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A search warrant of property in Wheeler and Deschutes counties turned up untagged trophy elk and deer mounts, vehicles, a rifle and three freshly skinned buffalo hides that helped lead to the conviction of a Bend couple involved in one the largest poaching investigations in state history.

(Oregon State Police)

Following one of Oregon's most extensive wildlife poaching investigations, a Wheeler County judge has sentenced a Bend man to 30 days in jail and ordered him to pay $66,050 in fines for guiding illegal hunting expeditions.

Alan Roy Aronson, 43, recently pleaded guilty to taking people on illegal hunts for elk and buffalo on another person's ranch without the owner's consent, according to the Wheeler County District Attorney's Office.

In October 2012, an Oregon State Police fish and wildlife trooper received an anonymous tip about illegal guiding and hunting activities in Wheeler County.

As the investigation progressed, the trooper identified Aronson as the primary suspect. However, in the end, investigators arrested 23 people on more than 200 counts of illegal hunting.

Aronson is among 10 who have pleaded guilty or no contest in the case so far.

State Police say Aronson was charging for the guided hunts on private land, even though he wasn't licensed or registered to run such a business.

What's more, he took out hunters, regardless of whether or not they had valid hunting licenses or tags, police said.

Between 2010 and 2012, hunters accompanying Aronson killed dozens of elk, including several large trophy elk that were shot and killed by persons without valid tags, state police said.

Meanwhile, they killed at least nine buffalo from a neighboring ranch without the owner's consent, authorities said.

Investigators also discovered that his wife, Emily Aronson, 34, unlawfully killed a bull elk. She also pleaded guilty.

Searches of two different locations tied to the Aronsons in Deschutes and Wheeler County turned up a several pieces of evidence implicating the couple, including documents, a computer, untagged trophy elk and deer mounts, vehicles, a rifle and three freshly skinned buffalo hides.

Both Alan and Emily Aronson were sentenced in Wheeler County Circuit Court on June 20.

Alan Aronson pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of failure to register as an outfitter and guide, and two felony counts of theft in the first degree.

In addition to his jail sentence and fines, Alan Aronson received a lifetime hunting license suspension and was ordered to forfeit property, including a 2005 Ford pickup and two all-terrain vehicles that were used in the illegal guiding operation.

Emily Aronson pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of hunting wildlife without a valid tag. She was sentenced to a three-year hunting license suspension and ordered to pay fines and restitution of $15,350.

-- Joseph Rose