Tuesday, 01/31/06
By CHRISTIAN BOTTORFF
Staff Writer
As waterfowl hunting season ended yesterday in Tennessee, law
enforcement officials were searching for a hunter they say was illegally
hunting Canada geese in an urban area near Bellevue Center.
The search took place after someone called 911 at 7 a.m. yesterday to
report that a man dressed in camouflage was shooting a gun near the
mall.
Metro police officers responded and found six to 10 dead geese
floating in a pond, said Don Aaron, police spokesman. That many geese
would have surpassed a hunter's daily limit.
"You can't fire weapons in urban areas," Aaron said. "It is an urban
area. Certainly there are places in Davidson County that are extensively
wooded. There also are large open fields in Davidson County. I would
refer to that area in Bellevue at the movie theater as an urban area."
When officers arrived, the hunter ran through a wooded area behind
the Regal Bellevue Cinema 12, Aaron said. Officers found his shotgun
wrapped in camouflage clothing, but the hunter was not located.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency authorities also are
investigating, Aaron said.
The hunter could face charges of reckless endangerment for shooting a
gun near the mall, Aaron said. Other charges could be pending for
violating hunting laws, Aaron said.
Yesterday was the last day for hunting the Canada goose throughout
most of Tennessee. The bag limit per hunter is two per day. During
waterfowl hunting season, several permits and state hunting licenses are
required. Federal laws also require waterfowl hunters to buy a special
stamp that permits goose hunting. •
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