The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement officers have handed out citations to a Lecompte man for multiple deer hunting violations in Rapides Parish. On March 15, Mason Maricle, age 49, was charged with hunting deer during a closed season, hunting deer during illegal hours, hunting from a moving vehicle, and hunting deer from a public road, as detailed in a report by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Acting on a tip from an anonymous informant, who reported seeing someone hunting from their truck at approximately 1:30 a.m. on March 15 from Blue Lake Road, agents were able to connect Maricle to the described vehicle on that morning. Matching the truck and license plate provided by the source, they questioned the man and discovered his potentially unlawful activities. During the questioning, "Maricle admitted to agents that he shot at a deer from his vehicle with his .22 caliber rifle at night on Blue Lake Road," the department stated. Though he claimed to have missed the deer, his confession led to the citations.
The penalties for these offenses are not taken lightly. Hunting deer during illegal hours and hunting during a closed season could result in a fine of $900 to $950 and up to 120 days in jail for each of the charges. Moreover, hunting from a moving vehicle could bring a fine ranging from $250 to $500 and up to 90 days behind bars. Lastly, the act of hunting deer from a public road may incur a fine of up to $350.
The agents responsible for handling this case include Lt. Chad Watts, Corporal Kenny Robertson, and Senior Agent Brandt Barton. These officials remain dedicated to enforcing wildlife regulations, which, in their constant vigil, protect both the animals and the integrity of sport amidst Louisiana's verdant realms.
