Ted Nugent Fined for Killing Young Deer on Reality TV

 
Rock and hunting icon Ted Nugent has agreed to pay a $1,750 fine after pleading no contest to charges stemming from a reality show appearance where he used illegal methods to kill a young deer.

California Department of Fish and Game spokesman Patrick Foy told a court on Friday that two game wardens saw the 'Cat Scratch Fever' rocker bait and kill a young deer with a bow and arrow while taping his Outdoor Channel series 'Spirit of the Wild' earlier this year, KBET-10 is reporting.

"They watched him appear to shoot a spiked buck, which is an illegal buck to take, because it's too small. And he had it right there on television, and it wasn't live, it was taped," Foy said.
Nugent used a commercial deer bait called "C'mere Deer," even though baiting animals for hunting purposes is illegal in the state.

The rock star originally faced 11 charges, including killing a deer too young to be hunted. In a deal with Yuba County prosecutors, Nugent's attorney on Friday entered no contest pleas to the two misdemeanors.

Nugent was not in court and a spokeswoman for the star has not commented.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

That's what happens when they're more interested in filming a show to make money than to do a legal hunt.  He will probably say he didn't know it was illegal to bait or shoot that spike, but as a hunter going to different areas it is up to him to know the laws.  If he doesn't have the time to make sure he's legal then maybe he should stick to rocking.  By trying to keep this quiet it's going to look worse than if he had just come out and said he screwed up.  Celebrities can't fart without the media knowing about it and this will not help us legal hunters in the courtroom of public opinion IMHO!!!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

  Exactly like the co-host of Bowhunter Magazine TV.  He had gone on a moose hunt in Alaska.  He & his guide sawa great moose, the guide was sure it was legal, the host killed the bull and then they found out the bull wasn't legal by several inches.  They contacted the authorities, flew in to Fairbanks, he was fined, lost the bull, end of story.  But on the show he admits his mistake & took full responsibilty.  He trusted in the guide's estimate that the bull was legal, but the host said, ultimately it was his responsibility.
   

Jeff

Like Mike said, the hunter has to know the laws for the state and area they are hunting in. It's not a difficult task to acquire a copy of the regulations when inquiring about permits. California being a draw state makes it even easier, you have to have regs. to know what the zones and quotas are.
Steve Albers

IMO, Ted is supposed to be THE ambassador for the whitetail world and a rep from the NRA. He knew what he was doing and made a terrible choice and has given our 'brotherhood' a bad name and more ammo for the anti's. It is too bad that he probably thought he was exempt from the rules simply because of who he is.
 
Bad choice Ted...

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson

NAHC-L, NRA

The mentality and rationale of "taking the easy way out" is virtually a way of life for a wide faction of people these days, so this does not surprise me in the least bit.   
 
It can be argued all day long that hunting over a crop field or hunting over a bag of apples, a pile of corn or even the latest and greatest "dump-it-on-the-ground-and-the-deer-will-coming-running" product is virtually the same thing, but I strongly disagree. 
 
True crop fields are grown by professional farmers for a specific reason and it has absolutely nothing to do with attracting deer.  In fact, every farmer I have ever come in contact with would do just about anything and everything he or she could legally do to keep every single deer away from his or her valuable crops.  So, to compare hunting over a true crop field to hunting over a bait pile -- no matter what the bait pile consists of -- is ludicrous, but that is what is being shoved down our throats on a daily basis from hunting "celebrities".  In fact, Uncle Ted himself was famous for this particular standpoint.  In my opinion, it all comes down to advertising campaigns and the almighty dollar.  All the rest is situational semantics, i.e., Bull Shadobbie!!
 
My point is this:  There has to be a line drawn in the sand somewhere that we as hunters will not cross, but it sure is becoming harder and harder to do so when we are constantly being bombarded by the cockeyed ideology that we should do everything in our power to take the easy or easier way out.  Just look at the crossbow advertising campaigns that are jamming up the airwaves these days.  They are basically telling us: "Why take the time to become proficient with a bow and arrow when you can easily shoot a crossbow with little to no practice?"  That is just crazy!!!!
 
