New Wildlife Commission member has trapping violations in his past

Brad Quilici, one of Gov. Kenny Guinn's newest appointments to the Wildlife Commission, was convicted of a series of trapping violations some 15 years ago.

Quilici, who works in construction in Lovelock, was named in November as the sportsmen's representative on the commission, replacing Merv Matorian. Quilici could not be reached for comment.

Quilici received a total of seven citations from a game warden in 1982. He was found guilty of five misdemeanor violations and ordered to pay $100 apiece in fines.

Four of the violations involved leaving trap bait exposed, which is prohibited primarily to prevent eagles and other protected raptors from seeing the bait and becoming trapped. The fifth was for not visiting and checking his trap line in the American Canyon area of Pershing County.

They were apparently discovered after a domestic dog was injured by one of the traps.

Guinn's Chief of Staff Scott Scherer said his office was told Quilici had "one relatively minor violation" in his past before appointing him to the commission.

The judge who handled Quilici's case in 1982 apparently thought the violations serious enough to send a letter to the state Fish and Game Commission following Quilici's conviction.

"It is the recommendation of this court that the hunting, fishing and trapping licenses of Mr. Quilici be pulled due to his conviction on these charges," Justice of the Peace Joyce P. Santos said in the letter.

Those licenses were not revoked, according to the records.

Scherer said Quilici was recommended by several sportsmen's groups and received a favorable recommendation from at least one local wildlife advisory board.

Conservation and Natural Resources Director Pete Morros said that includes support from some of the hunter groups most critical of the Wildlife Division in the past.

"These are 17 or 18 years old and, unless they're significantly more serious than was represented to me, I don't expect the governor will want to take any action on it," said Scherer.

But he said before the nomination, he was advised there was only one violation and was not aware that, as a result, Quilici was later denied a license as a master hunting guide. He said he was asking for a more complete report to ensure those violations were properly characterized to his office.

Wildlife officials confirmed there have been other allegations of violations made against Quilici since the trapping citations, but said none of those claims resulted in any charges or citations. They refused to release any details.

The last incident involving members of the commission occurred about 10 years ago when three of its members were asked to resign by then-Gov. Bob Miller after they were caught hunting within the Stillwater Wildlife Refuge near Fallon. They apparently thought they were still on private land outside the refuge.