Chet Brokaw, The Associated Press | Posted: Monday, May 21, 2007 11:00 pm
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PIERRE - An embattled federal game warden testified Tuesday he
found 32 untagged geese in December at a Pierre hunting and fishing
business that processes waterfowl for hunters
The tags are required to identify which hunters shot what geese
and whether those hunters have exceeded the limit, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife agent Bob Prieksat testified in federal court
Caleb Gilkerson, operator of Steamboat Game and Fish, violated
federal law because he had untagged geese in the business that
provides guide services and waterfowl processing, Prieksat
said.
"He can't possess birds that are left there, that are
abandoned there," Prieksat said.
Prieksat also denied Gilkerson's allegations that he had
removed tags from some geese so he could frame Gilkerson. "I would
not lie," he said.
Gilkerson was expected to testify later Tuesday in the one-day
trial. He has said he never had more than three geese without the
required tag, and even that violation was unintentional. Gilkerson
also has said Prieksat removed tags from some birds and treated him
in an unfair and abusive manner.
If convicted, Gilkerson could face a maximum penalty of six
months in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Gov. Mike Rounds has asked federal officials to fire or
transfer Prieksat because the federal agent is allegedly abusive to
hunters he checks in the field. About 60 hunters and outfitters
have filed written complaints about Prieksat.
Gilkerson's trial featured confusion about exactly how many
geese were allegedly untagged. He is charged with possessing 28
Canada geese that did not have the required tags to identify
them.
Prieksat said Steamboat had 14 geese that carried no
identifying information, nine that were marked only as being
received from a local guide service, and nine processed geese that
were traded to some hunters who dropped off freshly shot
geese.
A state game warden also testified Tuesday to back up
Prieksat's version of the investigation.
State Conservation Officer John Murphy said he never saw
Prieksat bully Gilkerson or remove tags in order to frame
Gilkerson.
"He's the most truthful law enforcement officer I've ever
worked with," Murphy said.
