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.
And tear it into bloody bits, eating it while still alive.
But hey. He's a protected natural species.
Humans came from outer space.
Maybe we need a fifteen day waiting period to buy golf equipment.
Of course, if golf clubs are outlawed, only outlaws will carry golf clubs.
The bird was disrupting a golf game - got that?
Golfers take their game more seriously than many Americans take their marriage vows.
Yeah, it IS a dumb game, but don’t try telling that to a golfer.
Excellent post! Thank you!
Honey everything is a protected species.
Lecture last fall by our local wildlife gestapo told us that the children could no longer pick up blue jay feathers becsue they are classified as a songbird, which is protected.
Just a da** bird.
If he kept shooting balls at the bird and it didnt leave it probably was better off out of the hawk gene pool.
Golfers take their game more seriously than many Americans take their marriage vows.
Yeah, it IS a dumb game, but don’t try telling that to a golfer.
Lol, you've summed up my position on this matter very nicely!
What an A-hole to kill a beautiful raptor. Makes me furious.
Just an observation.
Save your furiousness (furiosity?) for something a little more consequential than a bird. Like a few thousand unborn babies that will be murdered today.
that was a ridiculous thing to post
When I was on the rifle range at Parris Island, SC 38 years ago, there were always sea gulls around. As we moved from the 200 yard line back to the 300 and then to the 500, the gulls would land where we had been and scavenge around. It was a big no-no to ever shoot one of them. One of the guys did (at the urging of a DI). If they had ever got caught, there would have been hell to pay for both of them. Except the DI would have denied any part in it, no doubt.
Not nearly as ridiculous as what you posted. Part of what is wrong with this country today is that killing of or cruelty to an animal rates way more indignation than abuse, neglect and even murder of children. What are you doing to put a stop to abortions?
who the he!! do you think you are?
How dare you slap that self righteous crap on me, pal
It didn’t take much “daring” at all, thou self righteous hypocrite. You can huff and puff and send all the PMs you want. If a hawk means more to you than a human being does, you’re not my kind of a conservative.
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