Dove Hunters Receive Federal Sentences

By Sr. Agent Brit Forbes

 

On the night of September 6, 2000, Lt. Len Yokum and Sr. Agent Jarrod Watson documented bait on a dove field located northeast of Amite in Tangipahoa Parish.

On the afternoon of September 7, 2000, Lt. Len Yokum, Sgt. Cullen Sellers, Sr. Agent Jarrod Watson, Sr. Agent Guy Adams, and I positioned ourselves around the field and observed five men dove hunting. There was a tremendous amount of activity all over the field. Doves and shots were flying everywhere. One of the subjects was observed bringing doves to the house. We stopped the hunt and began checking everyone for a hunting license and a gun plug. The field was closed and everyone was advised of their rights.

The daily bag limit was fifteen (15) doves. The owner of the field, Mr. Smith, was federally charged with taking doves over bait and over the limit of doves. He was in possession of seventy (70) freshly killed doves. His son, Mr. Smith, Jr., was federally charged with taking doves over bait and over the limit of doves. He was in possession of sixty-nine (69) freshly killed doves. Another hunter, Mr. Brown, was federally charged with taking doves over bait and over the limit of doves. He was in possession of thirty (30) freshly killed doves. The other two hunters, Mr. Jones and his son Mr. Jones, Jr., were federally charged with taking doves over bait. They did not possess more than their limit at the time we stopped the hunt. Mr. Jones, Jr. was also issued a civil citation for hunting without a resident license. A total of two hundred and five doves were seized. If everyone had only shot their limit of doves they could have had seventy five (75). Several doves that had been shot were picked up in the field during questioning. The owner stated that he had a lot of birds in the field and baited the field to keep them there for hunting season. He also stated that everybody was told about the bait.

On March 13, 2001, all five men appeared before U.S. Magistrate Louis Moore in New Orleans Federal Court. Mr. Smith pled guilty and was sentenced to pay $3650.00 plus a $10.00 federal assessment fee, two years active probation, and two years suspension from hunting migratory game birds. Mr. Smith, Jr. pled guilty and was sentenced to pay $1000.00 plus a $10.00 federal assessment fee, two years active probation, and two years suspension from hunting migratory game birds. Mr. Brown pled guilty and was sentenced to pay $1000.00 plus a $10.00 federal assessment fee, two years active probation, and two years suspension from hunting migratory game birds. Mr. Jones and Mr. Jones, Jr. pled not guilty. On August 15, 2001, before U.S. Magistrate Moore, the two men changed their plea to guilty just as we were going to trial.  Mr. Jones was sentenced to pay $500.00 plus a $10.00 federal assessment fee, two years active probation, and two years suspension from hunting migratory game birds. Mr. Jones, Jr. was sentenced to pay $300.00 plus a $10.00 federal assessment fee, one year active probation, and one year suspension from hunting migratory game birds.

This was a once in a career case. The names of the individuals were changed to prevent further insult to their pride for hunting doves illegally. Thorough field investigation and tedious report writing produced a 100% conviction rate in this case and a real impact was felt around the community. A new respect for wildlife enforcement was gained.