jones’ case is set for a trial by jury on August 1, according to court records.
