Ted’s been in the news lately for more than his music: a passionate and avid hunter, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of illegal deer baiting and failing to have a properly signed hunting tag while on a hunt last year in Northern California.
The charges stemmed from an episode of Nugent’s hunting show, “Spirit Of The Wild,” which airs on the Outdoor Channel.
Ted was filming a feature for his series on a ranch in El Dorado County owned by the family of Ross Patterson; a fellow hunter, it was Patterson who spread bait called “C’mere Deer” to attract the animals. Baiting deer is legal in some States, but not in California.
Two deer were killed – one by Nugent and one by Patterson. Patterson was also charged and he, too, pleaded no contest to taking an animal with bait; he was fined $1,225 while Ted’s fine was $1,750.
A third man, Mitchell Moore – a photographer on the program – was charged and pleaded no contest to possessing an animal illegally; he was fined $700.
A California Fish And Game warden saw the “Spirit Of The Wild” episode in March and launched an investigation; while the animals were killed in El Dorado County, they were brought to Yuba County, where the legal action took place. A search warrant was served in April at Moore’s home in Yuba County, where the animals were discovered.
Nugent was originally facing a charge of killing a "spike" - an immature buck - on the program, but the charge was dropped during negotiations between his attorney and the Yuba County District Attorney's Office.
As befits his no-b.s. lifestyle, Nugent didn’t shy away from the issue. “To my Fellow Outdoorsmen,” Ted posted on his website. “You may have read the news that I pled no contest to two misdemeanor game violations. I should have been better informed, more aware and I take full responsibility. The honorable hunting lifestyle is my deepest passion.”
Ted Nugent – interview
Lopez Tonight - August 19, 2010
Ted Nugent - Great White Buffalo - Double Live Gonzo! Ted Nugent – Great White Buffalo
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