A Dundee, Miss., man was sentenced to six months house arrest and fined $2,500 last week after he pleaded guilty to killing a bald eagle in Tunica County in November 2007.

Joshua Lee Garrison also was stripped of his hunting privileges for two years, put on probation for two years and required to forfeit the Remington .270 caliber rifle used to kill the eagle for violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. He was facing a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Deer hunters cautioned on legal use of cameras

Hunters and wildlife enthusiasts are being reminded that it is illegal for deer to be baited even if fed for the capturing of trail camera photos.

Trail cameras — which are sold at most outdoors stores — can be used without obtaining a permit. However, permits for wildlife camera surveys are available through the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks at no cost.

The permits are issued to individual property owners working with a biologist for legitimate camera surveys used to estimate deer population characteristics. Permits are required if camera stations will have bait poured, piled or placed on the ground.  Trail cameras can be used without a permit if they’re placed on trails, food plots, scrapes, rubs, salt licks, natural food sources and legal feeders.

“Trail cameras are a legitimate tool used for scouting and gaining population data,” said Chris McDonald, regional deer program biologist. “The intention of the supplemental feeding regulations is not to limit the use of trail cameras. Hunters can still use cameras for scouting and deer managers can still conduct pre- or postseason camera surveys. The big difference is that corn and other feeds cannot be poured, piled or placed on the ground just to take photos.”