From News Report
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents arrested a Bethany man for alleged criminal and hunting violations on Feb. 3 in Caddo Parish.
Agents arrested Richard Wilson Jr., 38, for resisting an officer, theft, hunting without basic and big game hunting licenses, hunting deer during illegal hours, failing to comply with deer tagging regulations, criminal trespassing, and hunting deer using illegal methods.
Agents received a tip about a man being caught on a game camera hunting at night on a private lease without permission. Agents setup surveillance on the area and observed a man fitting the description hunting at night. When agents approached the man and identified themselves as LDWF agents, the man fled the area on foot.
Through further investigation, agents were able to identify the man as Wilson Jr. Agents then got a search and arrest warrant for Wilson Jr. Upon serving the warrants and during questioning, Wilson Jr. admitted to illegally hunting at night, not possessing the required hunting licenses, stealing game cameras, and using a .17 caliber rifle to hunt deer.
Wilson Jr. also admitted to taking an antlered deer during the 2016-17 hunting season and two antlered deer during the 2017-18 hunting season all at night without tags.
Agents seized two rifles, three sets of antlers and packaged deer meat.
Hunting deer at night carries a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Hunting deer using illegal methods brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. Failing to comply with deer tagging regulations carries a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail. Hunting without basic and big game licenses each brings up to a $50 fine and 15 days in jail for each offense.
Resisting an officer carries up to a $500 fine and six months in jail. Theft brings up to a $3,000 fine and five years in jail. Criminal trespassing carries a $100 to $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail.
Wilson Jr. may also face civil restitution totaling $4,873 for the replacement value of the illegally taken deer.