Editor's note: The spelling of Sen. Mike Bernskoetter's last name has been corrected.

It took four years, but a bill with much stiffer poaching restitution fines for illegally killing certain Missouri game animals passed the Senate on Wednesday.

The bill, initially presented by House Rep. Jered Taylor, R-Nixa, passed 29-2 in the Senate.

The bill establishes significant fines that a judge can consider if a person is convicted of poaching. The range of fines includes:

$500-$1,000 for each illegally taken wild turkey

$500-$1,000 for each paddlefish

$2,000-$5,000 for each antlered deer

$10,000-$15,000 for each black bear or elk

The bill was amended to exclude extra penalties for illegally killing does, an amendment proposed by Sen. Justin Brown, R-Rolla. The amended bill now goes back to the House for consideration.

The original bill with higher fines initially passed the House on a vote of 149-10.

Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, brought the House bill forward.

“The passage of House Bill 260 will mean tough and sensible protection for our game animals," he said. "I’m a hunter, and I’m glad for this change.”

He indicated the amendment to exclude does wasn't a reason to stop the bill.

“Poaching a doe is still wrong, and still a crime," he said. "It’s just not going to result in an additional restitution payment.”

Aaron Jeffries, Conservation Department deputy director of outreach and policy, said he was optimistic the amended bill would pass the House and be sent to Gov. Mike Parson to sign.

"I talked with the bill's House sponsor, Jered Taylor, yesterday and I think there's a good chance it will come up for a vote next week in the House," Jeffries said.

Taylor said he was "extremely excited about getting this bill across the finish line after several years."

"It's gotta still go through the House, but I am cautiously optimistic we'll get it through," he said.

Taylor thinks the bill might come up for a House vote early next week.

He said he doesn't have a problem with the amendment the Senate added — excluding does from the higher fines.

"I think the senator who made that amendment said antlered deer are the animals poachers mostly go after," he said. "They're poached for their rack, as trophy animals."

Jeffries said the Conservation Department began a legislative campaign four years ago to increase fines as a way to deter poachers. The initial round of bills followed the killing of an adult elk in Shannon County, whose antlers were chain-sawed off its head while the rest of the elk was left to rot.

Since then, four more elk have been killed illegally.

More:

Who is killing Shannon County's elk?

Huge poaching probe nails four family members

Game agents nab poachers using spotlights

Earlier bills either never came up for a vote or failed to pass.

"I think the bill has grown into a better bill, with the inclusion of paddlefish, which are poached in Truman Lake and Lake of the Ozarks for their eggs," Jeffries said. "We now have stiffer fines that judges can consider for elk and black bears" and deer and turkey.

Jeffries said the Senate bill passed with no spoken opposition. It took less than five minutes for the amended bill to be approved.

Revenue generated by the poaching fines would go to the state school monies fund, not the Conservation Department.

More:Missouri Department of Conservation hopes public will help solve elk poaching incidents