Welch allegedly shot the deer near Montgomery on Aug. 11, LDWF says
Enforcement agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries cited two men for alleged deer violations in Grant Parish on Aug. 11, according to a news release.
Skyler Welch, 19, and Dillon County, 18, both of Montgomery, were cited for hunting deer during a closed season, hunting during illegal hours with artificial light, hunting with an illegal weapon and hunting without licenses or tags, the release states.
Agents received information from the Montgomery chief of police, who found a dead 9-point buck in a pasture behind a home where he was investigating a report of a stolen gun. Agents with the LDWF collected the deer and interviewed Welch and County, who were both allegedly implicated in the stolen gun case.
During interviews, the release states both men admitted to seeing the deer around 12:30 a.m., with Welch dropping the deer with a rimfire .22 magnum. He then ran up on the deer and shot it again at close range, and the two men dragged the deer to the pasture where it was ultimately discovered by the chief of police.
Hunting deer during a closed season and during illegal hours with artificial light each carries a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Taking deer with an illegal weapon carries a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. Failing to possess deer tags brings a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail. Failing to possess a basic and big game license each brings up to a $50 fine and 15 days in jail. Additionally, the two men could also face civil restitution charges totaling $2,033 for the illegally taken deer, the release states.
