Post by Woody Williams on Apr 6, 2008 12:26:24 GMT -5
Turkey Poaching - Tennessee charges 2 men, 2 juveniles
Jeff Skelton, an assistant law-enforcement supervisor for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, called it "perhaps the most blatant violation of the turkey game laws in recent history."
Two Tennessee men and two juveniles have been cited on numerous charges after allegedly killing at least a dozen turkeys during that state's recent youth turkey hunt weekend.
Skelton said Billy Joe Davidson of Lewisburg and Leonard Williams of Culleoka apparently took the juveniles, ages 9 and 14, on a shooting spree down the Duck River last month.
"We think the poachers killed at least nine turkeys just on Sunday as they motored up and down the Duck River in a 16-foot flat-bottom boat, shooting some turkeys off tree limbs that had roosted for the night and using a spotlight to locate others," Skelton said.
The adults and the youngsters all face charges.
"The example set by the two adults is a shame by any standards," Skelton said. "But we also believe the young hunters have responsibilities for their actions."
Davidson is charged with hunting from a watercraft under power; spotlighting game; 10 counts of hunting, killing, possessing and transporting turkeys in closed season; hunting after legal shooting hours; and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of minors.
Williams is charged with hunting from a watercraft under power; spotlighting game; nine counts of hunting, killing, possessing and transporting turkeys in closed season; hunting after legal shooting hours; and contributing to the delinquency of minors.
The 14-year-old is charged with hunting from a watercraft under power; spotlighting game; six counts of exceeding his bag limit; violating the state's tagging law; shooting after legal hours; and hunting without a wildlife management area permit.
The 9-year-old is charged with hunting from a watercraft under power; spotlighting game; violating the state's tagging law; hunting without a wildlife management area permit; shooting after legal hours; and two counts of exceeding the daily bag limit.
Jeff Skelton, an assistant law-enforcement supervisor for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, called it "perhaps the most blatant violation of the turkey game laws in recent history."
Two Tennessee men and two juveniles have been cited on numerous charges after allegedly killing at least a dozen turkeys during that state's recent youth turkey hunt weekend.
Skelton said Billy Joe Davidson of Lewisburg and Leonard Williams of Culleoka apparently took the juveniles, ages 9 and 14, on a shooting spree down the Duck River last month.
"We think the poachers killed at least nine turkeys just on Sunday as they motored up and down the Duck River in a 16-foot flat-bottom boat, shooting some turkeys off tree limbs that had roosted for the night and using a spotlight to locate others," Skelton said.
The adults and the youngsters all face charges.
"The example set by the two adults is a shame by any standards," Skelton said. "But we also believe the young hunters have responsibilities for their actions."
Davidson is charged with hunting from a watercraft under power; spotlighting game; 10 counts of hunting, killing, possessing and transporting turkeys in closed season; hunting after legal shooting hours; and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of minors.
Williams is charged with hunting from a watercraft under power; spotlighting game; nine counts of hunting, killing, possessing and transporting turkeys in closed season; hunting after legal shooting hours; and contributing to the delinquency of minors.
The 14-year-old is charged with hunting from a watercraft under power; spotlighting game; six counts of exceeding his bag limit; violating the state's tagging law; shooting after legal hours; and hunting without a wildlife management area permit.
The 9-year-old is charged with hunting from a watercraft under power; spotlighting game; violating the state's tagging law; hunting without a wildlife management area permit; shooting after legal hours; and two counts of exceeding the daily bag limit.
