General

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents cited a Shreveport man for alleged deer hunting violations on Jan. 31 in Red River Parish.

Agents cited Jeremy A. Miller, 40, for taking deer using illegal methods and violating a wildlife management area (WMA) regulation.

Agents were on patrol on the Bayou Pierre WMA when they heard a gunshot.  The agents proceeded in the direction of the shot and made contact with Miller whom was in possession of a bow and arrow and a 9 mm pistol near a downed doe deer.

After further questioning, Miller admitted to killing the deer with his pistol.  The season for deer is bow and arrow only on the Bayou Pierre WMA and it illegal to carry a pistol on the Bayou Pierre WMA without a concealed carry permit.

Agents seized the pistol and deer.  The deer was later donated to local charity.

Taking deer using illegal methods brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.  Violating a WMA regulation carries a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail.  Miller may also face civil restitution totaling $1,624 for the replacement value of the illegally taken deer.

Agents participating in the case are Sgt. Troy Parker, Agent Mike Cook and Senior Agent Will Holomon.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents arrested three men for alleged oyster violations on the morning of Jan. 31 in St. Bernard Parish.

Agents arrested Dustin J Robin, 30, of St. Bernard, Randal Assavedo Jr,35, of Mereaux, and Carlos Mejia, 42, of Houston, Texas for dredging for oysters in a polluted area, unlawfully taking oysters off a private lease, taking oysters during illegal hours, and failing to have written permission to harvest oysters on a private lease.  Robin, the captain of the vessel, was also cited for failing to fill out an oyster log book.

Agents were patrolling the Lake Robin area when they observed a vessel actively dredging in the lake around 6 a.m.  Upon making contact with the vessel the agents discovered the men were dredging in a polluted area on a private lease without written permission during illegal hours.

Agents seized and returned 12 sacks of oysters to the water and seized two oyster dredges.  They also seized the vessel on a department seizure order.

Dredging for oysters in a polluted area and unlawfully taking oysters off a private lease each carries a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.  Taking oysters during illegal hours and failing to have written permission each brings a $400 to $950 and up to 120 days in jail.  Failing to fill out an oyster log book carries a $25 fine and up to 10 days in jail.

The men could also have their oyster harvester licenses revoked by the department for up to one year.  The violators could also be sentenced to perform 40 hours of community service and only be allowed to harvest oysters from a vessel with a vessel monitoring device for up to one year.

Agents involved in the case are Senior Agent Blaine Wagner and Agent Kyle Haydel. 

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited a Franklinton man for alleged deer hunting violations on Jan. 30 in Washington Parish.

Agents cited Johnny D. Tarver, 31, for taking over the daily limit of deer, failing to comply with deer tagging requirements, intentional littering and intentional concealment or destruction of wildlife.

Agents began investigating Tarver after receiving a tip on Dec. 30, 2016 about Tarver possibly harvesting three deer on the same day.  After a month long investigation, agents determined that Tarver harvested a six point, five point and spike deer on Dec. 25 in Washington Parish.  Hunters were only allowed one antlered and one antlerless deer for this area on Dec. 25.

Agents also learned that Tarver threw the deer remains, antlers and meat into the Bogue Chitto River near Clifton in Washington Parish after Tarver got word of the investigation.

Intentional concealment of wildlife carries a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.  Taking over the daily limit of deer brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.  Failing to comply with deer tagging requirements carries a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail.  Intentional littering brings up to a $500 fine and eight hours of community service in a litter-abatement work program as approved by the court.

Tarver may also face civil restitution totaling $4,874 for the replacement value of the three illegally taken deer.

Agents participating in the case are Sgt. Darryl Galloway and Sgt. Toby Miller.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) agents arrested a Gueydan man for alleged drug and safe boating charges on Jan. 28 in Vermilion Parish.

Agents arrested Brien K. Klumpp, 31, for possession of methamphetamines, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm while in possession of illegal drugs.  He was also cited for safe boating infraction such as failing to comply with personal flotation device (PFD) and engine kill switch requirements, improper boat numbers and fire extinguisher.

Agents were on patrol in Vermilion Parish when they observed a vessel travelling at night without the required running lights.  Agents stopped the vessel and conducted a boating safety check.

During the inspection agents found Klumpp in possession of methamphetamines, drug paraphernalia and a loaded .22 caliber pistol.  Agents placed Klumpp under arrest and transported him to the Vermilion Parish Correctional Facility.

Klumpp also admitted to stealing a weed trimmer that was found in the vessel.  Agents turned the theft investigation turned over to the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Possession of methamphetamine carries up to a $5,000 fine and five years in jail.  Possession of drug paraphernalia brings up to a $500 fine and six months in jail.  Possession of a firearm while in possession of illegal drugs carries up to a $10,000 fine and five to 10 years of prison.

