By BETH ZUMWALT
An investigation into illegal baiting and other hunting violations by dozens of waterfowl hunters in western Pike County, near Pleasant Hill, has been referred by the Illinois Conservation Police to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for possible federal charges.
The investigation took place over the course of about a year and was led by Illinois Conservation Police.
The property comprises several thousand acres in which several hundred acres are flooded each year for waterfowl hunting.
During the investigation, it was determined that fields and crops were being manipulated in ways that fall under the federal definition of baiting wildlife, which is illegal and violates the spirit of fair chase and widely accepted hunting ethics.
The hunters involved were from Illinois and from out of state. More information is expected to be released later.
