02-04-2004, 11:18 PM
[font "Arial"][size 2]Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division enforcement agents and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents issued federal citations to a duck hunter for allegedly hunting migratory game birds with the aid of bait. [/size][/font]
Troy L. Caron, 30, of Chalmette, was cited for alleged violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act including hunting migratory game birds over bait, placing bait for the purpose of taking migratory game birds, taking over the limit of snipe, and wanton waste of migratory game birds. The case was a result of a week-long surveillance by state and federal agents after USFWS agents found and documented a baited pond as they were conducting an aerial flight in the Hopedale area of St. Bernard Parish.
On the morning of January 17, agents watched Caron shoot and kill 11 snipe and three ducks over the baited area. The legal limit on snipe is eight per person. At the conclusion of his hunt, the agents made contact with Caron and learned that he had placed 80 pounds of corn in the pond on January 10. All snipe and ducks were seized in connection with the case.
Violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are punishable by fines up to $5,000, jail for up to six months, or both. The citations will be forwarded to the office of the U.S. Attorney in New Orleans for prosecution.
Agents participating in the case were Senior Agents Mike Garrity and Roy Pier and USFWS Agent Stephen Clark.
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