Daily Archives: October 16, 2012

Four Louisiana Men Charged With Poaching Iowa Deer

Four Louisiana men face 76 counts and nearly $86,000 in fines and civil damages for allegedly killing five deer illegally in southwest Iowa last November.

James Keith Moore, 41, of Hammond, La., and Michael D. Fralick, 45, of Ponchatoula, La., were charged with 32 counts each of deer related violations in four different counties in southwest Iowa. Moore and Fralick were each fined $6,123.90. The state is also seeking $25,000 in civil damages from each man for the deer they allegedly killed illegally.

Stanley B. Russell, 46, of Roseland, La., and William H. Chambliss, 39, of Kentwood, La., were charged with six counts each of deer related violations in Montgomery County. Russell and Chambliss were each fined $1,823.40. The state is seeking $10,000 in civil damages from each man for their role in the alleged poaching activity.

The state has also requested forfeiture of four rifles the individuals used to shoot the deer.

The investigation began in late November when the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department received a TIP call from a concerned citizen about the activities of these men. The information led authorities to possible illegal activity in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources received a TIP call about illegal deer activity around the same time that linked the two cases together.

“These men came to Iowa specifically to road hunt trophy bucks during the rut,” said Deb Howe, state conservation officer for the Iowa DNR. “They did not have any licenses or tags to hunt in Iowa during the time they were here.”

A 10 month investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Louisiana Department of Game & Fish, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks culminated in the 76 wildlife-related counts being filed against four Louisiana men. Fralick, Russell and Chambliss face similar charges in Kansas.

An initial court date will be scheduled for November.

Information received through the TIP hotline in both Iowa and Kansas was critical in this investigation. If you have information on wildlife crimes please call TIP of Iowa at 1-800-532-2020 or Operation Game Thief in Kansas at 1-877-426-3843; you can remain anonymous.

Vanishing Paradise Announces First-Ever Conservation Prostaff Dedicated to Mississippi River Restoration

Today, Vanishing Paradise announced the launch of the first-ever conservation prostaff, a group of dedicated and passionate sportsmen and women who will help raise awareness of the importance of restoration the Mississippi River Delta across the country. Interested individuals can apply for a position on the prostaffhere until November 30.

Land Tawney, National Wildlife Federation’s senior manager for sportsmen leadership, said in a statement:

The Vanishing Paradise prostaff is an exciting next step in our work uniting hunters and anglers on the forefront of conserving our great Mississippi River Delta. We’ve been educating Americans on why we need restoration of the delta for years, including advocating for a large-scale renewal of the region following the 2010 Gulf oil disaster. The launch of the prostaff is a culmination of our development of partnerships with individuals, groups and businesses on safekeeping this region for future generations.

Applicants for the prostaff need not have visited the delta to be a successful candidate. We are looking for sportsmen and women who have a passion for hunting, fishing and conservation, as well as the desire to help restore this important resource.

The delta is one of the most productive habitats for fish, waterfowl and other wildlife of the U.S. The wetlands around the Mississippi River host as many as 10 million of North America’s ducks and geese every winter and also provide some of the best fresh- and saltwater fishing anywhere in the world. In short, the region is a vital component of our nation’s outdoor heritage for American sportsmen and women.

The Vanishing Paradise prostaff will cultivate hunting and angling individuals, organizations and businesses to be champions for the revitalization of the Mississippi River Delta through public and media outreach, event coordination and trade shows.

Learn more about Vanishing Paradise’s efforts to unite hunters and anglers on the important issue of Mississippi River Delta restoration at www.vanishingparadise.org.