On the other hand, it is extremely difficult to know where to draw that line.  For example: Is it acceptable to hunt over a food plot or a sex attractant lure?  Aren't both of those virtually the same as hunting over a natural crop field?  If the answer is yes then why is it not acceptable to hunt over apples, corn or "dump-it-on-the-ground" products?  I guess it all comes down to personal preference.
 
For me, I will no longer hunt over apples, corn  or any "dump-it-on-the-ground" products, but I will hunt over true crop fields and sex attractant lures.  And, this comes from a person who took his first whitetail over a pile of corn and apples when baiting was still legal in Wisconsin.  Who knows, it may still be legal, but I choose not to hunt that way anymore.  I am still on the fence about hunting over manmade food plots.  I, mean, food plots are merely huge bait piles aren't they?  Ahhhhh!!!  My head hurts!!  Why does this have to be so hard?    
 
Mark my words: If anything will be the downfall of hunting, it will be from the goofball mentality and perspective of taking the easy way out at all costs.  And, also from not taking the time to read the freakin' rules and regulations that pertain to the area being hunted and then broadcasting the rule-breaking, boneheaded blunder on national television for everyone -- the Antis -- to see!
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve
 
      

Does anyone care to add to this discussion?  Did I say too much? 
 
Sometimes I tend to voice my opinion without mincing words.  Sorry if I offended anyone.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

There are a lot of points to argue in this discussion Steve but no matter how a guy feels about the way another man hunts, as long as it's legal, we have to stick together as hunters. I don't agree with hunting over bait piles nor do I agree with an able bowhunter using a crossbow either. I guess I'm more of a traditional guy and really truly enjoy all the time practicing with my bow and the time spent in the woods trying to put the puzzle together as nature throws it at ya. What bothers me the most is that I think that actual hunting knowledge isn't being passed on to our young hunters. I'm afraid that the hunting being taught today consists of going out and dumping something on the ground and putting a stand up or putting a hut up over a food plot. How often do you see a hunting show on TV that doesn't involve guys sitting in a hut over bait or a food plot? How often do they show guys looking at runs, finding acorns, looking for scat, etc. and setting stands by what they find. Not very often anymore. I surely don't have any kind of problem with guys that do hunt over bait or food plots and I absolutely do not want to give off that impression at all. It's just not my way. Like you said, it's a personal preference and we all have the right to hunt our own way. JMO

Good luck, be safe and shoot straight

dodgeman_29

dodge:
 
Thanks for the comments.
 
I am more of a "traditionalist" myself.  I take pride in the work that I do and the time that I put in to accomplish a goal.  I believe in doing things the hard way; although, I will admit that I made the switch from shooting a round-wheel finger bow instinctively to a brand new compound with sights and a release a few years back.  And, as I mentioned above, I did shoot my first whitetail over a bait pile in Wisconsin during my formative years as a bowhunter.
 
The switch in weaponry was made to improve my overall accuracy and deliver a more consistently lethal arrow to my quarry that would kill the intended target as fast as possible.  It had absolutely nothing to do with taking the easy way out.  In fact, I would say that making the switch from an instinctive shooting style with a longer axle-to-axle bow that I employed for over 20 years to using a short-limbed bow with sights and a release was not an easy or quick transformation.  It took a lot of time and practice to become proficient with my new bow even with a highly accurate sight and a top-of-the-line release.  The whole process of using sights and a release was completely foreign to me, and at times, very, very frustrating.  
 
When I shot instinctively, I simply pulled back the bow, lined up my target and sent the arrow on its way.  Now, I have to attach the release to the string loop, estimate the yardage by either visual "guesstimation" or with a range finger, choose the appropriate pin (20, 30, 40, 50), line up the peep sight with that pin, make certain the bubble in the level is level, aim, hold, release and follow through.  What used to take roughly 3 to 6 steps now takes right around 10 steps.  On one hand, it is easier using a sight and a release and on the other, it is not.  At one point, after struggling for weeks on end with mind-bending accuracy issues, I questioned my own sanity for making the switch!  I eventually figured it all out. 
 
