BENTON, Ill. – The owner of a Benton duck hunting club has been shut down for two years after pleading guilty to a federal charge for illegal baiting. Hugh Thomas Burns, Jr., 67, of Carbondale, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act by sale of wildlife in violation of federal law as the sole owner of Burns Hunting Club, LLC.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Burns and co-defendant Michael D. McKinney, 52, of Benton, conspired together to bring guided hunts to blinds near illegally baited areas on the club’s property in January 2021. McKinney admitted to distributing corn kernels to attract migratory birds.
“Hunting and fishing are cherished traditions in Southern Illinois, and our office stands firmly behind sportsmen and women who enjoy those activities,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “But let’s be real: baiting a duck hunting landscape is like other forms of illegal poaching, which disadvantages honest hunters and violates federal law.”
The district court ordered Burns to pay a total of $11,000 in fines to the Lacey Act Reward Account through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as a total of $50,000 in restitution to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. He was also sentenced to two years of probation and barred from hunting or providing guiding services for the duration of his probation.
Burns’ club, Burns Hunting Club, LLC, was also ordered to shutter its doors for two years as a result of the guilty plea. The federal judge also ordered McKinney, who pleaded guilty in April to one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act by sale of wildlife in violation of federal law, to pay $5,500 in fines and $5,000 in restitution. He was also sentenced to two years of probation and prohibited from hunting and guiding for two years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders prosecuted the case, which was contributed to by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The Government seized a Chevrolet 2500 HD truck and a UTV that was used in the conspiracy.
“Baiting is a serious violation that undermines the principles of fair chase and can negatively impact wildlife populations,” said Jed Whitchurch, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Law Enforcement. “Conservation laws are in place to protect natural resources and ensure that the pursuit of wildlife is conducted ethically and sustainably for future generations to enjoy.”
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Crime & Law Enforcement
- Source: Official Source ↗
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