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Willcox man loses hunting privileges
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| Arizona Game and Fish Department Wildlife Manager John Bacorn with evidence seized in connection with a six-month investigation of illegal taking of wildlife in the area that led to the long-term suspension of hunting licenses for two Willcox men. (PHOTO COURTESY/ Arizona Game and Fish Dept.) |
By Derek Jordan/Wick communications
A Willcox man has had his Arizona hunting license revoked for life and was fined thousands of dollars after a monthslong investigation by the Arizona Game and Fish Department revealed he had been killing wildlife illegally and on private property.
Jared A. Youngs, 22, was fined $6,000 by the department, which in October also revoked his ability to ever legally hunt or fish in the state again.
Another man, Josh L. Ferrigna, 24, also of Willcox, identified by the department as Youngs' "accomplice," was fined $1,500 and had his hunting license revoked for 15 years.
A six-month investigation into the two men began in March 2008 after officials discovered the carcass of a decapitated mule deer, said Mark Hart, public information officer for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
"Based on the state of the remains found, there had been no attempt to use the animals as game meat," Hart said. "They were simply looking for trophies."
According to Hart, the investigation and interviews with Youngs and Ferrigna revealed the two men would travel to private property at night and shine powerful headlights at the deer to immobilize them before killing them.
"That's an easy way to kill a deer. It's not sporting. It's certainly not hunting," he said.
Investigators obtained search warrants and were able to uncover evidence at two Willcox residences, including antlers, linking the men to the acts, he said.
According to Hart, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission was only recently given the authority to revoke a hunting license for life, which it reserves the punishment for only the worst offenses.
"This was a case in the extreme and merited the most severe penalty," he said.
Authorities said the men killed five mule deer in this manner, four bucks and one doe.
In a Wednesday news release, Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Manager John Bacorn shed some light as to the motive of the two men.
"During interviews, these individuals were asked why they had engaged in this type of activity, and their responses were they just got caught up in the excitement and the adrenaline rush," Bacorn said.
The men received a total of 22 citations and were fined more than $12,000 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, according to state authorities.
The charges they are faced with include knowingly taking wildlife during a closed season, possessing unlawfully taken wildlife, taking wildlife without a license, taking wildlife with artificial light, taking wildlife with the aid of a vehicle, waste of game meat and trespassing on private property while taking wildlife.
Jared A. Youngs, 22, was fined $6,000 by the department, which in October also revoked his ability to ever legally hunt or fish in the state again.
Another man, Josh L. Ferrigna, 24, also of Willcox, identified by the department as Youngs' "accomplice," was fined $1,500 and had his hunting license revoked for 15 years.
A six-month investigation into the two men began in March 2008 after officials discovered the carcass of a decapitated mule deer, said Mark Hart, public information officer for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
"Based on the state of the remains found, there had been no attempt to use the animals as game meat," Hart said. "They were simply looking for trophies."
According to Hart, the investigation and interviews with Youngs and Ferrigna revealed the two men would travel to private property at night and shine powerful headlights at the deer to immobilize them before killing them.
"That's an easy way to kill a deer. It's not sporting. It's certainly not hunting," he said.
Investigators obtained search warrants and were able to uncover evidence at two Willcox residences, including antlers, linking the men to the acts, he said.
According to Hart, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission was only recently given the authority to revoke a hunting license for life, which it reserves the punishment for only the worst offenses.
"This was a case in the extreme and merited the most severe penalty," he said.
Authorities said the men killed five mule deer in this manner, four bucks and one doe.
In a Wednesday news release, Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Manager John Bacorn shed some light as to the motive of the two men.
"During interviews, these individuals were asked why they had engaged in this type of activity, and their responses were they just got caught up in the excitement and the adrenaline rush," Bacorn said.
The men received a total of 22 citations and were fined more than $12,000 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, according to state authorities.
The charges they are faced with include knowingly taking wildlife during a closed season, possessing unlawfully taken wildlife, taking wildlife without a license, taking wildlife with artificial light, taking wildlife with the aid of a vehicle, waste of game meat and trespassing on private property while taking wildlife.
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Rose wrote on Nov 30, 2009 12:43 PM:
" So sad for these boys to waste meat when there are so many hungry people who don't have meat right here in Willcox. If they wanted a rush they should have taken the kill like a hunter, not a coward and did it with a license in season and daylight. There are plenty of skunks, coyotes and varmits everywhere if they needed to play hunter. Boy's you are a disgrace to Willcox! There is so much good you could do to help people that would also give you a rush if you tried it. Think how a senior citizen would have loved some venison if you had taken it legally! "
Keith wrote on Nov 26, 2009 8:13 AM: