Three men in St. Landry Parish have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, facing accusations of deer hunting violations. Justin Boudreaux, aged 27, Joel Ellis Jr., aged 63, and Odie J. Bryant, aged 39, all residents of Palmetto, were cited for illicit hunting activities that contravened the local wildlife conservation laws, as reported by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents initiated an investigation following a tip-off on July 31 regarding a deer that was allegedly taken illegally in the Palmetto area; in their findings, agents learned that Boudreaux had shot a pregnant doe with a .22 rimfire rifle on July 30, which is not only out of season but also frowned upon due to the use of inadequate calibre for humanely taking down a deer, thereby going against the fair chase principles. Ellis Jr. and Bryant were implicated in the incident as well, accused of aiding Boudreaux in processing the animal.
According to an update from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, an additional layer to the case surfaced during the investigation when agents discovered Bryant was wanted on two active warrants in Lafayette Parish which led to his arrest and subsequent detention in the St. Landry Parish Correctional Facility, pending extradition to Lafayette Parish Jail.
With Louisiana's conservation laws stringent on hunting ethics and seasonality, the alleged violations could land the accused in hot water, as hunting deer during a closed season could result in a fine ranging from $900 to $950 and up to 120 days in jail, and that's before even considering potential civil restitution costs which may amount to "$1,624 for the replacement value of the illegally taken deer," as officers Sgt. Tyler Smith, Sgt. Brandon Fontenot, Senior Agent Nicholas Ortego and Agent Lane DeVillier are leading the case proceedings, the consequences may be severe as these penalties are designed to deter anyone who might think about violating wildlife regulations, as per the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
