Mark Cooper, 73, of North Platte, Nebraska, has been sentenced in federal court for violating the Lacey Act during a 2019 mule deer hunt. The sentencing took place on September 11, 2025, before United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis in Lincoln, Nebraska. Cooper received two years’ probation, a $5,000 fine, and was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution. As part of his sentence, he also abandoned a 5 X 5 mule deer taxidermy mount linked to the illegal hunt as well as three additional mule deer mounts and antler sets and several white-tailed deer antlers. Judge Bazis further ordered that Cooper is barred from hunting, fishing, trapping, guiding or outfitting activities—or associating with anyone engaged in those activities—for two years.
According to United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods: “Enacted 125 years ago, the Lacey Act protects the nation’s wildlife resources by prohibiting wildlife violations that cross state or international borders.”
A joint investigation by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission found that Dustin Noble operated a big game guiding business out of North Platte from 2015 to 2021. Noble provided illegal hunting services to clients from both within and outside Nebraska during this period. He also ran a commercial taxidermy operation that served hunters who had participated in unlawful hunts.
Investigators determined that Cooper was a close associate of Noble and frequently hunted with him or accompanied him while guiding clients. On October 31, 2019, Cooper illegally killed an approximately 172-inch mule deer using a center-fire rifle from inside Noble’s pickup truck parked on a public roadway—both actions prohibited under Nebraska law during archery season. On November 7 of that year, Cooper delivered raw wildlife skins for Noble Outdoors to be shipped to Michigan; these included hides from illegally taken animals.
The investigation documented at least 114 unlawful hunts orchestrated by Noble over several years. These hunts targeted more than twelve species including trophy-sized mule deer (61 taken), wild turkeys (33), pronghorns (4), white-tailed deer (3), an American alligator, a timber rattlesnake and various birds and fish.
This case marks the conclusion of prosecutions related to Dustin Noble’s activities between 2015 and 2021. In total, twenty defendants have received sentences amounting collectively to nearly two years’ imprisonment, fifteen years’ probation and thirty-two years’ restrictions on hunting-related activities; fines and restitution exceed $275,000. Authorities seized or secured forfeiture of more than fifty trophy mounts or antlers from individuals involved with Noble Outdoors.
The case was investigated jointly by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Law Enforcement Division.
