shooting after legal time

[brownitsdown]

I have a friend who shot a duck before legal time and he wounded it. after tracking it swimming off for 30 minutes he shot it again after legal light so he could take it out of its misery. He is being investigated for shooting after legal time. Does anyone know what is the penalty for this if he is charged?

[Jimbob]

"Any person who unlawfully takes any migratory game bird with a rifle; or who unlawfully takes any migratory game bird with the aid of live decoys or any salt, grain, fruit, or other bait; or who unlawfully takes any migratory game bird during the closed season or during prohibited shooting hours; or who unlawfully exceeds the bag limits or possession limits applicable to any migratory game bird; or who violates any of the migratory game bird permit or tagging rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) in addition to any other punishment prescribed for the offense in question." Also: "(b) Any individual hunter or trapper who in taking a wild animal or bird has wounded or otherwise disabled it must make a reasonable effort to capture and kill the animal or bird. All animals and birds taken that can be retrieved must be retrieved and counted with respect to any applicable bag limits governing the individual taking the animal or bird." These are from the NC General Statutes. I would suggest reading it, here: https://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByArticle/Chapter_113/Article_22.pdf

In any case, I'd strongly suggest you retain a lawyer. Other penalties could include loss of hunting license, and even jail time.

[brownitsdown]

Thanks Jimbob! He has in fact lawyered up.