Authorities in Claiborne Parish have cracked down on a 37-year-old man from Homer, identified as Travis Smith, for several hunting and firearm violations.
Last Wednesday, November 19, after receiving a tip-off on November 14 regarding Smith's illicit activities, which included harvesting deer beyond the permissible limit and illegal firearm possession by a convicted felon, wildlife agents carried out an arrest that led to Smith's incarceration in Claiborne Parish Jail, information obtained by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) reveals.
Smith's disregard for the law emerged starkly when the LDWF agents discovered he used a .22 rimfire rifle for hunting—a weapon he should never have handled given his felon status; he admitted, upon questioning, that he had not only taken down a doe, a six-point deer, and a spike deer on the same fateful morning of November 14 but also a seven-point deer earlier in the year with the same rifle, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Additionally, Smith was found to be hunting without the required licenses and deer tags, a lapse that is set to cost him fines up to $350 for each offense, Smith's transgressions pile up to hefty fines and potentially extended jail time—illegal possession of a firearm could net him a $1,000 to $5,000 fine along with 10 to 20 years of jail, while taking more than the daily deer limit and employing illegal hunting methods might tack on $250 to $500 per offense, and up to 120 days in jail hazardously stacking the deck against a future on the free side of the bars, the LDWF reported.
The case was brought to a close through the concerted effort of LDWF agents Lt. Ryan Brasher, Sgt. Emily Sexton, Sgt. Chuck Dison and Corporal John Blalock. Beyond criminal penalties, Smith is also required to provide civil restitution totaling $3,600 for the replacement value of the deer he illegally took. This measure reflects the department's commitment to preserving wildlife and deterring poaching activities.
