Country singer Gentry sentenced in bear killing

[iceman]

Country singer Gentry sentenced in bear killing
Must give up hunting in Minnesota for 5 years

DULUTH, Minnesota (AP) – Troy Lee Gentry, of the country singing duo Montgomery Gentry, has been sentenced to three months of probation and a $15,000 fine for killing a captive black bear.
He also must give up hunting in Minnesota for five years.
Gentry pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in November. Under a plea deal, he agreed to forfeit the bear and the bow he used during the hunt near Sandstone. The 600-pound bear has been part of a taxidermy display at Gentry’s home in Tennessee. He was sentenced Friday, Feb. 23.
The bear was killed in October 2004 at the 80-acre Minnesota Wildlife Connection. Owner Lee Marvin Greenly sold the bear for $4,650 and orchestrated the hunt, which Gentry videotaped and edited to make it appear the bear had been killed in a fair chase hunt, according to authorities.
Montgomery Gentry, which includes co-singer Eddie Montgomery, are known for hits such as “My Town” and “If You Ever Stop Loving Me.”

[kenhuntin]

I still don't see what crime he committed . Was it because he didn't have a license?

[Outdoors Junkie]

He shot a tame bear in a fenced in area.  That is not legal in MN.

[kenhuntin]

thanks. I hope the person that sold the bear for that purpose was also penalised.

[Outdoors Junkie]

His guide (guy that sold the bear) is in more trouble then Gentry.

[kayaker]

It dosn't seem very sportsman like or even much fun to me but it dosn't sound much different than some of the buffalo hunts that I've read about where the rancher drives you out to the herd, tells you which one he wants you to shoot, and then drives you back to the ranch. Maybe it's just a difference in laws from state to state.  

[QuillGordon]

This sounds like more of a publicity stunt than anything else.. The DNR wanted to show their muscle and Gentry reaped the benefit.. It may seem cynical but I think both parties won...QG

[bowhunter73]

 I do not believe it was a publicity stunt. That guide has or lets his clients do illegal hunting activities quite often from what I hear.

  And as for myself a sportsman and a fan of county music. I will not promote him by buying any of his Cd's.

[Bufflehead]

Down south, fenced in hunts are as common as a McDonald's hamburgers. The Gentries are from down south

 They do things different down south.

 If you ever spent much time on the net on hunting sites from south of the Mason Dixon. You would see there's alot of people who basically live off the land still. They have trot lines(lines with many hooks, baited and left for sometime, then pulled in, crab traps, shrimp traps, traps for crawfish, hunt coon, deer season is like 6 months long..deer a day in many areas. hunt wild hogs year around for most southern states, squirrels, catch like 80lb catfish with their bare hands, I believe they call it noodling. I think many of them almost never work, except for money to buy ammo, fishing gear, guns, new pickups, ATV's Hunting dogs and whatever else it takes to attracted game, fowl, seafood and fish.  Now not all southerners are this way, but many of the die hard red neck good ol boys are

 I bet them Gentries don't think much of our hospitality here in Minnesota

[bowhunter73]

  And the good news is Mr.Gentry doesn't have to put up with are hospitality for at least 5 years  :) as far as hunting goes

[Bufflehead]

 I bet he's counting the days...LOL

 How's that song go they sing

 He's GONE, GONE, GONE, GONE....GONE LIKE A FRAIGHT TRAIN...GONE LIKE YESTERDAY.. LMAO

 AMEN.... Bowhunter73