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.
I agree it’s a bit silly to have law enforcement getting involved in this sort of issue. But for someone to kill an animal for no other reason than humor brings to mind Burke’s sad dictum, “when men forget the laws of the heart, the laws go on the books.”
Great idea
But, you may well be right. I liked the shot of that raptor, though. The golfer was an idiot. As a hunter, I only kill what I eat...maybe he should have been made to eat the hawk.
Birds have no septum, this statement is redundant. Just saying.
Damn, if he could hit a bird with a golf shot from 75 yards, then maybe I will buy his “Shoot like a pro” golf video.
Personally I think he is an stupid, sadistic SOB who deserves to pay every penny he is fined for. Now had it been a Canadian Goose I would have given him a high-five for that, but any bird in the raptor family way is too cool to do that to IMHO.
That’s an amazing shot, I have trouble hitting the fairway!
NO JOKE.
Go kill some terrorists, instead. How stupid.
The man is an idiot, needs to be an ex PGA golfer.
I love hawks. There are two nesting on top of my building. Watch Palemale if you can get it from Netflix - story of a hawk in Central Park.
Save your money, He's on the Nationwide Tour, not the PGA.
Ummmm.... Just curious Doug, but is this a normal news venue for you? (not that there is anything wrong with that of course...)
And if this constitutes animal cruelty, what about hunters and slaughterhouses? Or is it only not cruelty when you eat it or wear it?
And it’s a good dictum. I wouldn’t be surprised if this guy remembers this and feels guilty over it in the late night moments of his life. Mose of us reflect back on our more stupid moments in life, wish we had done differently.
That’s a beautiful picture! i was sitting in a tree stand bow hunting a few years back and had a Redtail hawk land on a branch 5’ away and spend 15min hunting with me...until it finally zeroed in on my eye movement! same with a Grey Owl(huge bird),not more than 10’ away for a full 30min.....these birds are awesome up close!
"ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - PGA Tour golfer Tripp Isenhour was charged"
Hit him with a fine, and make him spend a bunch of hours of community service cleaning the hawk crap out of the cages at a raptor center.
}:-)4
I cannot get worked up over this, nor will I fall prey to hysteria that seems to grip some members of FR, obviously not Americans but some form of green party believers, when ever any animal is killed on purpose or accidently.
Get a life and please don't respond to this post because I don't care to read your sloppy sentimental crap about the death of a hawk. Get real.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.