Tuesday, September 20, 2005
The Roanoke Times
Virginia officials placed 115 charges on 20 Southwest Virginia
residents last week following a two-year investigation by the Department
of Game and Inland Fisheries into illegal bear hunting.
The charges included the baiting of bears, hunting bears out of
season, possession of illegally taken bears, trespassing and possession
and sale of untaxed alcohol, according to the DGIF. Those charged live
in Alleghany, Bedford, Botetourt, Franklin and Montgomery counties, and
Lynchburg and Roanoke.
Game wardens executed two search warrants in Franklin County and
found four bear carcasses that had been illegally killed in North
Carolina, the DGIF said. North Carolina officials have placed 80 charges
against the group. No bears were killed in Virginia, said Lt. Karl
Martin of the DGIF.
The investigation started after a citizen complained to the DGIF. As
part of the investigation, a DGIF officer infiltrated the group, Martin
said.
- David Harrison
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