04/30/2008
Conservation Officers Bust Many Violating Turkey Hunting Rules
Statewide
Conservation Officers from the West Virginia DNR are wasting no time in
tracking down turkey hunting violations. The season opened Monday, but
C-O's were patrolling many trouble spots well ahead of that looking for
illegal activity.
Several were cited for killing turkeys prior to the opening of the
season. However, the majority of violations involved hunting turkeys
over bait, which is illegal in West Virginia.
Conservation Officers in Wood County cited two people on April 26th,
which was designated as a Youth Turkey Hunting Day in West Virginia. The
men told officers they hoped the bait would make it easier for the two
kids to kill a turkey.
"Our officers have been scouting areas in their designated counties
for bait prior to the season, and their efforts have paid off, Lt.
Colonel Jerry Jenkins said.
Penalties for illegal baiting of turkeys can range from $20 to $300
fines and $160 court costs. A judge could also sentence violators to 10
to 100 days in jail.
We request that anyone witnessing violations of the states game
laws to call our toll free hotline at 1-800-NET-GAME and provide us with
information to help with our investigations. All information received
will be kept in confidence, said Lt. Col. Jenkins.
The National Wild Turkey Federation also offers a reward for
information that leads to an arrest and conviction for illegally hunting
wild turkeys.
The following are the incidents reported as of April 30:
· Ritchie County Two Ohio residents were arrested April 29 for
hunting over bait.
· Wood County -- Two subjects were cited during the pre-season Youth
Spring Gobbler Hunt April 26 for baiting the area they were hunting.
Their excuse was that it would make it easier for the two kids to kill a
turkey. Three warnings also were issued.
· Jackson County -- One 16 year old was cited last week for killing a
turkey out of season.
· Braxton County -- On Saturday, April 26, conservation officers
apprehended a man and a woman for hunting turkeys during closed season.
The woman was also charged with killing a hen turkey during closed
season. They said they thought they could get away with it since the
youth season had come in that day. Also, on April 29, conservation
officers apprehended three subjects for hunting turkeys over bait.
· Randolph and Upshur counties -- Conservation officers apprehended a
subject near Coalton April 29 for hunting turkey over bait.
· Summers County -- On April 28, conservation officers made two
arrests, one each for hunting turkey over bait and taking a turkey over
bait.
· Greenbrier County Conservations officers on April 26 and 27 made
four turkey related arrests, including charges of shooting from a motor
vehicle, hunting without a license, and hunting out of season.
· Raleigh County Conservation officers made an arrest for taking a
turkey during closed season and hunting without a license.
· Tucker County On April 29, conservation officers apprehended a
person and charged him with hunting turkeys over bait.
· Putnam County A hunter was issued citations and charged with
hunting turkey over bait. This will be a second offense for game
violations and his items were confiscated.
· Pendleton County On April 9, two West Virginia residents were
cited for hunting turkey during closed season.
· Hardy County On April 10, a hunter was cited for hunting turkey
during closed season, conspiring in a game law violation. On April 14 a
hunter was cited for killing turkey during closed season, illegal
possession of wildlife, and shooting from a vehicle.
· Hampshire County On April 12, a hunter was cited for a license
violation
· Berkeley County On April 25, a hunter was cited for carrying an
uncased gun in a vehicle, hunting without a license, killing a turkey
during closed season, and illegal possession of wildlife for offenses
committed on or about April 11.
· Mineral County On April 26, two subjects were cited for hunting
turkey over bait with underage hunters during the special youth season.
· Grant County -- On April 28, two subjects were cited for hunting
turkey over bait.
