SALINAS, California – Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced Monday, January 27 that 31-year-old Hue Xiong of Fresno was sentenced to 180 days in the Monterey County jail and was fined $8,000 for hunting and poaching-related crimes, including: hunter trespassing, taking deer and wild turkeys out of season, failing to obtain wild pig tags before hunting, and failing to affix tags to wild pigs after take, as well as for driving with a suspended license. Xiong was also ordered not to hunt in Monterey County for 3 years. All illegally taken wildlife was forfeited, along with lead ammunition that is not authorized to be possessed while hunting in California. Xiong may serve his jail sentence through home confinement.
In February of 2018, trail camera photographs captured Xiong hunting on private land near Parkfield in South Monterey County. The landowners recognized Xiong from previous contacts and reported the trespassing to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Through its investigation, Fish and Wildlife determined that Xiong killed at least 7 wild pigs from February to May of 2018 without first obtaining the required hunting tags. In July of 2018, Xiong was stopped by King City CHP Officers in the early morning hours while driving with a suspended license, and was found with a recently killed deer and 2 wild turkeys that were all taken out of season. A California Department of Fish and Wildlife officer was summoned to the scene and examined the animal carcasses and determined that the deer and wild turkeys were taken with a .22 rimfire rifle, which is an unethical method of take for such animals. Xiong also possessed a wild pig with no hunting tag affixed to the carcass.
The cases were investigated by Lieutenant Matt Gil and Warden Hank Hodel of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “It is great to see that the combined efforts of private landowners,
California Highway Patrol, Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, and my Officers lead to holding this habitual wildlife violator accountable for his actions,” said Captain Todd Tognazzini of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, who previously cited Xiong in 2007 in Monterey County.
Hunting has been regulated in the state of California since the 1850s. Hunting laws and regulations exist to sustainably manage wild animal populations and protect species survival, to protect recreational hunting and to ensure a level playing field amongst hunters, and for public safety.
If you witness a poaching or polluting or any fish and wildlife violation, or have information about such a violation, immediately dial the toll free CalTIP number at (888) 334-CALTIP or (888) 334- 2258, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Alternatively, you may submit anonymous tips to CDFW using tip411. tip411 is an internet-based tool from CitizenObserver.com that enables the public to text message an anonymous tip to wildlife officers and lets the officers respond back, creating an anonymous two-way conversation. Anyone with a cell phone may send an anonymous tip to CDFW by texting "CALTIP", followed by a space and the message, to 847411 (tip411).
Download the free CalTIP smartphone App which operates similarly to tip411 by creating an anonymous two-way conversation with wildlife officers to report wildlife and pollution violations. The CalTIP App can be downloaded for free via the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store.
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