Tag: Migratory Bird Treaty Act

Four men forced to pay $71,000 for killing four endangered species

They were hunting at Tom Steed Reservoir in Oklahoma when committing their wildlife crimes. They also forfeited guns and hunting privileges.

Four men in Oklahoma were ordered to each pay $17,000 in restitution and a $750 fine for killing four endangered whooping cranes, a migratory bird for which there is no season.

Joseph H. Roman, 43, and Justin M. Wine, 40, of Altus, Chanod M. Campbell, 32, of Gould, and Brian Lee Gollihare Jr., 35, of Hollis, were hunting at Tom Steed Reservoir in southwest Oklahoma on or about Nov. 5, 2021 when the wildlife crimes occurred, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Oklahoma.

They attempted to hide the birds before leaving the scene.

“This is a great example of state and federal agencies working closely together throughout the investigation,” said Nathan Erdman, Law Enforcement Chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “The outstanding ODWC Game Wardens were tireless in tracking down leads and in their collection of key evidence that led to this outcome.

“Rest assured that those committing wildlife violations in Oklahoma will be caught thanks to thorough investigations like this along with tips from the public.”

All four defendants pleaded guilty and, at sentencing hearings last week, they learned of their financial penalties. Plus, they were ordered to forfeit their shotguns and lost their hunting privileges in all 50 states for the next 5 years.

The $68,000 total in restitution will be paid to the International Crane Foundation.

The whooping crane, protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, is the rarest of birds in North America and is highly endangered with less than 600 in the wild. It is the tallest bird in North America, reaching a height of 5 feet with a wingspan of more than 7 feet.

“Each of us bears responsibility to protect endangered wildlife so that the species is preserved for future generations,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Troester. “My office stands with and commends the work done by our federal and state law enforcement partners, and we hope this case serves as a warning for those who would harm endangered species.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation investivated the case, and it was prosecuted by Asst. U.S. Attorney Charles Brown.

Photos courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Duck hunter fined $4,000 for violating 1930s regulation

Acting on a tip, wildlife officers caught a hunter in the act of violating an 87-year-old law within the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

A man in Connecticut was caught illegally baiting ducks around a hunting blind by spreading kernels of corn and then shooting them, doing so under the watchful eyes of the Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police, which had been tipped off by an anonymous complaint.

David Foster, 51, of Westbrook, and two other hunters shot and retrieved ducks over the area that had been baited by Foster. When confronted, Foster admitted he had spread corn over the hunting area to attract ducks, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Connecticut stated.

Foster violated the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which bans people from hunting any migratory game bird by baiting, and was fined $4,000 by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley.

In late September and early October 2020, the Environmental Conservation Police and U.S. Fish and Wildlife, acting on a tip, investigated the spreading of whole kernel corn around a hunting blind on Menunketesuck Island in Westbrook.

On Oct. 10, 2020, the opening day of duck hunting season, officers established surveillance near the duck blind and observed Foster and two other hunters shooting and retrieving ducks over the area that had been baited.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Hunter uses two guns to stop attacking grizzly bear

Foster pleaded guilty on Aug. 2, 2022.

The hunter previously violated the Migratory Bird Treaty Act near the same river by baiting waterfowl in 2009, prosecutors say, according to the Belleville News-Democrat.

From Ducks Unlimited:

Federal regulations to restrict baiting for waterfowl hunting in the U.S. were initially established in the early 1930s. Concerns about commercial shooting over baited areas and live decoys increased as waterfowl populations declined dramatically during the “dirty thirties.” Initial controls on baiting were through a system of permits with a provision that baited areas would not be shot after 3:00 p.m.

Further clarification and strengthening during 1935 and 1936, however, led to a regulation that stated: “migratory game birds may not be taken … by the aid of baiting, or on or over any baited area … ‘baiting’ shall mean the placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of shelled, shucked, or un-shucked corn, wheat or other grain, salt or other feed so as to constitute for such birds a lure, attraction or enticement to, on or over any area where hunters are attempting to take them.”

Photo of the duck blind in question courtesy of U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.

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