Hunting Show Host Gets Lifetime Ban in Kansas After Episodes Revealed Illegal Deer Kills
Matthew Jennings, host of the hunting series The Game, has been permanently banned from hunting and fishing in Kansas following two illegal deer kills during the 2022 season.
The violations were discovered after Jennings featured both hunts on his show, triggering a federal investigation that ended with a guilty plea in U.S. District Court.
The investigation revealed that on November 11, 2022, Jennings shot a white-tailed buck near Florence, Kan., using a tag that wasn’t valid for that region. The next day, he falsely checked the deer into Oklahoma’s electronic harvest system using an Oklahoma-issued tag.
On November 19, Jennings harvested a second antlered deer near Wakeeney. That tag was also valid, but Kansas law allows hunters to take only one antlered deer per season.
Jennings featured both deer in episodes of The Game. Federal investigators later used that footage as evidence in the case.
Convicted Under the Lacey Act
Jennings pled guilty to one count of knowingly transporting illegally harvested wildlife across state lines in violation of the Lacey Act. The plea agreement and sentencing were announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.
Federal Judge Eric F. Melgren sentenced Jennings to 5 years of probation. The court ordered him to pay $15,000 in restitution to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and a $10,000 fine. The court ordered Jennings to forfeit the antlers from both illegally taken deer.
While the lifetime ban on hunting and fishing applies only to Kansas, the terms of Jennings’ probation include sweeping restrictions across much of the Midwest. The court barred him from hunting, trapping, fishing, or accompanying anyone involved in those activities in Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota during his 5-year probation.
Multi-Agency Investigation
The case involved a coordinated effort among several agencies. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and game wardens from Oklahoma, Missouri, Georgia, and Alabama all played a role in the investigation.
According to court documents, the U.S. Secret Service also assisted in the case.
Investigators used Jennings’ own footage as key evidence. They pulled location, timeline, and field behavior directly from episodes of The Game. Wildlife officers now frequently rely on this kind of video documentation in enforcement cases where hunts are filmed and shared publicly.
A High-Profile Cautionary Tale
Jennings’ case underscores the legal risk that comes with pushing the boundaries of game laws, especially for content creators. Jennings didn’t just take the deer illegally. He monetized them through show content, and when he moved the carcasses across state lines, he triggered a clear Lacey Act violation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that Matthew Jennings’ actions showed a “pattern of disregard” for state hunting regulations. By using out-of-state tags and exceeding the seasonal bag limit, he not only broke Kansas law, but he also committed a federal offense once he crossed state borders with unlawfully taken game.
Legal Consequences in the Content Era
This case shows that wildlife agencies are increasingly holding hunting personalities and influencers accountable for violations they document on camera. Federal authorities are watching, and footage that once served as entertainment can quickly become evidence in a criminal case.
Jennings has not made a public statement since the sentencing. As of now, The Game remains viewable on digital platforms like CarbonTV. It’s unclear if the show will continue production during his probation.
For those in the hunting industry, this case offers a blunt reminder: If you break the law on camera, expect to face the consequences in court.
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