MISSOULA, Montana – A Washington state man has been sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to kill and traffic eagles and hawks on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

Travis John Branson, 49, of Cusick, Washington, was sentenced to 46 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $777,250 in restitution. Branson pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy, two counts of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles, and violation of the Lacey Act.

According to court documents, Branson and others hunted and killed eagles on the Flathead Reservation from 2015 to 2021. Branson then sold the eagles on the black market across the United States and elsewhere. The government estimated that Branson made between $180,000 and $360,000 by selling eagle feathers and parts for profit on the black market.

The government’s investigation showed that Branson and others killed approximately 3,600 birds during the conspiracy. At least 118 eagles and 107 hawks killed were directly traceable to Branson and documented through his own text messages.

In one instance, Branson was stopped by law enforcement after killing a golden eagle. The eagle’s feet and feathers were found in Branson’s vehicle, and the remainder of the carcass was later recovered in a field.

Branson knew that killing and selling eagles was illegal. In text messages to potential buyers, he joked about the price of killing eagles being “the price of a bullet” and talked about going on “killing sprees.”  U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said that Branson’s actions were a “profound offense against our nation’s cherished natural heritage.”

“The bald eagle, adopted as America’s national symbol in 1782, represents our country’s core ideals of freedom, strength, and justice,” Laslovich said. “Once on the brink of extinction, eagles recovered only because of conservation efforts by the American people and federal laws protecting them. None of that mattered to Travis Branson.”

Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, said that Branson’s actions highlight the urgent need for stringent enforcement and greater public awareness regarding wildlife trafficking. “His actions are particularly egregious, considering the significant number of bald and golden eagles he killed for personal profit, and such behavior will not be tolerated,” Grace said.

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Chairman Mike Dolson said that the impact of the raptor loss on the Flathead Reservation will be felt for years to come. “We hope this helps put a stop to illegal poaching on our homelands and gives these birds a chance to recover,” Dolson said. “Eagles are not only a treasured and important part of the Reservation’s ecosystem, but they also have a profound place in CSKT cultural and spiritual practices.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Fish and Game Department conducted the investigation.

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