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Okla. Legislator Brags About Killing Deer Only to be Fined for Illegal Hunt

Okla. Legislator Brags About Killing Deer Only to be Fined for Illegal Hunt

State Rep. Terry Harrison and his "illegal" piebald deer. (Photo: McAlester News-Capital)

Mcalester, Okla. (The Blaze/AP) — A state legislator who helped write some of Oklahoma’s hunting laws was so proud when he bagged a piebald, white-tailed deer that he called the media and gushed about the hunt.

But his pride turned to embarrassment when state Rep. Terry Harrison was told what he did was illegal if he didn’t have a free, special permit (beyond a regular hunting license) to shoot the animal. He didn’t.

The McAlester News-Capital reports that Harrison’s friend, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation game warden Shane Fields, called him after seeing the story in the newspaper and suggested he research hunting regulations.

Harrison says his heart “just sunk” when he realized his mistake.“This is embarrassing ’cause I should have known better.” he told the News-Capital. “But at least others can learn from my mistake.”

Harrison then called the state wildlife agency and turned himself in to Lt. Game Warden Todd Toby. “I asked who I was speaking with,” Harrison told the paper, “and then I said, ‘Todd Toby, this is Terry Harrison. I think you’re gonna have to write me a ticket.’ Toby laughed and said, ‘I think I am.’ And then he came out to my house in McAlester and gave me the ticket.”

The ticket was a hefty $296.

Harrison reportedly holds degrees in animal science and law and has served in the legislature and on the wildlife committee several times. And while he admits that he‘s helped write some of the state’s hunting laws, he had no idea he needed a special permit to shoot a piebald deer.

“If I didn’t know that a piebald was considered white in the state of Oklahoma, then a lot of my fellow sportsmen also don’t know,” Harrison told the paper. “I’m the guy who’s supposed to know the difference. So if I made this mistake, other sportsman probably will too.”

“I want people to learn from my mistake and not make the same one.”

—-

Online: McAleser News-Capital

Comments (88)

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  • DMD
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 10:15am

    Another above the law politician.
    If it were me they would take my gun, my truck, my first born, my money and lock me up.

    Report Post »  
  • RoguePatriot
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 10:14am

    Listen in Texas and Oklahoma, they are proud of the deer they kill even though they are no bigger than a German Shephard…They do not have a very much nutritious forage to feast on… Now when you get up in Missouri and more north, the deer start getting a lot bigger. Now down in Texas and Oklahoma the deer are know for their large racks and even 1% of the does have antlers! The record non typical deer was killed in Texas with something like 73 points I think but the deer field dressed really small in weight!!! They are not big bodied in Texas and Oklahoma!

    Report Post » RoguePatriot  
    • Dotprince
      Posted on December 14, 2010 at 7:13pm

      Thanks, RoguePatriot! If you hadn’t said something I was going to. I live in Oklahoma and I can tell you our deer are not that big. That could be a very mature deer for this part of the country. In some places up in northwestern Oklahoma that would be considered a LARGE deer. It’s the species of deer that determines the size, as well as the amount of nutrition they get from foraging. So don’t be so quick to judge the man on the size of the deer. Many of the hunters here are very proud if they get an 80 pounder. It’s still good meat and tastes mighty good on a cold day in January when the winds are howling and the snow is snowing or the rain is raining. I love deer meat and I don’t care who knows it.

      Report Post »  
  • benrush
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 9:59am

    Too many stupid laws these days.

    Report Post »  
  • HippoNips
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 9:43am

    Yes, he’s a Democrat…yet another that doesn’t read his own legistlation

    Report Post »  
  • Liberals are Disgusting
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 9:41am

    Much better than the damn thing hitting my car dodging the deer are a pain in the ass here in Oklahoma

    Report Post » Liberals are Disgusting  
  • SlimnRanger
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 9:31am

    as an Okie i had no idea a piebald deer was considered a white deer humm learn something new everyday. I am proud that he was honest about it though many would not have been.

