Darner trial set for June

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Kirt Darner, who faces a trial in district court in Grants on June 23 in connection with allegedly possessing stolen trophy sheep heads, illegally transporting and receiving stolen elk and other charges, at one time was considered a legendary hunter and was a representative for Remington bolt action rifles in the company’s national advertising.

Darner had bagged and recorded a number of trophy deer and other animals during the 1970s and 1980s and was in the record books in Colorado and New Mexico.
Boone and Crockett Club is a non-profit group founded by Teddy Roosevelt in the late 1800s. It keeps and posts records for trophy deer hunts.

At one time, Darner had several records which were posted by the club, but two were removed and one record entry request was refused by the club because of suspicious circumstances.

One of the deer that Darner claims to have shot was the same deer in a submitted in a photo decades earlier by another hunter, Dean Naylor of Phoenix, who shot the deer in 1948. The same deer’s photos were submitted by Darner in 1979 and entered into the record books.

Darner eventually asked the club to remove all of his record deer since the club informed him it was going to review all his submissions for records.

Colorado licenses removed

In Colorado, the state’s Division of Natural Resources removed Darner’s hunting and guiding license after a hunter who was paying Darner to guide him shot a decoy elk from the window of a truck Darner was driving. Darner was guiding the hunter illegally at the time and did not have a hunting permit for elk.

The Independent has learned that Darner’s reason for hiring felon Darin Holly to steal the trophy sheep heads was retribution to the state of Colorado for removing his licenses in 2001. The sheep’s skulls were to be mounted on stuffed animals for an educational exhibit for the people of Colorado.
Rich LaRocca, a former editor for Outdoor Life magazine wrote two of Darner’s books for him. LaRocca found evidence that some of the deer that Darner claimed to have shot were untrue and has distanced himself from Darner, stating that he did not know at the time he agreed to write the books that Darner lied.

Wildlife expert comments

There will be two hearings in May to exclude Holly and Kent Klineburger, a wildlife expert appraiser from testifying for the prosecution at the trial.

Klineburger told the Independent, while driving in Texas toward Missourito apprise wildlife with his wife, that he has assessed the two sheep’s skulls at $25,000, and $40,000.
“I base my appraisal on what the hunt is actually worth,” he said.

“Most of the hunting groups in the United States now know about Darner, and he will not get any more business or be able to show his face at any of them,” Klineburger said.

Darner has had his trial postponed five times so far, since his indictment in February 2006 by the 13th Judicial District grand jury.

When asked if he though the June 23 trial would actually happen, District Attorney Lemuel Martinez said he thought all the excuses have been used and that the trial would probably happen this time

“We are confident we will win ... ,” Martinez said.

Darner could serve nearly 44 years in state prison and be fined up to $58,000 if he is convicted.

He faces the following charges: Unlawful possession of two bull elk; transportation of stolen livestock, two bull elk; receiving stolen property, one each Rocky Mountain and Desert Bighorn sheep skulls; conspiracy to transport livestock; failure to submit an invoice for sale of big game (elk); and no health certificate for those elk.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin e-mail call (505) 285-4560, or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.