A Kansas hunting guide, two of his employees and a customer from Georgia discovered how important it was to be aware of federal hunting laws and follow them.
Josh Hedges, 34, of Granola and owner of Eagle Head Outfitters, was recently indicted by federal prosecutors on 12 counts of unlawful sale and transport of wildlife and one count of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
The most common violation mentioned was shooting waterfowl out of season.
Allen Stroot, 32, of Park City, and Jerad Stroot, 25, of Colwich, who are both employees of EHO, were accused of violating the Migratory Bird Act and unlawful sale or transport of wildlife, respectively.
Steve Seagraves, 61, of Douglasville, Georgia, is a customer of Hedges’ who was also charged with violating the Migratory Bird Act.
Past clients have said they witnessed several game law violations from guides of Eagle Head Outfitters, stating they illegally shot at hawks and other birds of prey. It was these client accounts of their experience that led to the investigation.
Wildlife and Parks and Fish and Wildlife officers went undercover, booking hunts as part of their investigation. They witnessed the illegal use of electronic calls to call waterfowl. It was also reported that Hedges and his guides used corn, soybeans, milo and wheat to illegally bait ponds and rivers.
They shot waterfowl out of season, surpassed daily limits. One Eagle Head client told game warden’s he had shot 18 ducks one day when the legal limit was six.
No charges have been filed so far in this case and game wardens stated they had no idea when charges may be filed.
