NIGHT HUNTERS NABBED IN RAPIDES PARISH

By Sr. Agent Kevin Hill

On January 25, 2003, at approximately 7:00 pm Sr. Agent Travis Burnett and I Sr. Agent Kevin Hill were on patrol in the Forest Hill area of Rapides Parish. At around 7:30 pm a complaint was received of possible night hunting activity in progress along a bean field in the Bayou Beouf area. Upon responding to the call Agent Burnett and I were very familiar with this location as the exits of the field were immediately cut off. As surveillance was initiated a vehicle was observed as the southern portion of the field traveling at a slow rate of speed displaying a spotlight across the adjacent fields and turnrows. Agent Burnett and I maintained radio contact on the vehicle's every move as it proceeded in our direction. At approximately 8:45 pm the spotlight appeared to hold in one location as two consecutive shots were fired. One of the occupants exited the vehicle and picked up what appeared to be a rabbit. This is where the Louisiana Game Warden's adrenaline picks up a notch. As the vehicle continued to spotlight slowly across the field, agents displayed blue lights and initiated a stop. Upon securing the scene agents discovered 2 freshly killed rabbits lying in the bed of the pickup and 4 various firearms in the truck cab as well as one sizzling hot Q beam spotlight. The two male occupants were cited accordingly and the guns, light and rabbits were seized as evidence. Many times wildlife agents receive complaints or calls that don't work out, but when that one falls into place as this one did it makes the job priceless.