Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement agents cited an Opelousas man for alleged deer night hunting violations on Jan. 13.
Agents cited Marcus Ortego, 41, for taking deer during illegal hours, hunting deer from a public road, taking deer from a moving vehicle, illegal spotlighting from a public road, and discharging a firearm from a public road.
Agents were on patrol in the Lawtell area and responded to call from a Louisiana State Police trooper about possible deer hunting violations. The trooper made a traffic stop and found a dead doe in the bed of a pickup truck.
Agents responded to the call from Louisiana State Police and during questioning determined that Ortego harvested the doe at night with a 20 gauge shotgun from a public road near the intersection of Hwy. 29 and Interstate 49 in Evangeline Parish.
Hunting deer during illegal hours brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Hunting deer from a public road and taking deer from a moving vehicle each brings a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail for each offense. Discharging a firearm from a public road brings up to a $50 fine and up to 30 days in jail. Illegal spotlighting from a public road brings up to a $175 fine and up to 30 days in jail.
Ortego may also face civil restitution totaling up to $1,624 for the replacement value of the illegally taken deer.