A Centerville man was convicted on Oct. 14 for several Migratory Game Bird Treaty Act violations, along with a single National Wildlife Refuge violation by Federal Magistrate Meldrid Methvin.
Rory J. Vanhaverbeke, 27, was ordered to pay fines totaling $1,890, and senteneced to two years unsupervised probation and loss of hunting privileges for one year.
Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services agents were working a baited field adjacent to the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge on Dec. 20, 2008, when they observed Vanhaverbeke enter the area at 6 a.m. and begin hunting.
When Vanhaverbeke began to depart the hunting area he was stopped and checked for the required hunting licenses. Vanhaverbeke did not have the licenses in his possession.
Agents also discovered Vanhaverbeke in possession of lead shot while hunting ducks and buckshot shells, which are illegal to possess on the NWR during the closed gun season.
As a result, agents cited Vanhaverbeke for hunting ducks over a baited field, possession of unapproved shot while hunting migratory game birds, hunting migratory game birds without a federal duck stamp in possession, transporting a loaded gun on an ATV while traveling a public access road and possession of buckshot when prohibited.
Agents involved in this case were Special Agent Scotty Boudreaux, Senior Agent Scott Dupre and Lt. Leslie Rulf.