Agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division recently cited two men for alleged violations of the Federal Migratory Treaty Act while hunting teal in the Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge in St. Tammany Parish.
Jacob Ryan Lyncker, 20, of New Orleans and Zachary Paul Martin, 19, of Slidell were each cited for placing bait to take migratory game birds, hunting over bait, possessing ducks other than teal during teal season, wanton waste, transporting illegally taken migratory game birds, hunting in a closed area, placing and hunting over bait in a National Wildlife Refuge and possessing freshly killed migratory game birds during a closed season. Lyncker was also cited for improper boat numbers when he was found with an illegally possessed displaced boat from Hurricane Katrina. LDWF seized the boat and will attempt to locate the registered owner.
Agents observed the two hunters for most of the morning in an area known as Fritchie Marsh, an area of the Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge that was closed to hunting. As the agents approached the hunters, they observed the two men throwing ducks into the marsh from their boat. Agents later recovered a total of eight wood ducks, seven blue wing teal and one mottled duck. Upon further investigation, agents discovered and documented two types of grain from the floor of the vessel and from the pond the two men had hunted.
Violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are punishable by fines up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to six months or both. The case will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Darryl Galloway, Senior Agent Lee Davis and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Agents Bill Mellor and Stephen Clark.
For more information, contact Lt. Col. Keith LaCaze at 225-765-2988 or klacaze@wlf.louisiana.gov.