Elderly hunter killed by wildlife officer

[Diehard0123]

MCGRADY, N.C. - A wildlife official said a veteran game warden acted in self defense when he shot and killed a hunter on the hunter's property Saturday, the first day of turkey season.

Wildlife Resources officers told FOX8 News officer Mark Minton shot Clyde Coffey around 7:30 a.m. on Coffey's property north of North Wilkesboro. Minton is a 12-year veteran of the force.

Friends and family described Clyde Coffey, 76, as a "teddy bear of man." His daughter, Debbie Robbins, said Coffey often came to his house on Cane Creek Church Rd. to hunt on the hill behind his property. Saturday's hunting trip was with Coffey's son-in-law and two grandchildren.

"Officer Minton, a 12-year-veteran of the Law Enforcement Division of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, was on patrol on the opening day of the 2009 spring wild turkey season in North Carolina. An armed confrontation with a hunter resulted in Officer Minton firing a shot, apparently in self-defense, which led to the death of the alleged assailant," Penny Miller said in a release from Wildlife Resources Commission.

The investigation of the shooting is being conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation, in accordance with prescribed procedures. Officer Minton is currently on paid administrative leave.

Robbins said her father was hard of hearing and she's afraid that may have caused a miscommunication between him and the officer.

Word has it that the officer was on the property investigating a baiting report.

http://www.myfox8.com/wghp-hunter-killed-090412,0,4986126.story

http://www.myfox8.com/wghp-hunter-killed-090412,0,4986126.story

[Crunchy]

Sad story in deed.

[DOUBLELUNG]

That's a tragedy for the officer, the dead hunter, and both families.  Hopefully it was a righteous shoot.  

[Wacenturion]

Tragic....looks like a nice ol' gentleman.

[C-Money]

Sad, Was the old feller confused due to his hearing loss?? What the heck was the warden doing up on private ground anyway?? I usually side with the officers in self defence shootings, but I just don't know about this one.

[fc2038]

Sad, Was the old feller confused due to his hearing loss?? What the heck was the warden doing up on private ground anyway?? I usually side with the officers in self defence shootings, but I just don't know about this one.

I am with you on this one. I am no law person but wouldn't you need a warrent to conduct a search on private property? Wouldn't it be better to knock on the door and ask to look around or get a warrent to search?? 

[DOUBLELUNG]

What the heck was the warden doing up on private ground anyway??

Like it or hate it, the open fields doctrine allows game wardens in every state but Montana (last I knew) to enter onto "open fields", w/o a warrant, where they have "reasonable suspicion" hunting, fishing or trapping activities occur.  This does not include the residential "curtilage", the immediate areas including home and outbuildings where daily living activities occur (Montana overturned open fields about 10 years ago, a MT warden can enter onto private property w/o a warrant but needs to have reasonable suspicion a crime is occurring or has recently occurred, and evidence of which is likely to disappear if a warrant is sought).  I'm no legal expert, but this is how it was explained to me.

The rationale behind it is that fish and wildlife are owned by the public, not the property owner, and the officer's job is to protect the public's resource.  Many wildlife crimes occur on private property with the landowner's active participation and/or permission. 

[Coasthunterjay]

oh man this is terriable.....hope the officer and family are doing alright.

[rasbo]

without a witness one will never know

[Coasthunterjay]

true, but if this was a mistake can you imagine how the officer feels.

and if it wasnt a mistake can you imagine how the family feels....

man this is so heart breaking....as a hunter and as a guy who has a grandpa thats in his mids 70's and wishes to hunt still.....I could only imagine.

[turkeydancer]

Tragic indeed and my sympathy is with all concerned.\

It was mentioned that the officer was investigating a "baiting" report. And if he had found that there was indeed baiting and tried to fine or arrest the individual, the individual could have felt like a lot of people (ie: "it's my land, and I'll do what I want on it  .. you have no right on my land, and better get off of it or I'll shoot you" type of language).  Out numbered and being threatened, he probably felt no recourse in the matter.   Still very sad it had to come to this over a turkey!