Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced a legislative proposal aimed at toughening penalties for poaching, introducing a new felony charge for individuals who fire weapons near people, occupied homes, or critical infrastructure while illegally hunting. The charge would carry second-degree felony penalties. “Poachers who unlawfully discharge firearms near Florida homes are not just stealing our wildlife but endangering families and neighborhoods,” Uthmeier said. Courtesy of the Office of the Attorney GeneralBeyond the aggravated taking charge, the measure would establish a standalone third-degree felony for poaching committed while trespassing. Poaching tactics in Florida have shifted over time from large-scale overharvesting to a blend of opportunistic game violations and organized black-market trafficking.