Spook Spann in trouble again????

[doublebarrel]

 
Wonder if this bird came off one of those properties


http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,34347.0.html



By BILL DRAPER, Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —A celebrity hunter from Tennessee illegally baits his land for turkeys and violated terms of his federal probation in Kansas by participating in hunting parties that included NFL players and members of a country music band, wildlife agents testified Thursday at a hearing for William "Spook" Spann.

Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to revoke the probation of Spann, 50, of Dickson, Tenn., who pleaded guilty in November to transporting unlawfully taken wildlife across state lines in violation of the federal Lacey Act. They also want him to spend three months in jail.

Spann, who owns property in Stafford County in south-central Kansas, killed a deer in November 2007 on land adjacent to his own after paying the landowner $5,000 for permission to do so, according to court documents. His nonresident hunting permit, though, allowed him to hunt only on his own property, so under Kansas law the deer was taken illegally.

It became a federal case when he transported the antlers across state lines to his home in Tennessee. Federal agents executed a search warrant at his home Jan. 25, 2011 —more than three years after the Kansas hunt —and seized the antlers.

Spann, who has a hunting show, "Spook ," on television's Pursuit Channel, was sentenced in February to three years' probation, fined $10,000, order to pay $10,000 in restitution and ordered not to hunt anywhere in the U.S. for six months. He also was forbidden from violating any hunting laws.

Tennessee and federal wildlife agents testified Thursday that Spann had spread "scratch grain" on several of his properties to attract turkeys during hunting season, in violation of Tennessee law. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley spent hours Thursday showing video footage of Spann, dressed in camouflage, escorting hunters around his land and using a turkey call to draw in the birds.

Among those photographed on his property were starting Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker and his backup, Rusty Smith; free-agent NFL running back Jerious Norwood; and members of the country music band Bush Hawg.

Wildlife agents set up hidden cameras on three of Spann's properties after his former cameraman tipped them off in late March that there would be hunting on the land and that Spann was illegally placing bait.

The former employee, Thomas Southerland, testified that he quit working for Spann in April because he felt like he was "perpetuating a lie" because the video footage used for Spann's shows didn't always match reality.

Southerland said he worked for Spann for five years and that during that time the two regularly put out bait and did other "small things" that made him uncomfortable.

Spann's attorney, John Aisenbrey, challenged Tennessee's definition of hunting —which includes aiding others who are hunting —as too broad. He argued that Spann was neither carrying a gun or shooting anything in any of the videos, so he wasn't actually hunting.

Testimony continued into the evening and was expected to resume Friday morning.

[slamman]

no hunting for six months only?  seems like a slap on the hand.  here in Arizona he would have lost his hunting privileges for 5 years.

[drenalinld]

Ugh

[barry]

Serves him right!
I agree the penalty should greater than 6 months. He should be barred from TV!
I expect we would be shocked if we knew just how many of these self proclaimed "professional hunters" used bait to enhance their success rates!
I once questioned Spann about taking a 100 yard shot at a walking mule deer with his bow on one of his shows. He said he practiced at that distance and felt comfortable doing so. What was not shown on TV was that he hit the deer in the a$$.
Used to like the guy, can't say that I do now.

Wonder how many of the following were taken illegally over bait?
http://www.spookspann.com/whitetail.html

[Casey Johnson]

Being that I am the one who posted the pics of the monster double beard, I guess it is my turn to chime in. If that bird was taken on a baited property, I am not aware of it. However, it could have been.......... I was not there. Personally, I have NO respect for anyone who uses bait to draw in turkeys, or any other game, for that matter. That isn't hunting. So, if Spook did do what he is being accused of, than he should be handed a very LARGE punishment.

[doublebarrel]

Being that I am the one who posted the pics of the monster double beard, I guess it is my turn to chime in. If that bird was taken on a baited property, I am not aware of it. However, it could have been.......... I was not there. Personally, I have NO respect for anyone who uses bait to draw in turkeys, or any other game, for that matter. That isn't hunting. So, if Spook did do what he is being accused of, than he should be handed a very LARGE punishment.

Your right Casey, you didn't say it was in his property. I wonder if it was though. I can't understand though he is told no hunting in the states but he still does.

[Casey Johnson]

The double beard was killed on one of Spook's farms in Tennessee. Whether or not, it was baited, is anyone's guess. I too, don't understand why he hunted this past spring season, if he was ordered not to hunt anywhere for 6 months. This whole thing has confused the heck out of me.

[ccleroy]

The double beard was killed on one of Spook's farms in Tennessee. Whether or not, it was baited, is anyone's guess. I too, don't understand why he hunted this past spring season, if he was ordered not to hunt anywhere for 6 months. This whole thing has confused the heck out of me.

He wasn't hunting, he was guiding the hunt.......caught while in the act of contributing to a hunt....which IMO is bull. I could care less who he is or what his show is...."Pro" or not I could care less, but if the story of being charged for staking a decoy on a hunt or calling a bird in for someone gets you in trouble the contributing to a hunt rule is complete BS IMO.

[DirtNap647]

unreal you would think the sponsors would drop him

[tomstopper]

unreal you would think the sponsors would drop him

I also couldn't see how any real hunter would ever want to watch his show again. I know I won't be...

[nativeks]

Start emailing sponsors. I know I emailed the 2 that I use letting them know how I feel.

[DirtNap647]

good idea im gonna do that

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

Baiting is one thing but since when did guiding become hunting?

I've guided A LOT of turkeys but I don't take credit for killing them.  Hunting is the act of pursuing quarry with intentions and the capability of harvesting it.

Last time I checked, an unarmed guide can't achieve that objective and therefore, I find no merit in the charges.

[longspur]

Baiting is one thing but since when did guiding become hunting?

I've guided A LOT of turkeys but I don't take credit for killing them.  Hunting is the act of pursuing quarry with intentions and the capability of harvesting it.

Last time I checked, an unarmed guide can't achieve that objective and therefore, I find no merit in the charges.

each state has there own definition of hunting but most states include anyone assisting.

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

A technical interpretation and a good lawyer should chew this thing up and spit it out.