A lot of poaching investigations seem to end with wrist slaps, but that’s hardly the case for former corrections officer, Christopher Matson (48) of Umatilla, Oregon. After pleading guilty to numerous wildlife and firearm-related felonies, Matson was sentenced to 24 months probation, a lifetime hunting ban, 300 hours of community service, forfeiture of firearms and property seized, and is forced to pay more than $114,000 in fines.
Because the violations spanned multiple areas, Matson was charged in both Grant and Umatilla counties and therefore faced two separate court cases. The charges in Grant County included four counts of unlawful take of buck deer (felony and misdemeanor), and three counts of unlawful take of black bear (felony and misdemeanor).
After pleading guilty to these, Maston was sentenced for possession of a short-barreled rifle (felony), unlawful possession of a silencer (felony), unlawful possession of multiple wildlife (misdemeanor), and unlawful take of mule deer (felony) in Umatilla County.
His sentencing concludes a nearly two-year investigation conducted by the Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish and Wildlife Division. In 2024, the OSP received information that Matson had been illegally taking wild game animals.
After serving a search warrant in February 2025, OSP seized multiple firearms and big game animals. In addition to his final charges, Matson originally faced 67 criminal charges that included falsely applying for a license/tag, unlawful take of antlerless elk, loaning/borrowing big game tags, hunting during prohibited hours, failing to validate a big game tag, and unlawful take/possession of a game bird.
While Oregon has recently made headlines with radical initiatives from anit-hunting groups aimed at threatening hunting opportunities, this case reflects similar problems on another front. Only, Matson’s actions stem from “within,” rather than direct opposition to the Beaver State’s hunting opportunities.
In fact, Oregon Department of Justice Wildlife Anti-Poaching Resource Prosecutor Jay Hall said that Matson’s crimes have resulted in “…one of the highest damage amounts done to Oregon wildlife by any singular actor.”
“This is another example of serial poaching,” he said, “which rises to the level of felony conduct based solely on the repeated poaching conduct and impact of one individual on Oregon’s game mammals.”
Images via Oregon State Police
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