Three men busted in two separate incidents
Enforcement agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries worked two recent cases regarding alleged deer hunting violations during the Christmas holidays.
In the first, Brandon Bergeron, 27, and Joseph Bergeron, 42, of Port Barre, were cited on Dec. 25 for failing to comply with deer-tagging requirements. Brandon Bergeron also was cited for possession of an illegally taken deer and hunting without a primitive firearms license, according to a press release.
Agents received information on a 9-point buck allegedly harvested by Brandon Bergeron on Dec. 15 at Thistlethwhaite Wildlife Management Area during primitive firearms season. Agents discovered he did not possess a primitive firearms license at the time the buck was harvested, the release states.
During questioning, Brandon Bergeron allegedly admitted that he had Joseph Bergeron tag the deer for him. Agents seized the deer meat and antlers, according to the release.
Possession of an illegally taken deer brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Failing to comply with deer tagging requirements brings a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail. Hunting without a primitive firearms license carries up to a $50 fine and up to 15 days in jail, according to the release.
The men may also face civil restitution for the replacement value of the illegally taken deer totaling $2,033.
In the second case, Logan M. Collins, 27, of Gonzales, was arrested for taking deer during illegal hours, hunting from a public highway, hunting from a moving vehicle and possessing a stolen 12-gauge shotgun. Collins was also issued citations from Louisiana State Police for several traffic and vehicle violations, the release states.
LDWF agents were called by state police to assist with a traffic stop on Interstate 49 in St. Landry Parish around 1 a.m on Dec. 26. When agents arrived on the scene they allegedly found two freshly killed deer in the bed of Collins’ vehicle, according to the release.
During questioning, Collins allegedly confessed to killing the deer off of I-49 at night on the Acadiana Conservation Corridor Wildlife Management Area in Avoyelles Parish. After searching the vehicle, agents found Collins in possession of two pistols, two shotguns and three rifles.
Agents then learned that one of the shotguns was allegedly reported stolen from the Lake Charles area in April of 2017, the release states.
Agents booked Collins into the St. Landry Parish Jail and then transported and booked him into the Avoyelles Parish Jail.
Agents seized the seven firearms and the two deer, the release states.
Taking deer during illegal hours brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Hunting from a moving vehicle carries a $250 to $500 and up to 90 days in jail. Hunting from a public road brings a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail. Possession of a stolen firearm carries one to five years in jail, according to the release.
Collins may also be charged with civil restitution for the replacement value of the illegally taken deer totaling $3,249.
