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The Dixie County dove hunt was announced to the public in an 

 article in the September 26, 1995, edition of the Tallahassee 

 Democrat entitled, "Hunters also hope to bag Capitol goodwill." 

 One of the Service's special agents saw the article. That 

 article was the first information we received about this hunt 

 which was to take place at the Sanchez field, in Dixie County on 

 Friday, October 13, 1995. 



On October 12, 1995, a Florida special agent located the Sanchez 

 field. While looking over the field, he noticed cracked corn, 

 kernel corn, millet, wheat, milo, and bahia seeds placed in heavy 

 amounts on the field and on roads leading into the hunting area. 

 The special agent took samples of the contents of the field for 

 evidentiary purposes and left the field. 



On Friday, October 13, 1995, at approximately 2 p.m., two special 

 agents entered the hunting area. The agents observed the 

 hunters' actions only for the period of time necessary to obtain 

 evidence of the violations and to reach locations that allowed 

 them access to the field. At approximately 4:15 p.m., two 

 additional special agents and eight Service refuge officers 

 reached the field and began contacting the hunters. Some of the' 

 hunters fled the field when the agents appeared. 



The majority of the hunters were cooperative, although a group of 

 four men pushed and shoved one of our agents; and another hunter 

 verbally threatened an agent. The agents observed beer 

 containers on and near the hunting area, some of the hunters had 

 the odor of alcohol on their breath, and a "bar" was open before 

 and during the hunt . One hunter told an agent he was concerned 

 about safety on the field because of the drinking that was 

 occurring before and during the hunt. The agents obtained 

 personal information from the hunters and offered to show the 

 hunters the bait . None of the hunters present expressed any 

 interest in being shown the bait. It was clearly present in 

 large amounts. 



During the first week of November 1995, after consulting with the 

 U.S. Attorney's Office in Gainesville, Florida, the Service law 

 enforcement case agent mailed notices of violation to 88 adult 

 hunters. A total of 88 individuals were charged with baiting. 

 In addition, three were charged with unplugged shotguns; two (2) 

 for exceeding the daily bag limit; and two (2) for not having a 

 Florida State hunting license. No arrests were made, including 

 of the hunters who assaulted our agent. This clearly 

 demonstrates the professionalism and low-key approach Service law 

 enforcement personnel routinely display as they perform a 

 difficult and dangerous job on behalf of our nation. 



All of the 84 hunters had the opportunity to either pay a fine or 

 to appear in Federal District Court in Gainesville, Florida, to 



