Bear was shot in November, 2017 in St. Mary Parish, LDWF says
Enforcement agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries cited two men for their roles in allegedly shooting a black bear near Glencoe last November.
According to a press release, Cody J. Charpentier, 31, of Glencoe, and Bailey Rogers, 21, of Youngsville, were cited for taking and/or possessing a black bear during a closed season and intentional concealment of wildlife.
Agents received a tip that Charpentier had shot and killed the bear on Nov. 12, and then moved it 6 miles to a field off Highway 83 near Glencoe that night, the release states.
This April, agents got a search warrant for Charpentier’s residence, as well as his handheld GPS and cellphone. Agents were able to use the phone and the GPS to track Charpentier ’s movements on the night of Nov. 12 from the kill site to the location of the black bear skeleton and claws that were found in the mitigation field, according to the press release.
Charpentier’s 7 mm rifle was seized in connection with the case, the release states.
Taking or possessing a black bear during a closed season and intentional concealment of wildlife each brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. The men may also face up to $10,000 in civil restitution for the replacement value of the illegally taken bear, according to the release.
The bear in this case is not tied to the other two illegally killed black bears that were found earlier this year in St. Mary Parish. Agents are still looking for leads for the killing of two black bears that were discovered on Feb. 14 off of Humble Canal 10 miles south of Franklin.
If you have information about these two bears, please call the Louisiana Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-442-2511 to qualify for up to a $5,500 reward.