January 8, 2009


Duck hunters fined more than $22K, licenses suspended
by Owen Schroeder

Eleven duck hunters from Benton, Dickson and Humphreys counties have learned the hard way that is does not pay to violate Tennessee's game laws, and their illegal activities have cost them a total of $22,821, along with loss of their hunting privileges for up to seven years.

The hunters were charged with taking over the limit of wood ducks and hunting over bait on the opening day of Tennessee's early wood duck season in September, according to a report from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

"This is a prime example of what can happen when TWRA receives information from hunters who are not going to condone this type of hunting behavior," reports Dave Gabbard, TWRA Region I Communications Coordinator.

"Our officers received a tip that a group of individuals had killed a large number of wood ducks on the opening day of the early duck season from a duck hunter that received a photo on his cell phone. Acting on this information, our wildlife officers were able to locate the area that was baited and were able to catch these individuals hunting over it the next day."

The legal limit for wood ducks during the early wood duck season was two ducks per day and the eleven hunters were found to be in possession of 169 wood ducks.

Nine of the hunters have pleaded guilty to one count of hunting over bait and one count of taking over the limit of wood ducks.

Charles Banes of Burns, Tenn., and Brad Mangrum of McEwen, Tenn., along with Joel Rumesy, Chase Scurlock, Jacob Scurlock, Matthew Warren, and Jeff Warren, all of Waverly, Tenn., were each ordered to pay $669 in fines and costs, plus $2,000 each in restitution. Each of the hunters also lost their hunting privileges in Tennessee for four years.

Billy Mashaw, New Johnsonville, and Brian Lee, Waverly, were each ordered to pay $669 in fines and costs, plus $200 each in restitution. They each lost their hunting privileges for one year.

Christopher Cole of Camden, Tenn., pleaded guilty to two counts of hunting over bait and two counts of taking over the limit of wood ducks. He paid $400 in fines and costs, plus $2,000 in restitution and lost his hunting privileges for seven years.

Monty Daniel of New Johnsonville has also been charged with violations connected to this case and has been cited to appear in court.

Anyone with knowledge of violation of Tennessee's hunting, trapping or fishing laws can report the information to the TWRA. The information will be held in confidence and the reporter may be eligible for a reward if the violators are charged and found guilty. In Middle Tennessee, violations may be reported by calling 1-800-255-8972.

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article ... /901080343

Just doesn't make any sense to me how someone can even think in that fashion. The punishment doesn't fit the crime in my book. We're not talking about an accidental shooting of an extra duck in one flight in fair hunting conditions here. Wanton abuse.

Ridiculous . . . Personally, I wouldn't think twice before turning in poachers like these . . . We've got to police our own . . . Glad they got nailed. I just wish repporters wouldn't refer to criminals like these as "hunters."