Three Louisiana Men Cited with Hunting Violations In Connection with Hunting From a Vehicle, 23 Animals Seized and Donated to Charity

Orleans Parish, Louisiana – Three men have been cited in Orleans Parish, Louisiana, for hunting rabbits from moving vehicles, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced on January 3, 2023, that on December 14, 2022 enforcement agents cited three persons for alleged rabbit hunting infractions in Orleans Parish.

Austin Constant, 26, Joseph Bellande, 45, and John Wust, 26, all of St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, were cited for hunting from a moving vehicle.

Agents got an anonymous report about people hunting rabbits in New Orleans East using all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Agents from the LDWF arrived on the site in a wooded area and saw the subjects riding ATVs and hunting rabbits.

Agents made contact with the subjects and discovered them to be in possession of 23 rabbits, which they reportedly admitted to shooting while riding ATVs.

All of the rabbits were confiscated by agents and donated to a local charity.

Hunting from a moving vehicle is punishable by a fine of $250 to $500 and up to 90 days in prison. The subjects could also face civil compensation of $729 for the value of the illegally taken rabbits.

Senior Agent Salvador Mangano, Corporal Austin Landry, Corporal Dylan Egan, and Senior Agent Shea Schexnaydre are among the agents involved in the investigation.

A person is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.