DNR officers cite lllegal turkey
hunters
Several hunters have been arrested for
illegally hunting turkey over bait and other hunting law
violations just prior to and during the first few days of
the spring gobbler season in West Virginia, according to
Lt. Col. Jerry Jenkins of the Law Enforcement Section of
the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
The West Virginia spring gobbler
season began April 28 and runs through May 24 in all
counties. A special youth turkey hunt took place
Saturday, April 26.
"Our officers have been scouting areas
in their designated counties for bait prior to the
season, and their efforts have paid off," Jenkins
said.
West Virginia law prohibits hunting,
trapping or taking turkey by the aid of baiting, or on or
over any baited area. Baiting is the placing, exposing,
depositing, distributing or scattering of corn, wheat or
other grain, or other feed so as to constitute for
turkeys a lure or attraction to, on, or over any areas
where hunters are attempting to take them. A baited area
shall remain a baited area for 10 days following complete
removal of all the baited materials.
The penalty for conviction of illegal
baiting of wild turkey is a $20 - $300 fine and/or 10 -
100 days in jail, plus $160.50 court cost. Citations have
been issued in the following counties so far.
· Ritchie County &endash; 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 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 &endash;
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 &endash;
Conservation officers made an arrest for taking a turkey
during closed season and hunting without a
license.
· Tucker County &endash; On April
29, conservation officers apprehended a person and
charged him with hunting turkeys over bait.
· Putnam County &endash; 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 &endash; On
April 9, two West Virginia residents were cited for
hunting turkey during closed season.
· Hardy County &endash; 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 &endash; On
April 12, a hunter was cited for a license
violation.
· Berkeley County &endash; 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 &endash; 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.
"We request that anyone witnessing
violations of the state's 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 Jenkins.
