Hayes cited for numerous deer violations in Dec. 11 incident on Mississippi River
A 40-year-old Natchez man was cited by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for allegedly tying a rope around a swimming 8-point buck’s rack and drowning it in the Mississippi River on Dec. 11, according to a press release.
David E. Hayes was cited for not possessing non-resident basic hunting and big game licenses, failing to comply with deer tagging requirements, hunting from a moving vessel and taking deer from a vessel while the deer was swimming, the release states.
Enforcement agents were contacted by a witness in Concordia Parish who allegedly observed Hayes driving a boat on the Louisiana side of the river. According to the release, the witness saw Hayes wrap a rope around the deer’s antlers and drown the deer.
A game warden in the area saw Hayes’ boat from a nearby levee, and allegedly was able to see an 8-point buck in the the front of the vessel.
After a brief interview, the release states Hayes admitted to drowning the buck on the Louisiana side of the river.
Hunting from a moving vessel carries a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. Taking deer from a vessel while the deer is swimming, failing to comply with deer tagging requirements and hunting without a non-resident basic hunting and big game hunting licenses each brings a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail for each offense. A civil restitution charge of $2,033 for the replacement value of the deer may also be imposed, according to the press release.
