Opelousas man cited for deer hunting violations in St. Landry Parish
Enforcement agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries cited an Opelousas man for hunting violations back in Dec. of 2023.
ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY) – Enforcement agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries cited an Opelousas man for hunting violations back in Dec. of 2023.
According to LDWF, agents responded to a lost hunter on the night of Dec. 13 on the Thistlethwaite WMA. Agents found Marcus Ortego, 46 of Opelousas, on the WMA and he said he got lost tracking a deer he shot with his crossbow.
On Dec. 14, agents again found Ortego attempting to track the deer he shot the day before. Agents assisted Ortego and backtracked the deer to where it was presumably shot near East Road on the WMA where they found an arrow stuck in the ground next to the road.
After questioning, Ortego admitted that he used a spotlight after shooting hours and shot the deer from his vehicle with his crossbow. They were unable to find the wounded deer.
Agents cited Ortego for hunting deer during illegal hours, hunting from a moving vehicle, two counts of violating rules and regulations on a Wildlife Management Area (WMA), and hunting deer from a public road. The violations hold the following possible penalties:
- Hunting during illegal hours - $900 to $950 fine, up to 120 days in jail
- Hunting from a moving vehicle - $250 to $500 fine, up to 90 days in jail
- Violating rules and regulations on a WMA - $350 fine
- Hunting deer from a public road - $350 fine
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