TWRA
In another case of chuckleheads treating laws more like suggestions, a group of five men from West Tennessee and another from Oxford, Mississippi, have pleaded guilty to dozens of turkey hunting violations. Their crimes were dispersed across multiple counties, resulting in more than $22,000 in combined restitution, fines, and court costs, along with the forfeiture of firearms, bows, and dozens of turkey parts.
The boys and girls over at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency announced the convictions Wednesday morning, in what officials described as widespread violations of state bag limits, tagging requirements, and a plethora of other hunting regulations during recent turkey seasons.
Tyler Madden, 20, of Dyersburg, faced the most serious penalties after pleading guilty to 24 charges across General Sessions Courts in Dyer, Madison, and Crockett counties.
Our ring leader’s violations included seven counts of statewide wild turkey bag limit violations, multiple counts of illegal possession of turkeys, a sprinkling of big game tagging violations, hunting without permission, hunting from a public road, hunting from a motor vehicle, and a smattering of small game and waterfowl season violations.
For his actions, Madden was hammered with $10,000 in restitution, more than $4,000 in fines and court costs, and had his hunting privileges revoked for eight years. He also had to give up his trusty Mossberg shotgun and a compound bow.
The other defendants and their outcomes include:
Jaxson Perdue, 18, of Dyersburg - pleaded guilty to two charges, one-year hunting privilege revocation.
Chris Baker, 47, of West Tennessee - pleaded guilty to two charges; one-year revocation and forfeiture of a Remington shotgun
Mason Weeks, 23, of West Tennessee - pleaded guilty to two charges; six months hunting privilege revocation.
Clayton Madden, 25, of Madison County - pleaded guilty to three charges; court ordered forfeiture of a Benelli shotgun
Logan Mitchell, 19, of Oxford, Mississippi - pleaded guilty to two charges, court ordered forfeiture of one Remington 870 shotgun
As part of the penalties, authorities seized a boatload of evidence that included 79 turkey beards, 17 turkey fans, 1 white turkey, 4 shotguns, and 1 compound bow.
Collectively, the group was ordered to pay $16,000 in restitution to the state, with additional fines and court costs totaling approximately $6,000.
