Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents cited three hunters for their alleged roles in violating turkey hunting regulations.
Agents cited Morgan Levi Jones, 29, of Ruston; Charles Ladon Gilbert, 56, of Quitman; and Zackary Turner Gilbert, 29, of Quitman, for three counts each of violating interstate commerce regulations for transporting illegally taken game across state lines, LDWF officials said.
The investigation began in late May after LDWF was contacted by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission about possible turkey hunting violations. Agents discovered evidence the three took over the daily and season bag limits while turkey hunting in Lincoln County, Nebraska.
The investigation revealed all three hunters harvested four turkeys each, which put them two birds over the legal bag limit. The subjects then transported the illegally harvested turkeys to Louisiana. Agents have been working closely with Nebraska authorities regarding the investigation and charges in Nebraska, officials said.
Additionally, the investigation revealed Jones and Zackary Gilbert committed violations in Louisiana in the month of April. Jones and Gilbert were cited for failing to tag or validate turkeys and taking over the daily and seasonal limit of turkeys.
The men harvested 17 turkeys in Nebraska and Louisiana, with agents seizing turkey parts – including beards, spurs, and fans – from 16 of those birds. All three will face criminal prosecution in Louisiana and Nebraska, officials said.
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