South Dakota officials investigating if rocker Ted Nugent illegally hunted pheasant

October 29, 2010

South Dakota officials investigating if rocker Ted Nugent illegally hunted pheasant

Rock star and hunting advocate Ted Nugent is being investigated by South Dakota wildlife officials to determine whether any game laws were broken by his hunting pheasants after some of his hunting privileges were revoked in California.

The Rapid City Journal reports that Nugent, who lost his California deer hunting license through June 2012 following a 2009 deer baiting incident, may be prohibited from any hunting in South Dakota because of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, an agreement that recognizes suspension of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses in member states, which include South Dakota and California.

Nugent went pheasant hunting at Dakota Hills Shooting Preserve in Oral, S.D., on Oct. 16 while filming for his television show, "Spirit of the Wild," on the Outdoor Channel.

Andy Alban, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department law enforcement administrator, would not discuss Nugent or the investigation.

"It's against our policy to comment on active investigations," Alban said.

Patrick Foy, California Department of Fish and Game spokesman, told The Journal that California revoked Nugent's deer hunting license on Aug. 13 after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of deer-baiting and not having a properly signed tag.

As South Dakota officers try to determine whether Nugent violated state regulations, the species-specific nature of the California suspension is likely to be a factor because Nugent is only barred from hunting deer.

"Ted Nugent is prohibited from hunting deer in California until after June 30 of 2012," Foy said. "He can hunt pheasants. He can hunt pigs. He can hunt whatever else he wants to hunt. He is prohibited from hunting deer."

While he couldn't speak for South Dakota and what it might do on the issue, Foy added that Nugent has "gotten along well with the wardens" in California.

"We certainly have no ill will toward him. He was cooperative with our investigators. And he appears to have accepted responsibility for his actions.".

Return to Hunting Accident Index

Fair Use Notice: This document may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owners. We believe that this not-for-profit, educational use on the Web constitutes a fair use of the copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law). If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

C.A.S.H.
P.O. Box 13815, Las Cruces, NM 88013
Phone: 575-640-7372
E-mail:

C.A.S.H. is a committee of Wildlife Watch, Inc.
a 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit Corporation.
Contributions are tax-deductible.