YOU CAN’T DO THAT!

 By Senior Agent Kenneth Balkom

On Saturday, June 22, 2002 at approximately 10:35 p.m., Cadet Jared McIver and I were patrolling the Red River near Coushatta in Red River Parish. We made contact with two fishermen and they informed us of a lot of shooting going on and that they could hear dogs running. While we were with the fishermen, the dogs started running and several shots were fired. Being locals, the fishermen were able to tell us exactly where the shots were coming from. We then went back to the Coushatta landing to load the boat and locate the shots.

 At this point, we were thinking that it was just some coon hunter, but the question was, why are they shooting so much? Around 11:00 p.m., we located a truck and trailer parked in a pasture. As soon as we got out of our truck, we could hear dogs running and shots being fired. We then went by foot to locate the hunters.

Around 11:30 p.m., we made contact with our coon hunters. The subjects were riding an eight-wheeler with a dog box in the back of it. I identified myself as a Wildlife and Fisheries Agent and then we began conducting a field check. While conducting the field check, I noticed that the subjects became nervous when pulling out their license. One of the subjects informed us that they were just doing a little coon hunting and that was all. Cadet McIver asked them if they had killed any coons and they said they had killed one. I then looked inside the eight-wheeler, and hidden under some leaves I found some frogs that had been shot. This answered my question about why they were shooting so much. I asked the subject driving the eight-wheeler who was frogging, and he stated, "I was the one doing all the frogging." I then asked if he had been shooting the frogs and he stated, "I shot the frogs and cut the heads off some of them."

 We then went back to the truck and Cadet McIver began counting and measuring the frogs. Any bullfrog that is less than 5 inches in length from nose to the end of its body where its legs begin is considered undersize. There were a total of fourteen frogs, and three were undersize, five were over five inches, and six were unable to be measured due to their heads being removed.

 I then showed the subject doing the frogging the regulations in the fishing pamphlet in regards to undersize frogs and possessing a firearm while frogging. The subject was then cited for Take/Possess Undersized Frogs and Possess Firearm While Frogging. The frogs were seized, photographed for evidence, and donated. I was wondering how he was able to even hit a frog with a Ruger MK II pistol, until I found that it had laser sights attached to it. This is just one of the many adventures of our job that we as agents get to take part in, and I wouldn't trade anything for it.