    Report Post »  
  • randy
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 9:22am

    Deer? You call that a deer? Looks more like a pygmy goat.

    Report Post » randy  
  • Marcobob69
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 9:01am

    Well, he did turn himself in, but as we have learned over the years, IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NOT A VIABLE DEFENSE. Especially when you HELPED WRITE THE LAW. AND, I don’t think I would be proud of killing a poor defenseless Bambi(but some of my friends would!)!

    Report Post »  
  • collectorbob810
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 7:16am

    have to pay to hunt the kings deer.

    Report Post »  
  • bobodu
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 6:40am

    A Republican would have claimed he got “bad intel”.

    Report Post »  
  • TheCrazySwede
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 4:20am

    Must say, it;s refreshing to actually hear someone admit fault, especially when they should have known better

    Report Post » TheCrazySwede  
  • krenshau
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 3:45am

    The lesson in this story is not to pay up if you break an unknown hunting law, that lesson is that there are too many laws. Get rid of the stupid laws and this would never have been a story.

    Report Post »  
    • bookofwisdom
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 3:17pm

      Sorry Krenshau, but if you get rid of the hunting laws hunters would wipe out all the deer, then we would have to put them on the endangered list and nobody would be able to hunt them. You know us rednecks have to kill something at least once a year, be it bird, squirrel, pig, or deer. May God Bless.

      Report Post » bookofwisdom  
  • burnteye86
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 3:37am

    Thems good eatin’

    Report Post » burnteye86  
  • republitarian
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 1:42am

    Dumb, but he manned up. That is rare.

    Report Post » republitarian  
    • MeteoricLimbo
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 2:31am

      being true to self is the solution, it would appear

      Report Post » MeteoricLimbo  
    • Pocono Countryboy
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 6:55am

      I agree.. He made a mistake, admitted it and paid his dues. Good Man.

      On the other hand, if you add water to those deer do they grow? My chocolate lab is almost that size!

      I guess I’m spoiled up here in Northeast PA. Mmmm..venison :)

      Report Post »  
  • Alan
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 1:33am

    He’s got to be a Dem. If he had been a Republican, his political party would be boldly declared in the first line instead of never mentioned once. Funny how the Dems are always writing laws they know nothing about and never follow themselves.

    Makes me wonder why I ever registered as a Democrat: heavy sigh.

    Report Post »  
    • Dotprince
      Posted on December 14, 2010 at 7:22pm

      Alan, you CAN change that, you know. As of right now, you can still change your political affiliation without suffering any grave consequences. I did about 12 years ago when I wised up and realized nearly all the problems we’ve faced as a country have come about as the result of a democrat being in office at the time, or a democrat-held senate or house or both. Not to say republicans are perfect — they’re NOT — but at least they know how to consider ALL the people and not just some. What we have now as “democrats” are really progressives in disguise and they aren’t really even trying to hide it anymore. I can’t wait to get the government on an even keel again. Some opposition is always desirable. It makes them all HAVE to work together or they don’t get anything done and they are considered “ineffectual” and voted out.

      Report Post »  
  • ohiojack
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 1:21am

    Well we have found one Dem that admits to screwing up, been a long time coming now if the rest of the Dem’s will only admit to screwing up maybe this country will get back on its feet.

     
  • staythecourse
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 12:03am

    Was the deer confiscated in addition to the fine? or because he is a legislator did he get special treatment such that he was allowed to keep it?

    Report Post »  
    • Bluebonnet
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 5:51pm

      No, only County Commissioner in Western Colorado think “he” is above the law. The rest of us get a ticket and a fine. he’s too good to follow the “stupid laws” he doesn’t agree with. Yup, the rest of us
      unimportant people would pay through the nose for what he did.

      Report Post »  
    • SgtB
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 11:53pm

      Not sure, but while checking my 150lb 9 point (big for Ok county), I talked to a guy who HIT a deer with his SUV and instead of leaving it he took it with him. The game warden got a tip and showed up at his house with a $1000 dollar fine for illegally taking a deer, then he took the deer. Now that is some expensive meat!

