U.S. Department of Justice
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A hunter pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act when he and seven friends met in Kansas to hunt mourning doves, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
George Morgan, 52, Gordonville, Texas, was sentenced to a year on probation in which he is not allowed to hunt, fish or trap; a $2,000 fine; and $3,000 restitution to the state of Kansas.
Seven other hunters in the same party already pleaded guilty and were sentenced. The men admitted they violated the federal law protecting migratory birds when they participated in an annual opening weekend dove hunt in Graham County, Kan., on Sept. 1-2, 2013.
Morgan pleaded guilty to one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act classifies mourning doves as migratory game birds.
Morgan’s co-defendants included Daniel R. Dinkel, 63, Hill City, Kan.; Kent A. Webber, 52, Derby, Kan.; Evan Webber, 25, Derby, Kan.; Kenneth R. Beran, 67, Derby, Kan.; Clark Law, 57, Hill City, Kan.; Tracy D. Higgins, 54, El Dorado, Kan.; and John Kobler, 62, Topeka, Kan.
Grissom commended the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Tourism and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster for their work on the case.
