A pair of Arkansas men who were spotted on Monday morning shooting a turkey from the roadway was later arrested after an investigation was launched by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Cpl. Chad Cox.
Coleton Isaiah Smith, 19, of Omaha, Arkansas, and Timothy Nathan Rutledge, 40, of Cabot, Arkansas, were both jailed on Monday and later released on bond on charges of hunting from a vehicle and hunting upon or discharging weapons across a public road at 7:22 p.m. on May 10.
Cox said that a tip came in to the Ranger Hotline for the Georgia DNR’s wildlife division claiming the pair had been spotted on Monday morning having shot a gobbler from the roadway.
He said that he worked the tip throughout the day and was able to affect an arrest of the pair of out-of-towners. Additionally, Cox said the meat was confiscated from the turkey killed illegally. Both were later released on a $850 bond each.
The turkey hunting season ends this coming Saturday, May 15, Cox said.
Hunting from the roadway, vehicles, using a spotlight, and hunting at night is illegal. Several cases were prosecuted during the deer season in December and January.
Those who have information about illegal hunting are encouraged to report those activities to the Ranger Hotline at 1-800-241-4113
Cox added that the public can get rewarded for calling in information.
