An investigation into the killing of a bison inside Grand Teton National Park a year ago ended up with two individuals pleading guilty, according to the National Park Service.

In a release Monday the Park Service said that "Oregon resident Gary Washington pled guilty to a violation of the Lacey Act, a Class A Misdemeanor, as he knowingly and intentionally transported an illegally taken bison after killing the animal within the park in December 2015. Additionally, Laurie Washington pled guilty to the charge of illegally taking wildlife for her role in the incident."

According to park officials, on December 5, 2015, two hunters reported that they had found "a suspicious scene at the end of the Elk Ranch Road. The hunters described finding a large gut pile in the road, possibly from a bison, with a drag trail in the snow originating in Grand Teton National Park. A park ranger and state wildlife warden responded to the scene and confirmed the information provided by the other hunters. Evidence indicated it was a recent kill, and the bison meat, head and hide had been removed from the scene."

Evidence at the scene and recent snowfall made it possible for investigators to determine that the bison had been killed the day before. 

"The investigation determined that two individuals had walked past several boundary signs prior to shooting a bull bison approximately one-quarter-of-a-mile inside the park. After shooting the bison, track evidence demonstrated that one of the individuals involved in the illegal taking of wildlife then walked out to retrieve a utility task vehicle and drove this vehicle off road back into the park, passing several more boundary signs along the way, in order to retrieve the dead bison," the park release said. "As a result of this retrieval, the driver of the vehicle caused significant resource damage to vegetation in the area. The animal was subsequently field dressed at a location outside of the park boundary before being transported to a campsite along the Spread Creek Road."

The investigators, based on information they received from other hunters and investigative leads, were able to identify the suspects in the case. "The investigation continued through the winter and a park ranger and a National Park Service special agent traveled to Oregon this spring to interview Gary and Laurie Washington," the park release said. "The Washingtons admitted to shooting the bison and cooperated with the investigation, relinquishing the bison skull, hide, meat and other associated evidence."

The couple was charged and summoned to appear in court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Carman. On October 11, Gary Washington pled guilty to the Lacey Act charge and Laurie Washington pled guilty to illegal take of wildlife, the Park Service release said.

Mr. Washington was fined $8,025, given three years of unsupervised probation, and handed a world-wide hunting ban through 2017, the release said, adding that Laurie Washington's sentence also included three years of unsupervised probation, a world-wide hunting ban through 2017, and a $35 court processing fee.

Following the conclusion of the case, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department helped to coordinate the donation of several hundred pounds of recovered bison meat to community members in need.

Hunters in the area near Grand Teton National Park are reminded that it is the individual's responsibility to know permitted hunt area boundaries. Hunting close to a national park boundary can be problematic, especially when a wounded animal crosses into a closed area. In these cases, immediate notification should be made to Grand Teton National Park and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.