Bad Publicity for Bowhunting.

[JC]

Though I can't confirm this happened with a trad bow, I used to live in Franklin and the local I know says that he's a trad shooter: Copied from AOL news....

DULUTH, Minn. (Aug. 16) - Troy Lee Gentry, of the country singing duo Montgomery Gentry , has been accused of killing a tame black bear that federal officials say he tagged as killed in the wild.

Gentry, 39, of Franklin, Tenn., and Lee Marvin Greenly, 46, of Sandstone, appeared Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond Erickson in connection with a sealed indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Minneapolis.

Authorities allege that Gentry purchased the bear from Greenly, a wildlife photographer and hunting guide, then killed it with a bow and arrow in an enclosed pen on Greenly's property in October 2004.

The government alleges that Gentry and Greenly tagged the bear with a Minnesota hunting license and registered the animal with the state Department of Natural Resources as a wild kill.

Gentry allegedly paid about $4,650 for the bear, named Cubby. The bear's death was videotaped, and the tape later edited so Gentry appeared to shoot the animal in a "fair chase" hunting situation, the government alleges.

If convicted, both Gentry and Greenly face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $20,000 fine.

Gentry's manager, Johnny Dorris, said Wednesday that Gentry, an outdoorsman and hunter, expects to be exonerated.

Gentry "relied on the knowledge and expertise of a local guide to obtain the proper permit," Dorris said in a written statement. "Troy felt what he did was legal and in full compliance of the law and was surprised to hear of the indictment."

Greenly did not return a phone message seeking comment.

Montgomery Gentry , along with co-singer Eddie Montgomery, are known for hits such as "My Town" and "If You Ever Stop Loving Me."

[vermonster13]

This is the offical response from Gentry's spokeman

"Our artist Troy Gentry, half of the country music duo Montgomery Gentry, appeared in a Duluth, Minn., court ... to plead not guilty to charges he hunted a black bear without the proper permit approximately two years ago," Dorris said. "He relied on the knowledge and expertise of a local guide to obtain the proper permit. Troy felt what he did was legal and in full compliance of the law and was surprised to hear of the indictment. Troy is an avid outdoorsman and has great respect for the laws that protect our natural resources. He expects to be exonerated when all of the facts are brought to light."

[vermonster13]

The fact that he checked the bear in, filmed the hunt, had it mounted and showed it in an interview kind of supports that he didn't think he did anything illegal (ignorance is not an excuse, but when you hire a guide you expect them to know the laws). The "guide" he hunted with has a slew of other charges pending on him for other bear hunts he guided. The media loves to use the word "pen" not to make this a high fence argument, but I would like to know how large an operation this is. The "guide" violated federal rules because his operation is permitted as a game preserve which is why he was allowed to have the bear to begin with.

Everything I have been able to find on Gentry has supported him as an ethical hunter and regular kind of guy, not the egotistical type. I for one will wait for more information before I roast him like is being done elsewhere and I hope the rest of you will show the same restraint until we have more information.

[JC]

Yep, I hope this turns out to be just wrong information. I've heard the same thing, that by all accounts he's an ethical and conciencious sportsman. Hopefully, the truth will come out, whatever it is.

[Brian Krebs]

Its only bad publicity for bowhunting if its-
 A: true; and B: we do not voice our objections to such a situation.
 I was reading an article by a tradganger on broadheads; and he talked about the trend in (high tech) bowhunting being to skip as many steps as possible to 'get a job done'. If that job (he said)happens to be putting a big game animal on the ground easier..so be it.
 He said that many modern bowhunters prefer to skip time consuming steps ( in this article sharpening broadheads). That 'it is easier to fly than to drive; to order a pizza than cook a dinner...
 when easier also happens to be quicker.. price is pardoned.
 I can see that line of thinking showing its ugly face: here in this case.
 I hope that Gentry is innocent; and that he can prove it; and that if the guide is guilty of tricking Gentry into this mess- he pays for it!
 Like I say- we only loose in this if we remain silent- as if we support or condone such an act. I hope a group comes forward to express this in a rational and honorably way: that expresses a favorable image of who we are- and why we do what we do...
 and what we do not except in our world.

[vermonster13]

I agree with you Brian. It just seems lately that people are ready to condemn everyone at the word of a media that is very anti-hunting. If they see that everytime they denounce one of us, that they can get the rest of us to jump on that person whether they give us the facts or not, it would be a very effective method for them to undermine every public figure that hunts. At some point we have to start allowing some innocencent until proven guilty and giving a few that are on our side the benefit of the doubt.

If Gentry knew what he was doing was illegal and participated anyways, then we need to support every penalty brought against him. To try him without all of the facts is unfair and is starting to happen more an more on the web and these guilty verdicts by media haven't all been right as of late. The truth doesn't come out until after the damage has been done, many times by us.

Lets stop helping the anti's and start helping ourselves.

[Trad2DaBone]

I read this week, in the same paper that he was convicted. The article also stated that the hunt was from a stand on a 3 acre pen fenced by an electric fence. Being silent on issues like this does us more harm than good. Trad, wheels or guns most of the public bunches hunters all together.

[vermonster13]

He wasn't hunting. He was slaughtering in a pen. That is what folks need to understand.

[Trad2DaBone]

http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1551993/02082007/montgomery_gentry.jhtml

For more official info.
I must live in a cave as I was unaware of this until very recently. I stand amazed.

[vermonster13]

A lot of stuff was on the forums when it took place. Jimmy Houston was more in the spotlight though because he filmed his fiasco.