      If I had shot that deer I would have claimed that I couldn’t tell what its color was because I shot it from 500 yards with a 4 power scope and it was an unavoidable accident. That’s me though. I really don’t care what color the deer is, the only reason for that kind of regulation is a concession to the tree huggers who want to see more albino deer.

      Report Post » SgtB  
  • Scorpio
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 12:02am

    Yep, we have idiots in Oklahoma. He’s a Democrat and ran for a county DA spot this past election, and he lost in the primary. Idiot.

    Report Post » Scorpio  
  • N37BU6
    Posted on December 12, 2010 at 12:00am

    He should have used the “It’s coming straight for us!” defense.

    Report Post » N37BU6  
  • drattastic
    Posted on December 11, 2010 at 11:55pm

    When he moves up the political food chain he can write(pass) tax laws and forget to pay them …”oops sorry I didn‘t know I couldn’t do that,thought those were for the little people”

    Report Post » drattastic  
    • po-boy
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 4:29am

      “Just sign it” You can read it later. Lol
      How about a little jail time?

      Report Post »  
  • knuckle dragger
    Posted on December 11, 2010 at 11:47pm

    I think he‘s a stand up guy for admittin’ his mistake, turnin’, himself in and payin’ the fine.
    Dumb…..sure….Dumb@$$?
    That’s an easy one….They keep their hard earned illegal campaign contributions in their freezers?

    Report Post » knuckle dragger  
    • drattastic
      Posted on December 11, 2010 at 11:57pm

      Whatever happened to Jefferson? Did he get a democrat free pass **** or did he use the race card ?I can’t remember.

      Report Post » drattastic  
  • PhilipJames
    Posted on December 11, 2010 at 11:40pm

    You notice AP is being consistent…. never mention that it is a Democrat when the politician is in trouble or is caught in an illegal act… of course, if it was a Republican, it would be all over the story.

    Report Post »  
    • drattastic
      Posted on December 11, 2010 at 11:50pm

      That’s standard operating procedure in left wing media.

      Report Post » drattastic  
    • DGroundhog
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 3:10am

      I knew when I read the article and saw no party ID he was gonna be a Dem.

      Seems like it is about time the Repubs start pushing for a little Fairness Doctrine of their own. At least SHOUT FROM THE ROOFTOPS how blatant the bias is – because honestly most people are freaking clueless about liberal media bias.

      Report Post »  
  • Laus Deo
    Posted on December 11, 2010 at 11:32pm

    Dumb.

    Report Post » Laus Deo  
  • drattastic
    Posted on December 11, 2010 at 11:31pm

    Dumbass .

    Report Post » drattastic  
    • Paleo Archer
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 9:31am

      Cause when they are young and female…they taste good……So nobody here eat’s veal…Young Chicken? Lamb? Whitetail Deer vary in size due to habitat…Big Deer in the heartland, smaller down south. Learn to provide for yourself…not the local butcher shop. All the liberals want you to go back to “Simpler Times” well Kids, that means Kill it, Cut it, and eat it…

      Report Post » Paleo Archer  
    • TulsaYeeHaw
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 10:51pm

      Dumbass. Oh, that has been said…….How about stupid ass?

      Report Post »  
    • awakeandalive2
      Posted on December 13, 2010 at 1:49am

      Yea, have you ever compared the taste of eating a big buck to a young doe? The young doe is much better and more tender.

      Report Post »  
  • TruthTalker
    Posted on December 11, 2010 at 11:30pm

    erm. do it legal

    Report Post »  
    • TruthTalker
      Posted on December 11, 2010 at 11:53pm

      no matter if he is a dem or rep. cut him slack. He admitted it. Reps are better than throwing stones.

      Report Post »  
    • TruthTalker
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 12:03am

      get with me, you are throwing stones.

      Report Post »  
    • Sondergard
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 12:50am

      if he helped write some of Oklahoma’s hunting laws and still did not know, then maybe he should not be in charge of making any laws.

