On the night on Sunday, agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries encountered a different breed of night activity. According to the LDWF, two individuals, Joseph Stunsman and Misty Guisenheimer, were cited for illegal deer hunting practices in Ascension Parish.
During a surveillance operation set up after legal shooting hours, Stunsman and Guisenheimer were reportedly seen using a spotlight to shine for deer, an illegal hunting tactic. In the dark, thinking they remained unseen, the agents heard two shots which would soon lead to the discovery of a four-point and a five-point buck at the pair's residence. The veil of night could not hide their illicit deeds, as Stunsman admitted to harvesting the bucks with his 7 mm Remington Magnum.
But as any hunter should know, the law is not as easily evaded as a wild deer. The agents discovered further violations—neither Stunsman nor Guisenheimer had deer tags, and Guisenheimer was found hunting without the required basic and deer hunting licenses. "Deer hunting in this part of the state was limited to archery-only season at the time the deer were taken," the LDWF statement noted, marking yet another notch of illegality on this night-hunting escapade.
Hunting during illegal hours carries penalties including fines of $900 to $950 and up to 120 days in jail. Stunsman, who exceeded the daily deer limit, also faces $1,600 in civil restitution for the animals’ replacement value. The seized deer were donated to a local charity.
Agents on the scene, Sgt. Randy Lanoux and Senior Agent Hunter Pearson took action following the illegal hunting incident. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries continues to enforce wildlife laws and ensure compliance with hunting regulations.
