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 found an injured owl on my property once. I called the game waden and told him to get it off my property. He came to get it with a stick and a cardboard box. I didn’t want to have anything to do with an injured raptor on my property.
The article never stated the hawk was a migratory waterfowl, just a migratory bird.
As for that gorgeous photo, red-shouldered hawks are fond of lighting on very small perches (as are rough-legged hawks).
Now for this Isenhous jerk: He’s a sadistic uneducated moron of the everyday garden variety. What’s most shocking about this whole story, however, is that no one there (apparently) tried to stop him from killing the bird.
Cowards, all!
Golf Hunting! You may be on to something here. It would be a lot more interesting than just hitting it into the little hole.
Golfing For Bambi!
This smells like Brittney Spears.
The hawk just kept coming back for more? No way. Most hawks will fly miles away if you so much as look at them.
This dumbass wants to kill it with a golf ball.
Well the worm has turned for him. He used to make money from making a good shot, this particular well aimed shot should also cost him some significant money.
If this was some snot-nosed kid, I'd recommend therapy. But since this is a professional athlete, I'm speechless. According to the article, he came very close to hitting the bird, then took four more shots, eventually killing it. Obviously, he knew he could kill the bird and hit balls till he did just that.
Yea, when he takes 10 to 15 shots at the bird, gets excited at a near miss, one must conclude that "OF COURSE IT'S AN ACCIDENT."
How many shots would he have had to take at the bird for it not to be an accident?
Hey Bozo, killing an endangered species is against the law and has penalties, and this dumbass golfer should be held accountable, and it dosn’t matter what you think.
And further more if you don’t want your post to be responded to, then don’t post!
I agree. It’s just a bird. Who cares.
Agreed.
I guess the hawk showed what happens if you just sit around when in danger expecting to be protected by the government.
I feel your pain (sort of).
Golfer kills hawk - everyone in America must be outraged and crucify him
This is the end of our announcment. Yo may all go back to the acceptable practice of killing human babies
Aint that the truth!
By the millions.
I hope they throw the book at this arrogant, worthless, low life, cowardly POS, and all the other cowards who watched it happen, and did nothing. Someone should have kicked his ass on the spot!
I concur with feelings about this POS golfer.
I regularily get within 20 feet of them, often closer. Red Shoulders are the most trusting of the raptors.
I hope the PGA cans this worthless creep forever.
http://www.pbase.com/tsiya/root
http://photobucket.com/albums/v244/tsiya/
http://cabbagehammock.blogspot.com/
All the self righteous twits actually believe that golfers can actually hit a 4-inch circle at 75 yards even one time out of 100?
Well, OK...
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