The switch from hunting over bait piles was a result of wanting to learn more about what makes big whitetails tick and what makes them do the things that they do.  I also like to investigate an area by scouting and try to formulate a plan to kill a nice buck by putting all of the pieces of the whitetail puzzle together.    
 
OK... Well... Long post, longer...
 
I simply do not believe in all of the B.S. that is being shoved down our throats these days, especially the non-stop promotion of products that are designed and used to make shooting a white-tailed deer as easy as going to the zoo and picking "Bo-Bo The Buck" out of a lineup and pulling the trigger or dropping the string on him. 
 
Hunting and killing a whitetail or any big, or small game animal means the world to me.  It always has and I will see to it that it always will.  Now, if it no longer has the same meaning because I have made it so easy that the thrill and the challenge is disturbingly absent, I will quit hunting altogether.  Hunting is supposed to be HARD; it is supposed to be CHALLENGING.  The thrill comes from the challenge, not from the kill itself. 
 
I, mean, if hunting becomes as boring and mundane as changing a pair of socks as a result of using every product and angle that there is to use, whether those products or angles are legal or not, then what is the point of it?  To me, there has to be lines drawn somewhere or the adventure, the very essence of hunting itself, will most certainly lose it appeal.  And, the very day that happens to me is the day I retire as a hunter.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 

Steve---Your last two paragraphs said it all for me and I couldn't have written it any better bud!!!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Steve, I couldn't agree with you more. I've hunted over bait in Saskatchewan as well as one time in New Jersey. I suppose it can depend on the terrain you're hunting. In Canada it's nearly impossible to find quality bucks without bait in the northern boreal forests unless you happen to hit full rut dead on, which I have. When you're a thousand miles from home and have only five and a half days of hunting it's tough to be a tradionalist. You do pay your dues though sitting out there days at a time in freezing conditions, passing on bucks that I'd shoot in a heartbeat back here in my neck of the woods. But I agree with your point.
 
The best hunt hunt I every had was in Saskatchewan where my outfitter, now out of business, dropped me off 13 miles from camp. There was four inches of snow on the ground and I still hunted my way back toward camp. I tracked deer for miles and God only knows it was incredible. Just me, the wilderness and those tracks in the snow. Not only deer tracks but Moose, wolf, fisher, snowshoe rabbit and other assorted game. I'll never forget it. Sorry to report that I never closed the distance on that Buck I was looking for but I know he was there and close by. That in my opinon is real hunting.
 
It's tough for many, if not all of us, in this day and age, to find the time, money and territory to hunt the way it should really be. This, I believe is why many of the shortcuts you refer to come into play. It may be our downfall in the long run but all we can do as individuals is to follow our particular beliefs, hunt the way we think is right and let others follow theirs. It's still a damn good idea to voice your opinion and hopefully others will think about it all.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

I have to say that I do it both ways, food plots and the old fashioned way as well. Here in Texas, the animals are very hard to pattern without the use of some kind of attractant, whether it be a food plot or feeder. Now on that subject, I have a couple of stands set up within range of the feeders, but rarely if anytime hunt in them. I use them for scouting purposes and videoing. I have set some up for my wife to sit in and hunt from for her safety and my piece of mind.  LOL !!!! In Wi as well as here, I hunt the trails leading to and from feeding areas and bedding. I do have some very small plots planted in Wi from which you guys have seen the deer in. These plots are the only real thing that bring deer to my property as the undergrowth and browse for supporting deer is slim at best. Lots of pines, some red oaks, scrub oak and very few acorns at all on any of my trees. My property is surrounded by papermill land of which, 80 acres is all 10yr growth of jack pines that support nothing for the deer to browse on at all. Another 160 acres to the north and 100acres to the west is red pines, again, no nutritional value what so ever. South side of the road is a willow swamp, (Private Land) Lots of cover and bedding and food. They have been coming through my land for yrs and will keep doing so as long as I have the plots planted. I do not hunt over them but I do hunt the travels routes to and from them and pinch points around them. In my little pc of the world, this is how I have to hunt due to what I have to work with. I to like the majority of y'all enjoy what I have to do to get ready for season. Setting stands in key areas, flinging arrow after arrow, watching the fields for travels routes to and from my feeders and planning an ambush at those points or close to them anyways. I have taken I guess some of the easy road, but here have been forced to do so. I would not take all of the easiest way outs, due to loving this sport and wanting to keep it as "Real" as possible. The upclose and personal aspect of this sport is what I love the most. Counting hairs...............................MPO and Way of hunting, Not everyones.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Mike: 
 
Thanks for the comments.  I appreciate it.  Good luck on all of your upcoming hunts!
 
