Eight hunters face federal charges linked to dove hunt

Eight hunters – seven from Kansas – were charged November 4l court in Wichita with violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The men are accused of violating the federal law protecting migratory birds when they participated in an annual opening weekend dove hunt in GrahamCounty on the first two days of September, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said in a statement.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act classifies mourning doves as migratory game birds, he said. It classifies owls as migratory non-game birds. Restrictions on hunting mourning doves include a daily bag limit of 15 and a possession limit of twice the daily bag limit.

Those charged include three men from Derby and one from El Dorado.

Daniel R. Dinkel, 63, of HillCity is charged with one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.

Kent Webber, 52, of Derby faces one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves and one count of taking an owl.

Evan Webber, 25, of Derby is charged with one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves and one count of taking an owl.

George Morgan, 52, of Gordonville, Texas, faces one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.

Kenneth Beran, 67, of Derby is charged with one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.

Clark Law, 57, of HillCity is charged with one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.

Tracy Higgins, 54, of El Dorado faces charges of one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves and one count of taking an owl.

John Kobler, 62, of Topeka is charged with one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.

If convicted, the eight men face a maximum penalty of six months in prison on each count and a fine of up to $15,000.