Indiana conservation officers served arrest warrants Feb. 23 on James L. Jacob, 37, of Brazil and Ronald Hayne, 62, of Terre Haute for multiple alleged violations of wildlife laws, following a 12-month investigation.

Officers allege Jacob committed one Class D felony, five Class B misdemeanors and 14 Class C misdemeanors, and Hayne committed eight Class C misdemeanors. Jacob and Hayne are also charged with aiding clients in hunting illegally under their direction.

The violations occurred upon and around the area near the Prairie Grove Hunting Preserve owned by Jacob and in other areas of rural Clay County. Hayne works as a guide for Prairie Grove Hunting Preserve. Officers also seized firearms, vehicles and other evidence allegedly used in the illegal taking and transportation of wildlife. The vehicles and firearms are subject to forfeiture upon a conviction.

Jacob and Hayne were taken to the Clay County Jail. Jacob’s bond was set at $7,000 and Hayne’s bond at $5,000. Jacob is facing the following charges:

Class D felony, one count unlawful sale or shipment of wild animals; Class B misdemeanors, one count Illegal possession of wild turkey and four counts illegal possession of whitetail deer; Class C misdemeanors, two counts aiding, inducing or causing an individual to hunt pheasant in closed season, two counts hunting by the aid of a motorized conveyance, two counts hunting from a public roadway, two counts aiding, inducing or causing the illegal taking of pheasants, one count jack lighting (shining an artificial light from a motorized conveyance while in possession of a firearm), one count failure to maintain continuous burning light while hunting furbearers, one count failure to procure resident hunting license, one count failure to post signage every 500 feet and single strand wire on boundary of shooting preserve, one count aiding, inducing or causing the illegal taking of coyote and one count failure to provide bill of sale for birds killed on shooting preserve.

Hayne faces the following charges: Class C misdemeanors, two counts aiding, inducing or causing an individual to hunt pheasant in closed season, two counts hunting from a public roadway, two counts hunting by the aid of a motorized conveyance and two counts aiding, inducing or causing the illegal taking of wildlife.

Officers also executed a search warrant on Jacob’s home and property and seized the following items as evidence: 1999 white Chevrolet 3500 pickup, Suzuki Carry “mini truck,” 1990 gold Chevrolet 1500 pickup, Kubota mini-excavator, Remington R-15 .204-caliber rifle, Remington 700 .220 Swift Etronix rifle, CZ .204-caliber rifle, five sets of whitetail deer antlers, two gray fox, one wild turkey and one mallard drake carcasses and two computers.

By Indiana law, a person convicted of illegal possession of a whitetail deer or wild turkey shall reimburse the state $500 for the first violation and $1,000 for each subsequent violation. The Class D felony conviction carries a penalty of six months to three years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

The Class B misdemeanor conviction carries a penalty of up to 180 days in prison and fines up to $1,000. The Class C misdemeanor conviction carries a penalty of up to 60 days in prison and fines up to $500.

Indiana Conservation Officer Keith Wildeman was contacted by two fishermen who made a surprising discovery on Feb. 26 on the Kankakee River in Starke County. Jeff Brewer and his father, Steve, discovered a dead alligator stuck in a logjam about two miles downstream from the English Lake public access site.

The Brewers had just launched their boat and were heading out for an afternoon of fishing when Jeff spotted the foot and tail of the alligator sticking out of the water. Using a landing net, he was able to retrieve the dead gator from the water and returned to the boat launch with the carcass to meet with Wildeman.

The alligator measured 4 feet, 7 inches and its mouth had been taped shut when the Brewers made the discovery. Wildeman noted the partially decomposed alligator appeared to have been dead for a while. The fact its mouth was taped shut was an indication the alligator is believed to have been a pet that outgrew its welcome and was released unlawfully into the river.

“There is no possibility an alligator can survive Indiana’s winter climate, let alone with its mouth taped shut and unable to feed,” said Wildeman.

The alligator is believed to be an isolated incident. Anyone with any information about the alligator is urged to contact Indiana Conservation Officers at 800-TIP-IDNR (847-4367).

Conservation officers would like to remind Hoosiers that according to Indiana State Law, to possess crocodilians over five feet in length requires a permit from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Fish & Wildlife. Individuals holding permits for large crocodilians must meet strict guidelines and regulations to keep the animals in captivity. Trash left behind by illegal campers and spread by waves and floods is marring the beautiful shoreline of Monroe Lake. The DNR is looking for volunteers to help make some of the trash disappear.

A cleanup is scheduled at Allen’s Creek State Recreation Area (SRA) on March 31 at 10 a.m. Garbage bags, bottled water and snacks will be provided. Volunteers should bring their own work gloves and wear tennis or hiking shoes, as the terrain requires good footing.

One volunteer will go home with a 2012 State Parks & Reservoirs Annual Entrance Pass, donated by one of the cleanup’s organizers. To reach Allen’s Creek SRA from Bloomington, head south on Indiana 446. After crossing the causeway, continue about three miles to Allen’s Creek Road. Turn right (west) onto it. Volunteers should meet at the SRA parking lot at the end of the road.

Boats will shuttle volunteers from the ramp parking area to the tip of a peninsula, where the trash problem is worst. Individuals who own a small motorboat, and are willing to volunteer to help ferry people and full trash bags, are asked to bring their boats. For details, call Jill Vance, interpretive naturalist for Monroe Lake, at 812-837-9546.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Jack Spaulding may contact him by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net