I just read in The OhioOutdoor News where 5 guys was charged with with theft after being found with the carcass of one of the lions in there jeep from Muskingum Co.
One of the 21 year old douchebags and the 17 year old douchebag live about a half a block away from me in Byesville, and they are the perfect example why certain people shouldn't be allowed to reproduce, this stunt pales in comparison to some of their other ones!
What exactly did they do wrong? If you're hunting and shoot a hog that got away from a game farm. Would you be charged and arrested?
The only thing I can say Jackalope is that you would have to meet them, remember the family beside us at the campout that had the kid riding on top of the blazer in the raft while Grandpa drove down the road? they pale in comparison th these guys, I can say for about 5 years there was never a dull moment in our neighborhood
There's private ownership of an animal and then there's non-indigenous game species.
An example: There were rumors of a cougar that was just east of me about 15 miles. I asked the GW if there was anything keeping me from hunting and shooting it. The GW said, I could shoot it with my weapon of choice and keep it. However, if the owners come foreward and claim it, there could be charges against me for destruction of private property. BUT, if the owners can not produce the legal propagation permits to show legal ownership, the charges will be dropped against me and the state will perfer charges against the owners.
About a year or two ago, there was a bull elk in the area of Grand Lake St. Marys. Some landowner shot it with a 7 Mag., had some pics taken for the local paper and processed the meat. Even the GW posed with the landowner, for a pic and said it wasn't a resident species and was fair game for anyone to take.
As for the dangerous game animals in Zanesville, they were privately owned, but their escape/release from their cages posed a threat to the residents. If a private individual had shot one of the cats, charges could've been brought against that person, for destruction of private property. Since law enforcement acted in behalf of the preservation of the civilian population, no charges could be brought against them.
Why the animals were not destroyed...burnt, I have no idea. Having burried them, just left an open door for possible theft and resale of the parts to questionable markets. A possible ploy by local law enforcement to recoupe some of their alleged $8500 in losses to the event. :smiley_chinrub:
The entire situation stinks!
Bowhunter57