Suspects attempted to conceal dead doe in back seat with jackets, LDWF says
Agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries arrested two Port Barre men on Monday after allegedly finding a dead deer concealed in the back seat of their pickup truck, according to a press release.
Rikky Dodge, 22, and Dylan Richard, 22, were arrested for intentional concealment of illegally taken wildlife and for violating wildlife management area violations by deer hunting with a firearm and for possessing buckshot during an archery-only season, the release states.
Additionally, Dodge was cited for driving with a suspended license, open container and failure to tag a deer, and he had an active warrant for his arrest out of St. Landry Parish for unauthorized entry into a dwelling, according to the release.
Richard also was charged with hunting without basic hunting and big game licenses, hunting on a WMA without a WMA permit and violating WMA regulations for failure to fill out a self-clearing permit.
The incident occurred Monday when agents on patrol on Sherburne Wildlife Management Area in Pointe Coupee Parish stopped the vehicle to perform a regulations inspection.
The driver, Dodge, told agents he and Richard were hog hunting, but agents allegedly found a dead doe hidden under camo jackets in the back seat of his truck during a search of the vehicle, according to the release.
During the investigation, agents learned both men were allegedly deer hunting with shotguns during an archery-only seasno, and killed the doe and attempted to sneak it out of the WMA, the release states.
Intentional concealment of wildlife brings a $900 to $950 fine and 120 days in jail. Driving with a suspended license carries up to a $500 fine and six months in jail. Violating WMA regulations for hunting with a firearm and possessing buckshot during an archery only season each carries a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail. Failing to tag deer brings a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail. Hunting without basic season and big game hunting licenses, a WMA permit and utilizing a WMA without a self-clearing permit each bring up to a $50 fine and 15 days in jail.
The men may also face civil restitution totaling $1,600 for the illegally taken deer, according to the release.
Both men were booked into the Pointe Coupee Parish Detention Center.
