Lead Shot and 500 lbs of Rice.

[shoreman]

Another black eye for legitimate hunters everywhere...


2003-022 THREE PLEAD GUILTY TO WATERFOWL VIOLATIONS
1/29/2003

Vermilion Parish Sheriff Raywood J. LeMaire, 62, of Abbeville, Joseph Clyde Potier, 62, of Duson, and Joseph Clyde Potier Jr., 32, of Rayne, entered pleas of guilty to waterfowl charges on January 10, before U.S. Magistrate Mildred Methvin in Lafayette. The pleas are the result of an investigation conducted by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agents and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents which began in 1999.


Joseph Clyde Potier and Joseph Clyde Potier Jr. each entered a plea agreement to a Class A Misdemeanor Bill of Information of placing bait for the purpose of taking ducks and were each sentenced to pay $2,500 plus a $25 special assessment fee and were each credited for $2,000 paid to Louisiana Operation Game Thief, Inc. Additionally, Joseph Clyde Potier pled guilty to possession of toxic shot (lead shot) while hunting waterfowl and sentenced to pay a fine of $500 plus $10 special assessment fee, with $300 of the fine suspended. Louisiana Operation Game Thief, Inc. was paid a total of $4,000 with the balance of fines, totaling $1,260, paid to the federal court system.

Raywood J. LeMaire pled guilty to three Federal Petty Offenses. For hunting migratory game birds (ducks) with the aid of bait, he was sentenced to pay a fine of $500 plus a $10 special assessment fee, plus $800 for eight ducks taken over the bait. For taking over the limit of ducks, LeMaire was sentenced to pay a fine of $350 plus a $10 special assessment fee, plus $100 for two ducks taken over the limit. For the offense of possession of toxic shot (lead shot) while hunting waterfowl, he was sentenced to pay $250, plus a $10 special assessment. LeMaire’s total fines equal $2,130.

The charges resulted from a November 29, 2002, duck hunt on baited ponds that state and federal wildlife agents had located and documented earlier in the week. The ponds were located on the LeMaire Lease west of Freshwater Bayou. Approximately 500 pounds of rice had been placed by the Potier’s for the purpose of taking waterfowl in five ponds. Twenty-eight birds were seized and held for evidence at the time the men were cited.

Agents participating in the case were LDWF Enforcement Sgt. Edwin Broussard and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agents Philip Siragusa, Bob Oliveri, Bill Mellor, and Pilot Fred Roetker. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Michael prosecuted the case for the government.

[Shadow]

I just read about this in "Louisiana Sportsman". What a bunch of morons. Why do some people feel the need to cheat to be better than everyone else. Serves them right.

[Revclimber]

you know i never even considered baiting ducks. honestly i didnt know you could. I wonder how long it would take the ducks to find the bait? I guess if you put it in a field they frequent often, they would find it. i dont get it, i hunt on rivers and reed flats.

[Shadow]

It doesn't take long Rev. I have seen a feeder that a guy set up for deer on our lease. Guy set it up in a low spot, and it flooded. Wood ducks poured into there. It is also a federal offense, and federal wardens don't cut anyone any slack. As a matter of fact, I think they really enjoy catching big wigs bending rules.

[shoreman]

Nope, it doesn't take long at all..

This Winter has been a cold one, and most of the tributaries of the Chesapeake have been frozen for weeks. People have been feeding ducks and geese on the ice, and it only take a few hours for them to come in numbers to the feed. After that, they'll keep comiong back looking for a free lunch.

If they bait in an area naturally attractive to waterfowl, you won't be able to keep them away, and the baiters know this. Alan is right, the wardens love busting fat cat showoffs and their clients! I like to see them busted as well, but would prefer they were referred to as "criminals" in the media and not hunters. I see that all the time and it never ceases to bother me.

That's what they are, pure and simple.

[shoreman]

Another story with a little more info:


Vermilion Parish sheriff tapped on wrist for waterfowl violations

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — Vermilion Parish Sheriff Ray Lamaire was fined $2,130 on Friday (Jan. 10) after admitting he violated federal waterfowl hunting laws.

LeMaire, 62, who is in his fifth term as sheriff, was charged with hunting over a baited area, possession of two birds over the legal limit and possession of lead shot during a Nov. 29 hunt.

“I made a mistake,” LeMaire said. “I took my medicine and I'm cured.”

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mildred Methvin said she was pleased that LeMaire accepted responsibility and made no effort “to pull strings.”

“On the other hand, it’s always a sad day when any public official is found in violation of the law, because it does erode public trust,” Methvin said.

Also pleading guilty in the incident were Joseph Clyde Potier Sr., 62, of Duson, and his son, Joseph Clyde Potier Jr., 32.

The elder Potier was fined $2,700 on charges of possession of lead shot and baiting a field. The younger Potier was fined $2,500 for baiting the field.

The three men could have received up to six months in prison and lost hunting privileges.

The men were cited while hunting on land about four miles west of Freshwater Bayou in lower Vermilion Parish.

Prosecutor Joseph Mickel said the Potiers had baited ponds on the land with 500 pounds of rice on Oct. 21, a few weeks before hunting season. It is not illegal to scatter rice or other grain with the intent of attracting birds, but a baited field cannot be hunted.

LeMaire said he was not aware that bait was still in the area he was hunting.

When asked by the judge about the lead shot, LeMaire said he forgot he had the shells in his hunting bag. LeMaire said he had two birds over the limit because he lost count.

LeMaire announced in early 2002 that he will not seek re-election this fall.

[Shadow]

Not in this case, but in some cases such as dove seasons, the rules are very screwy as to what is baited and what is not baited. For instance, we went on a hunt this past September in the Ferriday, St. Joseph portion of La. My friend has some land that borders some public hunting land. In his fields, his dad had attempted to plant wheat as a cover crop and for deer. Well, it had not germinated yet, and some was still on the surface. Supposedly that would be considered a baited field. However, we could step through the fence line and hunt the public property where they had freshly bush hogged sunflowers and be legal. I mean there were sunflower seeds all over the place, and that field was not baited? There was a warden there checking people that came out of the public area, mainly to see how many people used the area, and how many total birds were taken. He was not hassling anyone, and was quite nice. He had actaully done the bush hogging.