NJ Man Illegally Hunts Black Bear, Stages Fake Kill Site In NY Forest

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A New Jersey man pleaded guilty Thursday to illegally killing a black bear and trying to cover up the crime by staging a fake kill site across state lines in New York.

According to court documents, Martin Kaszycki, 36, of Ringwood, shot and killed a 450-pound male black bear with a bow and arrow in Newfoundland, N.J. in October 2012 -- outside of New Jersey hunting season.

Kaszycki then drove the bear over state lines, where he told a New York weigh station employee that he had killed the bear in Sterling State Forest, where it was still archery season, according to court documents. He later took the bear to a taxidermist and requested to have the bear's skull mounted.

Several days later, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife approached Kaszycki after receiving a tip about the incident, which occurred outside of N.J. hunting season. According to court documents, Kaszycki brought officials to a fake kill site in the New York forest, which he set up using entrails from the bear.

DNA evidence later confirmed the bear was killed in New Jersey, officials said.

The crime is in violation of the Lacey Act, a law which prohibits the transport of wildlife, as well as making fake records of wildlife captured or killed.

Kaszycki must pay a $5,000 fine to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lacey Act Reward Fund, as well as a $1,250 fine to the Woodlands Wildlife Refuge in Pittstown, as well as give up ownership of the bear's skull and hide, officials said in a release. He must also give up hunting while his sentence is pending.

Kaszycki could face up to one year in prison, officials said.