Frankfort, KY (January 24, 2004) - Five Scottsville men were cited for illegally
taking waterfowl over live decoys last week in a joint state and federal fish
and wildlife law enforcement operation in Allen County.
Officers issued federal citations to Chad Harston, 28, Chadd Foster 29, Chad
Wilkinson, 29, Bruce Hovecamp, 35, and Eric Burley, 30, all of Scottsville, for
shooting waterfowl over a half-dozen wing-clipped Muscovy ducks. The tame ducks
were swimming near their duck blind in a flooded cornfield near Barren River.
Harston also was charged with the illegal use of lead shot and Wilkinson for
hunting waterfowl with an unplugged shotgun with four shells in the magazine.
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife officers Brett Zalla and Robert Olds
and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Special Agent Bob Snow set up to watch the blind
after hearing shots in the area before legal shooting hours the previous
weekend. Zalla discovered the tame ducks swimming around the blind while
scouting a surveillance location.
"They were so used to hunters being there," said Zalla of the Muscovy ducks.
"The dog and the gun shots didn’t phase them at all. The landowner even referred
to them as pets."
Zalla and Olds approached from behind the blind after observing the five
shooting wild ducks over the live decoys as Snow recorded events from another
secluded location. Snow observed Harston allegedly throw a box of lead shot
shells from the blind.
"This is a good time to remind waterfowl hunters they may not use or possess in
the field shot shells made of lead, or any other shot not approved by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service for waterfowl hunting," said KDFWR Director of Law
Enforcement Col. David Casey. "Shotguns must not be capable of holding more than
three shells, and taking wild waterfowl over live decoys is also illegal."
Duck Season statewide remains open through January 30, and Canada goose season
continues through January 31. A portion of Fulton County will be open for goose
hunting through February 15. Youth waterfowl season, for persons who have not
yet reached their 16th birthday, will be February 5-6.
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