The boating safety violations each carry a $50 fine and up to 15 days in jail.

Agents working the case are Lt. Beau Robertson, Senior Agent Derek Logan and Senior Agent Nathan Vanya.

A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agent arrested a Waterproof man for alleged drug, deer hunting and driving while intoxicated (DWI) violations on Jan. 29 in Concordia Parish.

LDWF Sgt. Trey Mason arrested Tyrone Washington, 46, for possession of hydrocodone, DWI, shooting from a levee road, and hunting from a moving vehicle and during illegal hours.

Sgt. Mason was on patrol when he observed Washington in the process of hunting from his vehicle and a Mississippi River levee road on the Tensas and Concordia Parish line.

When Sgt. Mason attempted to make contact with Washington he drove away.  After a brief chase, Sgt. Mason made contact with Washington and found a spike deer and doe in the back of the truck.  He also found him in possession of prescription pills without a prescription and under the influence while driving.

Sgt. Mason booked Washington into the Concordia Parish Jail and seized his .22 rifle and two deer.

Possession of hydrocodone without a prescription carries up to a $5,000 fine and five years in jail.  DWI carries a $300 to $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail.  Hunting deer during illegal hours brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.  Hunting from a moving vehicle carries a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.  Hunting from a levee road brings a $50 fine and up to 30 days in jail.

Washington may also face civil restitution totaling $3,249 for the replacement value of the illegally taken deer.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division cited two men for alleged commercial fishing violations in Avoyelles Parish on Jan. 26.

Agents cited Donnyel W. Lapraririe, 60, and Phillip W. Lapraririe, 33, both from Effie, for taking gamefish illegally, illegal possession of gamefish, illegal net mesh size, taking commercial fish without a commercial license and gear license, and failing to tag/mark their nets.  Phillip Lapraririe was also cited for failing to comply with personal flotation device (PFD) requirements, improper running lights and possessing an expired boat registration.

Agents were working an area of Old River in Vick where they had recurring reports of illegal gill netting activity when they found the men picking up nets out of the water and putting them into their vessel before daylight.  Agents then saw the men offload the nets at the bank.

Agents made contact with the men and found the men did not possess the required commercial fishing licenses and that the net mesh size was two inches.  After further investigation, agents also learned that the men possessed 13 freezer bags in a house freezer with each bag containing 10 gutted, scaled and headless crappie.  The men admitted to catching the frozen crappie with the same nets.

In the nets agents found 13 largemouth bass, 44 crappie, seven bullhead catfish, five gar, one bowfin, two carp and 11 shad.  Agents seized the fish and donated them to a local charity.

It is illegal to fish commercially with a gill net that has a mesh size smaller than three inches in the freshwater areas of the state and to take game fish with a commercial gill net.

Illegal possession of game fish, taking game fish illegally and using illegal mesh size each carries a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.  Taking commercial fish without a commercial fishing license and gear license, and failing to tag nets each brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.  Failing to comply with PFD requirements, improper vessel running lights and possessing an expired boat registration each bring up to a $50 fine and 15 days in jail.

The men may also face civil restitution totaling $1,109 for the replacement value of the illegally taken fish.

Agents participating in the case are Senior Agent Douglas Anderson Jr., Senior Agent Heath Wood and Sgt. Byron Cammack.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited a Concordia Parish man for allegedly guiding hunts on a wildlife management area (WMA) on Jan. 4 in Concordia Parish.

Agents cited William K. Sutton, 62, for not abiding by WMA rules and regulations after being found guiding hunts on Richard K. Yancey WMA.

Agents were on patrol in the area of the Richard K. Yancey WMA for the bucks only deer season in progress, when they observed a vehicle parked near an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trail.  The vehicle was pulling a small trailer equipped with a dog kennel with another vehicle parked nearby with a New York license plate.

Agents then observed two subjects exiting the woods on foot from the ATV trail with one man carrying a shotgun and the other not armed, which was later revealed to be Sutton.

During the license and compliance check of the man carrying the shotgun, agents found he was carrying a magazine that included an advertisement for SDW Outfitters from Monterey, La., which is owned by Sutton.  At the bottom of the magazine page with the advertisement, agents observed a hand written note indicating that the man paid Sutton a $600 deposit and a post-it note with Sutton’s address.

The gun carrying man admitted to agents that he paid Sutton for his guiding services on the WMA.  After being confronted with the evidence, Sutton also confirmed receiving money for his guiding services on the WMA.

WMA rules and regulations state that nobody may act as a hunting guide for which they are paid by any other individual or individuals for services rendered to any other person or persons hunting on any WMA.

Operating an illegal guide service on a WMA brings a $100 to $350 fine plus court costs and up to 60 days in jail.

Agents involved in the case are Sgt. Trey Mason and Senior Agent Eric Little.