John:
 
I sort of understand the difficulty of hunting those Saskatchewan bucks.  I have been offered a few hunts for whitetails in Canada -- namely, Saskatchewan and Ontario -- over the years that would involve baiting and I find myself somewhat on the fence with the whole idea. 
 
I never fully understood the whole concept of baiting deer up there -- Saskatchewan -- in the first place.  There are places in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan that closely resemble the big woods environment of Canada, and big woods bowhunters in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan scout and locate trails, rubs and scrapes to formulate an ambush strategy just like farmland bowhunters do, so I really do not see the need to bait up there.  If it can be done in those states why is it not done in Saskatchewan?  I suppose that question is why I am still on the fence.  I guess I would have to experience it firsthand before passing judgment. 
 
I, too, had a similar experience of tracking a monster-footed whitetail over a fresh blanket of snow in northern Wisconsin during the gun season many, many years ago; and like you, I never caught up with him, but it was a very rewarding and memorable experience that I will not soon forget.  His tracks still haunt my dreams!   Those were the biggest tracks I have ever come across.  I would have loved to just have gotten a moment's glimpse of him.  Don't get me wrong, killing him would have been awesome, but I had just as much fun following his tracks that day as I would have pulling the trigger.  It was an adventure just trying to keep up to him and quietly bulling my way through some of the brush and tangles that he seemed to easily traverse.  My tag went unfilled, but it still was a damn fine day!
 
Thanks for your post!  Best of luck to you this season!
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve 
 
 
  
 

Gary:
 
Well said!  Thanks for your input!
 
Best of luck to you in the upcoming season(s).
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

Thanks Steve. I enjoy bowhunting every single day I'm in the woods. You know my feelings on some of the other issues with this sport. I get out there as much as possible and am always looking for the "Perfect Spot" and the best animal I can get. Whether it be an old boss doe or a nice old 6pt or whatever. As long as I know that is was taken with my best efforts, then it is a trophy. Bowhunting as a whole, is a tough sport and not to be taken lightly as alot now days seem to be doing. Like you said, the easy way out and with most shows today, that is exactly how it is. This sport takes dedication, patience and woodsmanship in order to be successful and sometimes even though you do it all right, you go home with an unfilled tag. BUT, knowing deep down inside, you worked at it, did your homework, placed your set in a good spot, the hunt was a success. The animal is just a bonus. 

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Killing a non-legal animal is wrong I don't care who you are!!!  As far as attractants/food plots/bait/weapons are concerned.  I lean toward the individual area I am hunting.  If it is legal in your area and you are comfortable taking an animal in that way..by all means..do so.  Taking an animal to just "have a kill on film" is freakin' crappy!  At Drop Zone, Hal has stated that we will show a miss or a hard hunt ,no kill show before we will show a "Gotta have a kill on film"!  Not cool with bad kills!

Love playing that string music and sending a Muzzy flying!

That's a good attitude to have man. Applause, applause.   LOL!!!!

