Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited three subjects for alleged hunting violations in Avoyelles Parish on Feb. 9.
Agents cited Joseph Ducote, 28, of Mansura, for hunting deer during illegal hours, hunting deer using illegal methods, hunting deer illegally by boat, criminal trespassing, failing to tag harvested deer, possession of illegally taken deer, and taking over the limit of deer.
Agents cited Chancellor Williams II, 28, of Bunkie, for hunting deer during illegal hours, hunting deer illegally by boat, criminal trespassing, hunting without deer tags in possession, and possession of an illegally taken deer.
Dillon Bordelon, 32, of Moreauville, for criminal trespassing, hunting deer using illegal methods and failing to tag harvested deer.
Agents received complaints about multiple subjects for night hunting for deer from a vessel in the Little River area of Spring Bayou in Marksville.
During the investigation, agents learned that Ducote harvested five antlered deer and Williams harvested two antlered deer all at night in the month of December with a .17 caliber rifle. They used a boat on Little River to shoot deer and then went onto private property to retrieve the deer.
Agents also found that Ducote harvested and tagged an antlered deer on Jan. 21, which put him at six antlered deer for the season. The seasonal limit for antlered deer in this area is three per licensed hunter.
Agents also uncovered evidence that Bordelon utilized Ducote’s camp to trespass with an all-terrain vehicle to harvest an antlered deer on Jan. 25 utilizing a rifle during the primitive weapons only season.
Agents seized the .17 caliber rifle with scope and five deer heads with antlers.
Hunting deer during illegal hours brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Possession of an illegally taken deer carries a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Hunting deer using illegal methods and taking over the seasonal limit of deer brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail for each offense. Hunting deer illegally by boat, hunting deer without possessing deer tags and failing to tag deer carries up to a $350 fine for each offense. Criminal trespassing brings a $100 to $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail.
Ducote will be assessed with civil restitution totaling $7,200 for the replacement value of the illegally taken deer. Williams will be assessed with civil restitution totaling $3,200 for the replacement value of the illegally taken deer. Bordelon will be assessed with civil restitution totaling $800 for the replacement value of the illegally taken deer.
Agents participating in the case are Sgt. James Bruce, Sgt. DJ Anderson, Corporal Ryan Durand, Corporal Kenneth Robertson, Senior Agent Lane Causey, and Corporal Micheal Thacker.