Jeffrey K. Hudnall, a 58-year-old man from Jonesville, found himself on the wrong side of the law, facing multiple charges related to illegal turkey hunting in Catahoula Parish. On March 21, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents apprehended Hudnall on accusations of hunting turkeys out of season and trespassing on private land, as reported by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries.
Turkey season hadn't begun as of the date of Hudnall's arrest, with an official start set for April 5. Despite the clear regulations, agents collected three freshly harvested male turkeys, hidden allegedly by Hudnall, who was caught in the act of hunting. Each offense of hunting wildlife during a closed season and hiding it comes with heavy fines and possible jail time.
The legal bag limits in Louisiana restrict hunters to two adult male turkeys per season and only one per day, a rule clearly disregarded if the agents' discovery of three turkeys is any indication. The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries reports that Hudnall was booked into Catahoula Parish Jail and now faces several charges: taking turkeys during a closed season, intentional concealment of wildlife, not tagging harvested turkeys, criminal trespassing, and exceeding the daily and seasonal bag limits of turkeys.
Each violation carries consequences that reflect the seriousness of wildlife conservation laws. According to the authorities, for taking turkeys during a closed season and the intentional concealment of wildlife, Hudnall might be facing a fine between $900 and $950 and up to 120 days in jail for each. Trespassing, which the agents found Hudnall attempting to hunt turkeys on somebody else's private property, can lead to an additional fine of up to $500 and potentially 30 days behind bars.
The team of enforcement agents listed in the case includes Corporal Cole Cupit, Senior Agent Nicholas Ortego, Agent Andrew Lemoine, Sgt. Joshua Dibenedetto, Sgt. Raymond Davis, Corporal Jeremy Fletcher, Lt. Chad Watts, Senior Agent Dustin Barton, and Sgt. Eric Little.
