Iowa YouTubers Plead Guilty for Involvement in Huge Poaching Scandal

Josh and Sarah Bowmar have nearly 300,000 subscribers on YouTube with a hunting-based channel. The top eight videos on the Ankeny couple's channel, Bowmar Bowhunting, have all received over a million views, with 11 reaching over half a million people.

Additionally, they have 335,000 followers on Instagram and their own website where they sell merchandise.

With that level of reach, you'd think these people would take every precaution to make sure they were doing everything from purchasing the correct hunting tools, licenses, and tags correctly.

Apparently, the Bowmars are not of the same mindset as you and I.

WHO13 elaborates, saying "Josh and Sarah Bowmar were charged in 2020 in connection with the largest poaching sting in Nebraska history. The Bowmars conducted hunts with Hidden Hills Outfitters near Broken Bow, Nebraska. ... Court documents show that the Bowmars purchased hunting and guiding services from Hidden Hills for the purposes of acquiring wildlife against Nebraska regulations. Some of the allegations against the outfitter claim they violated wildlife baiting regulations. The Bowmars were also accused of hunting turkeys without a permit and transporting game across state lines."

Earlier in October, the couple decided to plead guilty to violating the Lacey Act, which is described by ForestLegality.org as "a United States law that bans trafficking in fish, wildlife, or plants that are illegally taken, possessed, transported, or sold."

In the plea deal, four other charges were dropped, per WHO13. Among those charges was baiting wildlife.

The most drastic consequences the Bowmars could face would be one year in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $100,000 fine. Their sentencing will be determined on January 12, 2023.