GAME CAMERA USED TO PHOTOGRAPH VIOLATION

By Sr. Agent Spencer L. Cole

On March 21, 2003, while looking for turkey bait, I found a feeder that was actively spitting out corn. This was at approximately 1:25 p.m. and there was a wild turkey feeding on the corn. While I was watching the turkey feed on the corn, I noticed a game camera just a few feet from me pointed right at the feeder. I photographed the area, documented the bait and left.

The next day was the opening day of turkey season in Rapides Parish, so I returned with Sgt. Eric Stokes, and Sr. Agts. Travis Burnett and Kevin Hill to see if there would be any hunting activity taking place. At approximately 6:00 a.m. three subjects dressed in camouflage and carrying guns and a turkey decoy were observed coming to the area. The three subjects set up to hunt and were observed calling, hunting, and kicking the corn on the ground. The three hunters were then approached by the agents and interviewed.

Each subject was issued a citation for hunting turkeys over bait, and one of the subjects has a prior class three violation so his firearm was seized. The film in the game camera from that day and the day before was seized for evidence. When the film was developed, wouldn’t you know it, the three subjects appeared in one of the photos – how is that for evidence?