Posted on 03/06/2008 2:38:01 PM PST by oblomov
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - PGA Tour golfer Tripp Isenhour was charged with killing a hawk on purpose with a golf shot because it was making noise as he videotaped a TV show Isenhour was with a film crew for "Shoot Like A Pro" on Dec. 12 at the Grand Cypress Golf course. The 39-year-old golfer, whose real name is John Henry Isenhour III, was charged Monday with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird.
According to court documents, Isenhour got upset when a red-shouldered hawk began making noise, forcing another take. He began hitting balls at the bird, then 300 yards away, but gave up.
Isenhour started again when the hawk moved within about 75 yards, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer Brian Baine indicated in a report.
Isenhour allegedly said "I'll get him now," and aimed for the hawk.
"About the sixth ball came very near the bird's head, and (Isenhour) was very excited that it was so close," Baine wrote.
A few shots later, witnesses said he hit the hawk. The bird, protected as a migratory species, fell to the ground bleeding from both nostrils.
Isenhour's agent, John Mascatello with SFX World Sports Management, did not immediately return an e-mail or telephone message Thursday.
"He just kept saying how he didn't think he could have hit it, which I think is a stupid thing for a PGA Tour golfer to say," said Jethro Senger, a sound engineer at the shoot. "He can put a ball in a hole from hundreds of yards away, and here he is hitting line drives at something that's, I don't know, a couple hundred feet away?"
Senger said it was "basically like a joke to (Isenhour)." He said no one in the roughly 15-person crew intervened, and many later regretted it.
"It was one of those cases where there's some trepidation on whether or not they should speak up and do something," Senger said.
Senger said the killing was not captured on video. The bird was buried at the golf course and later dug up by Florida investigators.
Isenhour, of Salisbury, N.C., turned pro in 1990. He had two wins on the Nationwide Tour in 2006.
They can’t pick up feathers???
they cannot pick up feathers of any songbird or migrating bird because unless they are native Indians because it would be used as proof that they killed the bird for its feathers.
This is silly. Birds move. Greens don’t. It’s much easier to hit a green than a bird. Of course he didn’t think he would actually hit the bird.
But if it is a crime to hit the bird, maybe the fact that it was semi-accidental doesn’t matter.
Let me ask you this - Do you think that anyone who decides to kill an endangered species for the sheer hell of it would be allowed to just do whatever he damn well wants for kicks and that will be allowed?
This wasn’t an accident and it wasn’t done for food it was done for the fun of it. Yeah, people like that who are stupid enough to think they can do whatever they want and just get a free pass deserve to get a hefty fine and a couple of months to ponder what put them there.
I am not advocating him being fired or castrated like some people here but if you pull a bone headed maneuver like this idiot did then you pay the price for it, just like anyone else should.
It seems that there cannot be a middle ground. Once you give the regulators and inch, they will take a yard.
Get over it.
Where the heck do you get the idea a bird is worth the same as a human being? Is he being treated like he was hitting balls at a child and the same thing happened?
Do you advocate someone being allowed to do sh*t like this without consequences at all? If you do then why don't you just paint a big red A in a circle on your shirt and parade around like the other idiots who want to live like that.
He will be fined for this and I agree 100% he should. His video sales will drop in the sewer because most people wouldn't give him a penny of their money if this is the kind of guy he is. Actions have consequences, we have had laws in place forever to stop people from doing any damn thing they want because they feel like it.
I think your the one who needs to get over it.
Nothing should happen to this guy except applause for the shot.
I’ve had them come within 20 feet of me plenty of times, but not once that I can recall have I been able to approach them closer than about 150 feet, particularly with anything that has a lense. (I usually have an instrument sitting on a tripod in plain sight, but if I raise the scope toward them, they’re usually airborne by the time that I get my eye to the eyepiece.)
This isn't about water in a drought, or oil in Alaska, this is about an immature spoiled brat, upset about the song of a bird. In his childish little mind he likely felt pleased, with a chance to show how "macho" he is. Problem is, he isn't, he is pitiful.
I have an ex brother in law like this idiot. He saw one of the horses hogging sweet feed from another horse's bucket. The damned fool ran up and hit the horse in the rump with a plastic bucket, the horse kicked his arse half way across the pasture. He got up, pulled his pistol, going to shoot the horse. I told him to go ahead, but I'd bury him under the horse. Best thing that happened is my sister divorced the idiot. He killed every Indigo snake and Black Racer on my land, and bragged about killing "Moccasins".
I'm no liberal, I'm not sure where your attitude comes from, however. Conservatives respect life.
From the sounds of it, he hit a few dozen balls trying to hit the hawk. Defend the bastard if you must, but that's just wrong.
If he has violated his covenant of steward of the creatures of the Earth (being human) then God will take it up with him. As it is, a bird is dead by his hand and nothing and no one on Earth is harmed by it except the feelings of those who have bought into the liberal programing.
This moron has obviously never played or watched golf. NOBODY "puts the ball in the hole from hundreds of yards away." NOBODY. Heck, if you average making putts from 10 feet your a hell of a PGA professional. Yes, a 75 yard shot at a target 2 feet tall in a tree is a heck of a lucky shot.
This has nothing to do with being liberal.
Anyone is sanctioned in any way has their wellbeing threatened.
Carried to extremes, yes, but tellyawhat, I've lived outdoors much of my 65 years, the real outdoors, not a patio in a gated community, or on a golf course. What a waste of space they are, for me, but, if that is what you want, go for it.
When someone makes an effort to destroy something simply because it annoys them, and they are not hungry, or in danger, just to get their rocks off, they get on my list really quick. If my love of nature makes me liberal, in your mind, so be it. Your opinion just doesn't worry me.
For obvious reasons I find myself in complete agreement with you.
What if this had been someone’s miniture Poodle? The point is that there was no reason to take the hawk’s life. Killing for no purpose is what sadistic freaks do. I hope this spoiled countryclubber goes to prison and gets punked out.
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