Rising Miss. River leads to wildlife violations arrests

Deer are fleeing floodwater from the rising Mississippi River and some hunters have allegedly tried to take advantage of the situation. According to Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Law Enforcement Bureau Chief Steve Adcock, some of these men have found themselves in jail.

One such man is a 70-year-old Benoit resident.

"Officers received a complaint about shots being fired around the Mississippi River levee in Bolivar County," Adcock said. "They encountered a homeowner, E. B. Metcalfe, and asked him about hearing shots fired and he said he was sighting-in his rifle, not hunting."

The three dead bucks the officers found on Metcalfe's property told another story. After further questioning, Metcalfe admitted to officers he'd killed the deer as well as two others. Adcock said Metcalfe is now facing a multitude of charges including exceeding the daily bag limit and shooting deer during a closed season.

Before daylight the following morning, another man was arrested for hunting in an area closed to hunting due to flooding in Tunica County.

"Officers where setting up on the levee and they witnessed a truck approaching the levee," Adcock said. "The truck turned around, stopped, and started shining a light."

When officers tried to make contact with the suspect, he fled.

"They chased him into the city limits of Tunica," Adcock said.

Once the chase ended, officers found some unsightly evidence in the vehicle of Donald Hensley, 49, of Hernando.

"They found three dead does, one buck and one buck head," Adcock said. "He finally admitted he'd shot four of the deer, but said someone gave him the buck head.

"He's been charged with four counts of headlighting deer, four counts of hunting from a public road, five counts of possession of illegal deer and hunting during a closed season. He's looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of $10-plus thousand (in fines)."

Areas flooded along the Mississippi River are currently closed to hunting due to flooding and some will possibly remain closed for the remainder of the 2015-16 deer season. While the closures are in effect, Adcock said conservation officers will be patrolling the area.

"We are patrolling these areas heavily," Adcock said. "Just because you don't see us doesn't mean we're not there.

"We've got a good majority of our force working those areas."

Adcock said concerned citizens have also been of assistance to law enforcement.

"People will call in on you for breaking game laws," Adcock said. "People won't stand for it."

If someone suspects a wildlife violation has been committed, MDWFP spokesperson Jim Walker said call 1-800-BE-SMART (1-800-237-6278). Walker noted that all tips are anonymous and the line is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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Contact Brian Broom at (601) 961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com. Follow The Clarion-Ledger Outdoors on Facebook and @BrianBroom in Twitter.