TV Hunter Admits To Illegal Hunting In Kansas
KSAL Staff - Tue 05:08 PM 11/27/2012
William “Spook” Spann admitted that in mid-November 2007 he unlawfully took a white-tailed deer in Stafford County, Kansas.
A professional hunter from Tennessee has pleaded guilty to illegal hunting in Kansas.
According to U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom, 50-year-old William “Spook” Spann pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of transporting across state lines wildlife that was taken unlawfully in Kansas.
In his plea, Spann admitted that in mid-November 2007 he unlawfully took a white-tailed deer in Stafford County, Kansas. Spann took the deer on land owned by another person, in violation of Spann’s hunting permit, which entitled him to hunt only on land that he owned.
On a scouting trip, Spann and a cameraman spotted a deer at a distance of several hundred yards with the wind blowing in their faces so that the deer would not be able to hear or smell their approach. With a video camera rolling, Spann stalked to within 10 yards of the deer. Spann drew his bow and killed the deer with an arrow.
At the time the deer was promoted as the largest whitetail buck ever taken on video. The story of Spann's hunt was featured in national magazines, videos and TV shows.
Federal investigators served a search warrant at Spann’s home in Tennessee, where they seized the antlers of the Kansas deer.
Sentencing is set for February 28th. Prosecutors and defense attorneys have agreed to recommend Spann be sentenced to serve three years federal probation, including a six-month suspension of his hunting privileges throughout the United States, followed by six months in which he would be prohibited from hunting in Kansas. They also will recommend he be ordered to pay a fine of $10,000, as well as restitution of $10,000 to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. In addition, he would be ordered not to promote his unlawful hunting acts on his Web site Spook Span Hunting .
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troy
Tuesday 27 November 2012 17:43 Report this comment
What a piece of crap. This guy should be banned for life from hunting in Kansas, any trace of him removed from the record books, and placed on the Wall of Shame for all to see. This is a fine example of what hunting, for some, has become. Sad.
ksfarmdude
Tuesday 27 November 2012 18:18 Report this comment
Maybe he's related to ted nugent he did the same thing
stirthepot
Tuesday 27 November 2012 18:51 Report this comment
We need to contact the companys that support his company. He needs to get some of the sponserships cut off. Also complain to the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Dept about letting him off with such an easy sentence.
fawnlebowitz
Tuesday 27 November 2012 19:26 Report this comment
Amazing. Deer hunting in Kansas has become a sport for people with big pocketbooks. If you don't own land or fork out big bucks for a lease you are out. It seems that our Fish & Game department is more interested in people coming to spend money to hunt than to actually manage a herd for the people that actually live here. This sentence is a joke and does nothing to deter other out of staters from coming here for a trophy buck. Spook Spann is a joke too. His website claims that this Kansas monster was shot on his property. It would be interesting to see how many more of these "professional" hunters poach or bend the rules to get a good video or camera shot.
lawabider
Wednesday 28 November 2012 09:15 Report this comment
Welcome to capitalism