GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — A man allegedly admitted to killing a federally protected wolf at his deer stand near Calumet, among other hunting violations.
Steven Robert Pavich, 63, of Ceylon, Minn., reportedly told a conservation officer in November that he has his “own opinion on wolves” and simply wanted the animal “out of there,” according to charges filed earlier this month.
The case, authorities said, was the result of information submitted to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Turn in Poachers tipline.
According to a criminal complaint:
Conservation officer Jimmy Van Asch visited the permanent deer stand on Glacier Park Iron Ore Properties land near Swan River Road on Nov. 10. Photos had been submitted to the DNR showing it baited with apples and pumpkins.
Van Asch spoke with Pavich, who said he shot a small doe the previous day. He went on to admit that he had also shot a wolf, which he knew was “wrong.” He also acknowledged putting out the bait Nov. 7 and stated he knew it needed to be removed before he could legally hunt.
Pavich showed the officer the apples and pumpkins approximately 40 feet from the stand. A fresh gut pile from the doe was located among the food.
The hunter said he only “brought a little bit” of bait and indicated he shot the wolf around 8 a.m. before killing the deer about an hour later. He agreed to show Van Asch the wolf carcass, about 80 yards away from the stand, and he admitted he knew it was illegal to kill the animal.
Pavich then showed the officer the field-dressed deer back at his camp, where it remained untagged. He stated he had placed the carcass on a sled and transported it back via ATV.
Several 5-gallon buckets of apples and a few pumpkins were also found at the camp.
In a later interview, Pavich “represented having concerns for his well-being at the time he shot the wolf,” but “stated that he did not feel that he was personally threatened and did not fear for his life at the time he shot the wolf.”
Gray wolves remain a “threatened species” in Minnesota, though the Biden administration has sought to reinstate a Trump-era ruling removing the animal from protections under the Endangered Species Act.
Minnesota law also requires hunters to validate deer tags at the site of the kill and apply the tag once the animal is transported out of the field. And Itasca County is currently under a deer feeding and attractant ban to minimize exposure to chronic wasting disease.
Pavich is charged with a gross misdemeanor count of transporting illegal big game and misdemeanor counts of taking a wolf during a closed season, hunting deer with aid or bait and failing to validate a big game license.
He was given a summons to make an initial appearance in State District Court on Feb. 12.
The deer and wolf were seized as evidence, as were three rifles belonging to Pavich and another man at the camp. The ATV was also formally seized but immediately returned to Pavich.
The other hunter was later cited for the baiting violation. Pavich’s son was also found at the deer stand, but he did not possess a firearm or bow.
The Itasca County Attorney’s Office noted it will seek $500 in restitution for each of the unlawfully harvested animals, as authorized by state law.
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