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

But it's ok to sit over a bait when hunting bear, right? Cuz we all know those Dunkin Dohnuts grow wild in the swamps of N. America. LOL. Gotta be a jerk in every crowd eh?
But I am kinda serious. Many people won't hunt a bait for deer but don't think twice about it when bear hunting. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Then there is the hound issue. Ok for coyotes , bobcat, Or bear, but not for deer. Ok for small game but not for big game. Double standards everywhere.
Now dare I say? Using a guide? Talk about making things easy. You don't do anything except follow this guy around like a puppy dog and shoot the critter when he points it out to you. Or you sit in the stand that he put up for you to sit in and  over the bait that he carried out for you. The only preperation you have to do is sight in your weapon and make sure you packed your electric socks. Doesn't have to be a big jerk in every crowd.
We won't even get into the inhumane world of trapping.
Now me, I'm for all these styles of hunting. If it's legal and that's what you want to do, you don't have a problem with me. The only methods I have not used is a guide and hounds for deer. Only because the opportunity has not arrived yet.Like most on here I feel hunt the way you are comfortable with if it's legal.
As far as bows and crossbows, I believe crossbows should have their own season with muzzleloaders as a traditional type season. Unless you are handicaped or old, And then legal durring the archery season. But not a leagal Pope and Young entry. I use a compound bow but do not consider it a traditional weapon. The crossbow has more tradition than a compound. But it gives me an edge and ups my odds for a quicker cleaner kill. I also used to be an instinctive shooter. Actually used to belong to an instinctive only club. I was against sights and release's for a long time but eventually the bigger, better, easier deal lead me to the valley of death {for my prey}. And as much as I would like to go back to a stick bow it would be a very hard thing to do. I don't have the time or ambition for all the practice it would take to be as accurate as I am with my current bow.
Now as far as Uncle Ted. He blew it. I love the guy but he is a little over the edge. and I don't agree with his shooting everything that comes into his range. He says he eats everything he shoots but he can't eat that much. I love his spirit and passion but he should tone down the whackem and stackem.
To quote Forrest Gump "That's all I have to say about that"  for now.

Good post and a lot to think about!  I have the exact same feelings about Uncle Ted as you mentioned!!!  Has he ever had a show on where he didn't kill something?

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

deadeyerik:
 
Now, those bears are awfully hard to pattern when attempting to formulate an ambush strategy; I have never been able to find their rubs and scrapes consistently.  LOL! 
 
In all seriousness, you'll find an occasional claw mark on a sapling or two or a tree that a bear has rubbed it's behind on, but deciphering some sort of a travel pattern like you can with deer is not an easy undertaking and is next to impossible in most circumstances when hunting bear.  A person does have the choice of spotting-and-stalking bears, but most outfitters and guides do not offer spot-and-stalk hunts, and in most parts of Canada, you have to hire an outfitter or guide to legally hunt bear.  If a spot-and-stalk hunt is not an option with a particular outfitter or guide then a person would have no choice but to sit over a bait pile to hunt bear.  Hunting over bait for bear in most circumstances is mandatory, not a choice.  I suppose a person could choose not to hunt bear over bait at all.  In addition, most outfitters and guides that I know will let you haul your own bait and hang your own stands if you so choose.  Nine times out of ten, I insist on hanging my own stands -- deer and bear -- and bring in my own bait -- bear -- when hunting with an outfitter or guide. 
 
I don't know if I would call the acceptance of hunting bear over bait and the opposition of hunting deer over bait a double standard because we are talking about two different species of animal with separate rules and regulations that require contrasting harvest tactics.  Now, if we were talking about a hypothetical discussion of deer baiting being legal and acceptable in the northern states -- of the United States or any country --  and not being legal or acceptable in the southern states that would be a double standard.  I do understand where you are coming from though, and it is difficult to decide what is "right" and "wrong".  Like I said above, it all comes down to personal preference. 
 
For me, I will not hunt deer over bait for a couple of reasons. 
 
1. A deer normally has a definable pattern which can be deciphered unlike bear. 
 
2. It is extremely entertaining and challenging to try and figure out a big buck's travel pattern. 
 
3. Hunting over bait would stunt the learning process.  I constantly learn something new every time I go one-on-one with a big buck on his home turf, using only the land and the clues that he leaves behind in his wake of travels as my strategic compass and guide. 
 
4. I do not pigeonhole myself by sitting over a bait pile in one or two locations -- I would rather hunt an entire area than rely on one or two spots to produce results -- and I do not have to waste my time or energy hauling in bait. 
 
5. I simply respect white-tailed deer way too much to hunt them over bait.
 
 
Just to be clear here: I am not trying to push my perspectives and beliefs on anyone.  Personal preference aside, I am merely stating my opinion and explaining why I feel this way, so do not take anything I write personally. 
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve