Local hunters suspected of killing federally protected birds at Lake Texoma

Two local hunters are facing charges in Marshall County suspected of illegally killing several birds near Lake Texoma.

Cody Jones, Bryan County game warden, said he was on patrol Tues. April 14 near the Cumberland Cut area when he saw something on the side of the road.

"It was a pile of birds that was approximately, about knee high," Jones said.

He found several great blue herons, greater and lesser egrets and double crested cormorants, around 30 birds total.

Those species of birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act which prohibits their killing, capturing or transport.

Marshall County game wardens said they located the two poachers over the weekend and found the spot in Marshall County, east of Madill, where the birds were shot.

They found several broken eggs and more than 100 empty shotgun shells beneath the trees.

"You know when a bird's sitting on its nest and you shoot him as he's actually on the nest, that's not good," Jones said. "We don't see it very often at all. I haven't seen it since I started roughly six years ago. We worked hand in hand with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the warden there was perfect, helping us out, giving us information."

Wardens said the suspects would not tell them why they did it.

The alleged poachers have charges pending in Marshall County and could face state charges totaling $7,920 or federal charges totaling $15,000 each, up to six months in jail and lose their hunting licenses.