LDWF Enforcement Region 3 News

August 15, 2011-Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited a Pineville man for allegedly possession three spotted fawns on July 20 in Rapides Parish.

Agents visited the residence of Timothy C. Toms, 44, and found three spotted fawns being kept illegally.  Toms told agents he received the three spotted fawns from three different people and that he intended to raise them.

Toms was cited for three counts of possession of spotted fawns.  Possession of a spotted fawn carries a fine between $500 and $750 or jail time between 15 and 30 days for each count.

Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Kevin Hill and Senior Agent John Volentine.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited a Monterey man on March 17 for alleged recreational game fish violations.

Lovice B. Beard Jr., 58, was cited for taking game fish illegally from hoop nets, angling without a license and violating recreational gear license requirements.

Agents observed Beard emptying hoop nets into his boat and followed him to his shop. Agents found Beard in possession of 42 crappie, nine bream and one catfish. Agents seized the fish and two hoop nets as evidence. The fish were later donated to a local charity.

Taking game fish illegally carries a fine up to $750, or up to 120 days in jail, or both, plus court costs. Angling without a license carries a fine of $50, or jail time up to 15 days or both. Violating recreational gear license requirements carries a fine of $50, up to 15 days in jail or both. The state will also be seeking civil restitution for the value of the illegally taken fish.

Agents participating in the case were Senior Agent Trey Mason, Sgt. James Parish, Senior Agent Robbie Mayo and Senior Agent Joey Merrill.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents assigned to the Statewide Strike Force charged three men for allegedly taking 146 speckled trout on Jan. 12, in Golden Meadow in two separate cases.

Strike Force agents cited Lebron Shelby, 46, and Linkton Arnold Jr., 72, both of Raceland, and Michael Musco, 38, of Golden Meadow for taking over the legal daily limit of speckled sea trout. Louisiana law allows 25 speckled trout per day per fisherman.

Agents setup surveillance and observed Shelby and Arnold Jr. catching several trout from their boat and then transferring the fish to their truck. The subjects would then continue fishing. After observing the subjects complete their fishing trip, the agents approached Shelby and Arnold Jr. to conduct a license and creel compliance check. The two men were found to have taken 109 speckled trout ranging from 12 to 17 inches in length.

In a separate case in the same area, agents observed Musco taking 35 speckled trout.

For taking over the daily limit of spotted trout, Shelby and Arnold Jr. faces fines between $400 and $950, or up to 120 days in jail, or both plus a $25 per fish restitution charge for every fish over the limit. Musco faces a fine between $100 and $300, or up to 60 days in jail, or both plus a $25 per fish restitution charge for every fish over the limit.

Agents involved in the cases were Sgt. Todd Laviolette, Sgt. Ezekiel Talbert, Senior agent Michael Williams and Agent Ronnie Engelhard.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

Three Louisiana men pled guilty on Jan. 6 in U.S. Magistrate Court in Alexandria for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Judge James D. Kirk accepted the guilty pleas from Larry H. Floyd, 54, and Randy N. Mathews, 56, both of Pineville, along with Kent D. Bryant, 69, of Deville. Each man pled guilty to one count of violating the Lacey Act for their involvement with the illegal sale and transport of ducks that were taken, possessed, transported and sold in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Mathews was sentenced to pay a fine of $5,000, serve five years of unsupervised probation and had his hunting privileges suspended for five years. Bryant was sentenced to pay a fine of $3,000, placed on unsupervised probation for three years and had his hunting privileges suspended for three years. Floyd was sentenced to pay a fine of $1,000, placed on unsupervised probation for one year and had his hunting privileges were suspended for one year.

The guilty pleas stem from a covert investigation, which was initiated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in 2007, of Mathews and his guide service. Further charges are pending as a result of the investigation.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents Lt. Eric Stokes and Sgt. Marcus Constance assisted USFWS special agents in the case. U.S. Assistant District Attorney Nicole Snyder prosecuted the case.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited a man, a women and a juvenile for allegedly night hunting using a bow and arrow in Catahoula Parish on Jan. 7.

Agents cited Brett N. Faulk, 18, and Samantha E. Byrd, 19, both of Forest Hill and a juvenile for hunting during illegal hours or with artificial light, hunting from a moving vehicle and hunting from a levee road.

LDWF Sgt. James Parish observed a vehicle moving along the Diversion Canal Levee Road while shining a Q-beam style light out the driver side window. After stopping the truck, agents also noticed somebody riding in the bed of the truck holding a bow with an arrow in the shooting position. The subjects stated they were attempting to shoot a deer.

The penalty for hunting deer during illegal hours is a fine between $900 and $950, or 120 days in jail, or both plus court cost. Hunting from a moving vehicle carries a fine between $250 and $500, or up to 90 days in jail, or both plus court cost. The court will determine the hunting from a levee road fine.

Agents involved in the case were Sgt. James Parish and Senior Agent Troy Mayo.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents issued citations to two Monterey men for alleged night hunting violations in Concordia Parish on Dec. 28.

Agents cited Jimmy Maier Jr., 43, and Charles W. Wiley, 71, for taking deer during illegal hours, taking deer illegally from a boat while a deer was swimming and hunting from a moving vessel in Cocodrie Bayou. Maier was also cited for taking deer with an illegal firearm and failing to comply with deer tagging regulations.

Agents were at the residence of Maier and Wiley investigating commercial fishing activity when they discovered a freshly killed spike deer head. Agents questioned Maier who confessed that he and Wiley killed the deer at night from a boat with a .22 cal rifle.

Taking deer during illegal hours carries a fine up to $950, or jail up to 120 days, or both plus court cost. Taking deer illegally from a boat or while deer are swimming carries a fine up to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court cost. Hunting from a moving vehicle carries a fine up to $500, or jail time up to 90 days, or both plus court cost. Taking deer with an illegal weapon carries a fine up to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court cost. Failing to comply with deer tagging regulations carries a fine up to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court cost.

Agents participating in the case were Senior Agent Trey Mason and Senior Agent Robbie Mayo. Concordia Parish Deputies Lt. Chris Groh and Deputy Jamie Lipscomb also assisted in the case.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov. 

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents issued citations to a Simmesport man for alleged night hunting violations in Concordia Parish on Jan. 1, 2011.

Brian Joseph Kimble, 27, was cited for allegedly hunting or taking deer during illegal hours, hunting from a moving vehicle, hunting or taking deer from a public road and discharging a firearm from a public road along Louisiana Hwy. 15.

Senior Agent Trey Mason received a phone call from an anonymous complainant stating that somebody had just shot a deer on La. Hwy. 15 near Deer Park. The complainant was following the subject in his personal vehicle traveling south bound on La, Hwy. 15. Senior Agent Mason was in the area and caught up with both the complainant and the violator and stopped the subject on La. Hwy. 15 in Pointe Coupee Parish approximately 1 1/2 miles south of Concordia Parish.

Kimble admitted to shooting at a deer on La. Hwy. 15 in Concordia Parish approximately six miles south of Deer Park.  The next morning, Jan. 2, an 8-point buck was found dead at the location of the incident the night before. Agents seized the deer and later donated it to a local charity.

Hunting or taking deer during illegal hours carries a fine up to $950, or jail time up to 120 days, or both plus court cost. Hunting from a moving vehicle carries a fine up to $500, or jail time up to 90 days, or both plus court cost. Hunting or taking deer from a public road carries a fine up to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court cost. Discharging a firearm from a public road carries a fine up to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court cost.

Agents participating in the case were Senior Agent Trey Mason, Sgt. Cliff Ortis and Senior Agent T.J. Ashley.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.