Bad day in the Waterfowl Industry

[Tyler Rother]

Any thoughts or comments?

Big news to the waterfowl industry and many hunters.

'Fallin Skies' duck hunter charged with waterfowl violations
By CHRIS DETTRO
THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
Posted Dec 09, 2010 @ 06:13 PM
Last update Dec 09, 2010 @ 08:51 PM
   

Jeff Foiles, one of the best-known professional duck hunters and callers in the United States, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield on 23 counts connected to alleged illegal waterfowl hunts.

From 2003 to 2007, according to the indictment, Foiles, 53, of Pleasant Hill, sold guided waterfowl hunts where hunters regularly violated daily bag limits of ducks and geese. The hunts took place at the Fallin Skies Strait Meat Duck Club in Pike County, the indictment says.

Foiles, one of two owners of the Strait Meat club, guided commercial waterfowl hunts at the club and elsewhere, including Canada, the indictment says.

Some of the allegedly illegal hunts subsequently were shown in videos featuring Foiles, including the “Fallin Skies” video series. Foiles had sponsorship arrangements with sporting goods companies that paid him to use their products in his videos, the indictment says.

“The killing of migratory birds in excess of daily bag limits … was crucial to achieving these purposes,” the indictment says. “Not only were guided clients able to kill more birds during their paid hunts, but the overlimits also allowed Foiles and his employees to capture more and better-quality hunting video footage, and thus to produce and sell high-quality commercial waterfowl hunting videos, which was a very important component of Foiles’ promotional activities.”

In one Canada hunt, the indictment says, a cameraman, “upset at the number of geese being killed,” turned off his camera, but Foiles ordered him to continue filming. The footage later appeared in the video “Fallin Skies 1,” authorities said.

Undercover officers participated in four of the hunts for which Foiles is charged, according to the indictment.

Foiles and his associates also allegedly falsified hunting records, creating false game custody tags, waterfowl hunting area records and “picking shed” records at the club in order to conceal the excesses. In some cases, staff members reported that birds had been killed by people who hadn’t hunted or weren’t even at the club on the day in question, the indictment says.

Foiles also operates Foiles Migrators Inc. in Pittsfield, which has a retail business and showroom as well as an assembly and distribution facility for Foiles’ own popular line of duck and goose calls.

Foiles is formally accused of 12 violations of the Lacey Act and 10 counts of making false writings in a matter within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as conspiracy to violate both laws.

The Lacey Act makes it illegal to knowingly transport or sell wildlife taken in violation of federal law or regulation. The act also covers guide services conducted for the illegal taking of wildlife.

The maximum penalty for a felony violation of the Lacey Act or the federal false writing statute includes up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The government also is seeking forfeiture of property used in the hunts, including 13 Benelli shotguns, two Artic Cat ATVs and duck and goose decoys.

Foiles is to appear in federal court in Springfield for arraignment Jan. 19.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the government of Canada. The Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section also is part of the prosecution.

 

Chris Dettro can be reached at 788-1510.


http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x1921993898/Fallin-Skies-duck-hunter-charged-with-waterfowl-violations

A legend to most has just been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury.

Tyler

[Mayfly]

What a bum!

[DDSBYDAY]

    I felt bad for him having his lanyard with bands stolen this fall.  I was wrong.(first time ever). It kind of is like feeling sorry for a deer shiner having his spotlight stolen.   

[Mayfly]

    I felt bad for him having his lanyard with bands stolen this fall.  I was wrong.(first time ever). It kind of is like feeling sorry for a deer shiner having his spotlight stolen.   

Good point... the Lord works in mysterious ways sometimes....

[FireRanger]

Greed.

[Mayfly]

I wonder how he got these??

[attachment deleted by admin]

[bonecollecter82]

I bet he didnt get them duck hunting!!

[Go Big Red!]

This is going to be interesting.....

[kenhuntin]

Wasn't there someone on here that was sticking up for this guy or trying to sweep his actions under the rug because he made duck calls? I do not recall off hand but will look it back up. It is looking as if someone does not want their trail followed.

[stevejedlenski]

i always wondered about this, i have seen several shows where there is 3 guys and i see them shooting 3 or 4 geese at a time and wondering how they can be shooting so many. i am very pleased to see the law has caught up with them.

[Go Big Red!]

Wasn't there someone on here that was sticking up for this guy or trying to sweep his actions under the rug because he made duck calls? I do not recall off hand but will look it back up. It is looking as if someone does not want their trail followed.

That was from a previous post that got removed for "getting way off topic".  This came up during Game Fair time when his lanyards were stolen from his truck if I remember reading the post correctly.

Whether you like Mr. Foiles or not or you purchase his products, this isn't acceptable at all.  I understand the need to promoting your products and sponsors, but this isn't the way to go.I would have to agree with FireRanger on this one.

[Tyler Rother]

I was the one who said something and got a ton of flack for it...I remember that.

When in all it was the truth.

It will be interesting to see the final charges, if he is. There is rumored to be more then what is stated in that article, but innocent until proven guilty.

[deadeye]

I think with this case as with other high profile offenders, (yes, I know innocent until proven guilty) it's the constant pressure to do better than before or do better than the competition that drives them over the line.  With most of us here it's just our friends or fellow forum buddies that know how you did or what you got.  However, once you have a following, you are expected to get more and bigger game each year to prove your abilities as a great hunter/fisherman.  This is one of the reasons game farm hunts came into being.  We all know that taking your chances on normal hunts can and does often result in no game taken.  These guys must be under a lot of pressure to produce shows with lots of big game taken and eventually many of them cross the line in order to maintain their status. 

[Mayfly]

This was a rumor that was confirmed through a few sources last summer. Then Tyler posted it here and a bunch of waterfowl guys jumped down his throat. Talking about sticking together. 

[guythathunts]

If his line gets droped from stores I wonder if it will go on sale first... just sayin' - After Tiger woods got into his mess with his wife and the media I got about 50 tiger gator aids for a quarter a piece.

PS. Pochers Suck

[Go Big Red!]

This was a rumor that was confirmed through a few sources last summer. Then Tyler posted it here and a bunch of waterfowl guys jumped down his throat. Talking about sticking together. 

That was the previous post I was talking about.  It is unfortunate that Tyler took the heat for it, but this is an open forum yet people need to remember a few etiquette rules.  I'm not defending anyone's comments at the same time; I know I am guilty of typing before I think.

[snow]

Our company dropped him and pulled any and all prostaffers from his posse~ what a tool,needless to say "Karma" is alive and well~

[Go Big Red!]

Our company dropped him and pulled any and all prostaffers from his posse~ what a tool,needless to say "Karma" is alive and well~

Wow!  What does losing Hevi Shot mean to Foiles?  Loss of $$$? Advertising?  Endorsements?     

[guythathunts]

[/quote]

Wow!  What does losing Hevi Shot mean to Foiles?  Loss of $$$? Advertising?  Endorsements?     
[/quote]

HA! Priceless!!!