September 28, 2016
From NewsChannel9.com
MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Wildlife officers with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency have charged twenty hunters with violations related to the illegal hunting of black bears while using bait in Blount County, Tenn.
In the early morning hours of Monday (Sept. 26), several TWRA officers confronted two groups of black bear hunters who turned hounds loose at two baited sites on Chilhowee Mountain off of Montvale Road. According to a post on the Tennessee K-9 Wildlife Officers Facebook page, the twenty hunters were issued a total of 39 citations. Officers say that the baited sites consisted of candy and bread making the hunt unethical by discouraging fair chase. Biologists say baiting black bears can also have a negative impact by encouraging habituation to human foods. Once bears become habituated to unnatural foods, they generally seek out garbage cans, dumpsters, campsites, etc. leading to nuisance behavior.
The hunters charged in connection to the case (listed below) are set to appear in Blount Co. General Sessions Court on November 18 at 9 a.m.
Willie Cain (67)
Chad Johnson (20)
Gregory Cain (43)
Austin McKee (21)
Michael Harrison (20)
Terrell Carden Sr. (70)
Steven Sutton (27)
Jackson Sutton (53)
Charles Tipton (57)
Troy L. Butler Jr. (55)
Treylee Butler (21)
Roddy Presley (62)
Alex Gregory (21)
Earl Ogle (69)
Mike Gregory (78)
Larry Cupp (68)
Michael Wall (42)
Marchie Cain (65)
Unnamed juvenile(s)