Bossier Man Among 14 Cited for Illegal Turkey Hunting Violations
For the most part, the 2024 Louisiana turkey season has been a huge success here in North Louisiana.
Turkey season began on April 6, and for Caddo, DeSoto and Red River parishes, will continue through this Sunday, April 28.
For much of the remainder of Northwest Louisiana, including Bossier and Webster parishes, the season will rock on for another week, ending on May 5, 2024.
However, again this year, a number of hunters have elected not to play by the rules and have been cited by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement agents for alleged turkey hunting violations.
During the opening weekend of this year's season, agents cited a total of 14 people, including one individual from right here in Bossier City.
Those receiving citations included:
- Russell Sullivan, 58, of Bossier City, for hunting turkeys over a baited area in Winn Parish.
- Jacob Gauthier, 36, of Addis, for hunting turkeys over a baited area in East Feliciana Parish.
- Tristin Landry, 25, of Clinton, for hunting turkeys over a baited area in East Feliciana Parish.
- A juvenile for hunting turkeys over a baited area in East Feliciana Parish.
- Donald Kellar, 41, of Poplarville, Miss., for hunting turkeys without possessing a non-resident turkey license, hunting without possessing a basic hunting license, taking over the daily limit of turkeys, taking over the seasonal limit of turkeys, hunting with an unplugged gun, criminal trespassing, and three counts of failing to tag turkeys in Washington Parish.
- Paul Farnham Jr., 59, of Lafayette, for hunting turkeys over a baited area in Winn Parish.
- Lloyd Dunn, 49, of Epps, for hunting turkeys over a baited area in Winn Parish.
- Raymond Laborde II, 61, of Many, for hunting turkeys over a baited area in Rapides Parish.
- Justin L. Brummett, 39, of Camden, Ark., for hunting turkeys without possessing a non-resident turkey license, hunting without possessing a basic hunting license, and failing to possess turkey tags in Claiborne Parish.
- Aaron Latiolais, 31, of Lafayette, for hunting turkeys over a baited area in West Feliciana Parish.
- Randal Stewart, 66, of Albany, for hunting turkeys without possessing turkey tags in Livingston Parish.
- Robert Pitts, 68, of Houma, for failing to tag a turkey in Washington Parish.
- John Hubbard, 37, of Farmerville, for failing to tag a turkey, intentional concealment of wildlife and criminal trespassing in Union Parish.
- Darron McCann, 52, of Marksville, for hunting turkeys over a baited area and failing to tag a turkey in Caldwell Parish.
According to the 2024 Turkey Regulations, no person shall hunt or take turkeys by the aid of baiting or on or over a baited area. Hunters are not allowed to place, expose, deposit or scatter corn, wheat or other grain, salt or other feed to lure turkeys to their hunting area.
Placing bait to attract wild turkeys causes them to congregate in places they would not normally be and is not a substitute for good habitat management. Continued use of baited areas by flocks of wild turkeys increase predation risks and the potential for disease transmission. In addition, hunting over baited areas violates the basic principles of fair chase with regard to hunting wild turkeys. For these reasons, hunting wild turkeys over bait or within 200 yards of a baited area is prohibited.
Also, turkey hunters are required to possess a Louisiana basic hunting license, turkey license and turkey tags. The possession limit on turkey is one gobbler (male turkey) per day and two gobblers per season.
Hunting turkeys over a baited area, taking over the daily and seasonal limit of turkeys and hunting with an unplugged gun brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail for each offense. Failing to comply with turkey tagging regulations carries up to a $350 fine. Failing to possess non-resident basic hunting and turkey hunting licenses brings up to a $350 fine for each offense.
Intentional concealment of wildlife brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Criminal trespassing carries a $100 to $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail.