Case Details

Deer, turkey - illegally hunted out of season
Rock Hill, TN (US)

Date: Oct 2005
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged Abuser: Billy Joe Jennings

Case ID: 6638
Classification: Unlawful Trapping/Hunting
Animal: deer, bird (wildlife)
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The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency poaching hot line paid dividends this week, perhaps to the chagrin of accused poacher Billy Joe Jennings.

The 22-year-old Greenback man was arrested December 15, 2005, by TWRA wildlife officers and charged with 16 state game violations after authorities received a telephoned tip that he was shooting white-tailed deer and wild turkey out of season and without a license.
Jennings was released December 16, 2005 from the Blount County Jail after posting a $4,000 bond. He is set to appear before Blount County General Sessions Court Judge David Duggan on Jan. 27.

Though Jennings lists 5601 Morganton Road in Greenback as his home address, the alleged hunting violations occurred on the property of a Rock Hill Road home where he was staying, according to wildlife officers. Rock Hill Road is near Sevierville Road in the northeastern part of Blount County. ``Anytime he'd see a deer in his yard, he'd kill it,'' said TWRA Wildlife Officer Jeff Pearce. ``He'd see a turkey in his yard, he'd kill it. It baffles me that anyone could be so brazen and bold to act like that.'' Pearce said Jennings killed at least three deer and one turkey out of season and faces four charges of hunting big game in closed season, four charges of hunting without a license, three charges of illegal possession of big game, one charge of illegal transportation of big game and four charges of tagging procedure violations.

Wildlife officers -- including Joe Everett and Kip Kite -- also confiscated a truck and firearm from Jennings. On December 14, 2005, according to Pearce, Jennings shot a small four-point buck in his yard, and then trespassed to retrieve the dead deer from adjacent property. He field-dressed the deer, Pearce said, but ``just left it lying in the yard for anything to come and chew on it.'' He said that the killings were ``more for ego than the sport of hunting these animals.'' Pearce said the violations had been occurring for over a year with a ``blatant disregard for seasons and regulations.''

After receiving a ``real good tip,'' wildlife officers received consent to search the Rock Hill Road property, though the buck was ``in plain view in the yard,'' Pearce said. Officers also found ``parts and pieces'' of the other poached animals. ``It took a lot of interviewing to get the information from him. He obviously wasn't doing it for the sport of it.'' Pearce said he was glad to see the poaching hot line function as intended. ``Typically people want to give you enough information to work on something, but they don't want to give enough to really get someone caught.''

Jennings will join 24 accused bear baiters in court Jan. 27, 2006. The hearing for those men, accused in October of hunting over bait and other wildlife violations during a hunt in Tallassee, was reset from Dec. 30, 2005, according to Pearce.

If you suspect someone of poaching wildlife on private property or hunting without a license or out of season, call the Tennessee poaching hot line at 1-800-831-1174.

References

The Daily Times - December 17, 2005

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