Two men charged in Custer County, accused of illegal hunting and poaching
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CHALLIS — Two men are facing charges in Custer County; they are accused of illegally hunting and unlawful possession of wildlife.
Craig Z. Joseph, of Meridian, has been charged with one count of unlawful possession of wildlife, four counts of aiding and abetting in the commission of a misdemeanor: hunting without a valid hunting license, one count of conspiracy: using a tag of another zone and one count of conspiracy: hunting without a valid tag.
Steven Edward Ahlbrand, of Pennsylvania, has been charged with one count of unlawful possession of wildlife, two counts of aiding and abetting in the commission of a misdemeanor: hunt without a valid hunting license, one count of hunting without a valid tag, one count of conspiracy: using a tag of another zone and one count of conspiracy: hunting without a valid tag.
Court documents allege that in October 2025, Ahlbrand and another individual came to Idaho to go elk hunting with Joseph. Ahlbrand was allegedly unable to obtain an elk tag for the Salmon zone and instead obtained one for the Middle Fork zone.
During the 2025 hunt, the third individual hunting with Ahlbrand and Joseph allegedly shot and killed a mule deer for which he did not have a tag, and used a tag owned by Joseph’s wife for the deer. The third individual did not have a valid hunting license or a tag, but does not appear to be facing criminal charges in Idaho.
On Dec. 30, Custer County law enforcement received a tip from the Pennsylvania Game Warden’s office, alleging the third individual with Ahlbrand and Joseph had hunted illegally, prompting an investigation.
Court documents report Custer County law enforcement worked with the Pennsylvania Game Warden’s office to gather evidence. In addition, law enforcement obtained warrants for Ahlbrand’s digital devices, uncovering a conversation between Ahlbrand and Joseph in which they allegedly discussed Ahlbrand’s inability to purchase a hunting tag in Zone 36b. In the texts, they allegedly decide to get a tag for Zone 28 and instead use it in Zone 36b.
Law enforcement was also able to obtain location data from their devices, which showed Ahlbrand and Joseph had allegedly been hunting in the zone illegally.
Court summons were issued for Ahlbrand and Joseph on Aug. 31. Ahlbrand appeared in court for an initial appearance on Sept. 28. Joseph is set to appear in court on Nov. 30 for a preliminary hearing.
If found guilty of the charges, Joseph may face up to three and a half years’ confinement and may be required to pay fines of up to $7,000.
Ahlbrand may face up to three years confinement and may be required to pay fines of up to $6,000.
Both men may have their hunting and fishing licenses revoked as a result of the charges.
Although Joseph and Ahlbrand have been charged with these crimes, that does not necessarily mean they committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.