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 1:46am

      What right does the government have to tell anyone how many deer they can kill? Everybody should be able to kill as many animals as they want without the Nanny State interfering? Kill all of them. Where in the Constitution is the number of deer you can kill limited?

      Report Post » jzs  
    • CYCLONE
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 2:57am

      keep shooting them all….don’t stop….

      Report Post »  
    • Cloth Stews
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 5:29am

      @JZS To answer your question, “Where in the Constitution is the number of deer you can kill limited?” I would answer, in the 9th and 10th Amendments. Then you could read Article 26 Section 1 of the Oklahoma State Constitution to find your answer.

      Report Post »  
    • Mark Twain.
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 5:35am

      You Know this is a Good Example of whats killing our Country Not the Legislator but the over done regulation i mean really look at this guys qualifications and he had no idea , this is simply a revenue trap. Preying on ignorance of the law. With excessive Fees Which server no purpose other than to fund the bureaucracy which is trying to in slave us . i mean really fining him 296 bucks for a FREE, special permit , FREEDOM ISN’T ASKING PERMISSION. This is whats happens when you let busy body $$ robbing technocrats/Bureaucrats convince you they have a good idea. you give them a inch in good Faith and they Steal a mile. creating Regulations even the experts cant keep up with and you are ….. How about you fix the law so the Average person can follow it with out some wildlife Degree. I know that would interfere with funding the bureaucracy , and we can’t have that now can we after all Government Jobs the Best kind of Job even ifs its like the weight of a elephant sitting on a mouse. suffocating our Country or Freedom

      Report Post »  
    • Independent Tess
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 7:54am

      What’s he doing bragging about that little deer. It’s practically a baby. Don’t think I would be photographed with a deer only half as big as me.

      Report Post » Independent Tess  
    • APatriotFirst
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 7:57am

      That looks , size wise, to be a very young deer. Where I come from, we only hunt mature deer.

      Report Post »  
    • Stuck_in_CA
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 8:04am

      Such a beautiful little animal. How could he do that anyway?

      Report Post » Stuck_in_CA  
    • ron the veteran
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 9:13am

      was it private land he shot the deer on? if so he could of been prefectly legal to shoot the animal. land owners own not only the land but the animals on it too. we need to stop this ******* assult on our rights and property rights. we should start by putting these criminals in dc in jail. then watch them yell for their rights under the constitution they hate so much. its time for people to stand up and demand the resignations and arrests of all of them. if we dont demand this they will continue to walk on us all.

      Report Post »  
    • Cemoto78
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 9:21am

      This is very easy to fix, just make another law which makes it illegal to break the previous law. Just another example of over regulated out of control Government.

      Report Post » Cemoto78  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 10:17am

      but Gmo food is ok for everyone to eat
      http://www.infowars.com/obama%E2%80%99s-evergreen-revolution-a-ploy-to-push-gmos/

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 11:12am

      Another pardon in the working from Mr Obama, oh wait thats right, he supports the anti gun and eco terrorist groups. So much for the pardon coming.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • thepatriotdave
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 3:32pm

      jzs,

      Sometimes common sense just doesn’t work for some folks, you may be a prime example!

      PatriotShops.com

      Report Post » thepatriotdave  
    • Bluebonnet
      Posted on December 12, 2010 at 5:17pm

      Right, there is a reason for laws. We have a country commissioner in our area who thinks the laws are for everyone else and not for him. Arrogant? We think so. He gets ticketed for going 61 in a 45 mph posted zone and tries to get off with a warning. Poor thing thinks everyone is after him. Lets his kid drive a boat on a small lake that doesn’t allow anyone under 16 do this (for safety reasons) so he takes it to court, then he has a party that got out of hand, was loud and neighbors reported him. He told officers he had important people there including some police officers (so he felt it was ok to blast out the neighborhood I guess) instead of politely saying he’d tone it down. And everyone is picking on this poor little soul because he wants to break laws he doesn’t like, and let the rest of the jerks pay their fines for doing same thing. He just doesn’t get NO respect from this county.

      Report Post »  
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