2 Men Arrested for Multiple Deer Violations on WMA

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents arrested two Port Barre men on Dec. 12 in Pointe Coupee Parish.

Agents arrested Rikky Dodge, 22, and Dylan Richard, 22, for intentional concealment of illegally taken wildlife, and for violating wildlife management area (WMA) regulations for deer hunting with a firearm and for possessing buckshot both during an archery only season.

Rikky Dodge was also charged with driving a vehicle with a suspended license, open container and failure to tag a deer.  Rikky Dodge also had an active warrant for his arrest out of St. Landry Parish for unauthorized entry into a dwelling.

Dylan Richard was also 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.

Agents were on patrol on the Sherburne WMA and stopped a vehicle to perform a regulations inspection.  The driver, Dodge, informed agents that he and Richard were hog hunting.  While the agents searched the vehicle they found a dead doe deer hidden under some camouflage jackets on the back seat of Dodge's truck.

The agents learned that Dodge and Richard went deer hunting using shotguns during an archery only season on the WMA.  They killed the doe and attempted to sneak it out of the WMA.  The agents also learned that Dodge had an active warrant for his arrest in St. Landry Parish with extradition and his current driver's license was suspended.  They also found that Richard did not possess any hunting licenses for the 2016-2017 hunting season.

Agents booked both men in the Pointe Coupee Parish Detention Center.

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, 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.
Agents participating in the case are Sgt. Nicholas Guillory and Senior Agent Lucas Hidalgo.